Hard Chargin' Blue Cheese Stampede Burgers

December 15 , 2004 | Issue 06

Hello and welcome to the December edition of the smoking-meat.com monthly newsletter. I am your host, Jeff Phillips, and I will endeavor to keep the newsletter short and to the point with as much good info as possible without boring you to death with small details.

By the way.. we have been running a poll to find out what woods are used in what states of the US and the results are finally in! Get Poll Results Here

Now let's get straight to it!

This is the lineup for this month:

• Smoking Meat Forum - UpdateHappy HolidaysGrilling with SmokeThe Hard-Chargin' Blue Cheese Stampede Burger
• Jeff's Naked Rib Recipe Offer

Happy Holidays

Christmas time is coming.... Christmas time is coming.... la la la la la.. yes I am humming as I think about the holidays and all the joy it brings to most people especially the younger ones. It has been major ordeal this year keeping my 2 year old son from ripping the presents to shreds from under the tree... I mean you have to admit - they do look very inviting with all of the shiny red and green paper and bows and multi colored ribbon.

We had the most fun this year going to an actual christmas tree farm and picking out our own tree.... I almost cut my finger off with that saw they gave me to use but other than that it was a blast. I enjoyed watching my boy and my two daughters run from tree to tree exclaiming the one they thought we should take home. When it was all said and done we left with a 6-1/2 foot tree which was really 7 foot tall but according to the tag it was only 6-1/2 feet tall and at 5 bucks a foot I felt like we got a great deal.

An even funnier part of this story begins the next day after the tree is wonderfully decorated with more lights, tinsel, bows, ornaments and knick-knacks than any normal tree should be able to handle. My wife is standing there admiring the tree and all her handy work when she lets out this blood curdling scream only rivaled by the time she thought she saw a bear when we were camping. After I calm her down a little I discover what she discovered... tiny 6 legged bugs... thousands of them... crawling all over the Christmas tree!

My wife thinks they are ticks and in fact they did look like ticks but being a fairly reasonable guy I suggested that we look it up online. Much to our pleasure we find out that it is only harmless christmas tree aphids and would never leave the tree or cause harm to anyone. They would most likely die in a few days according to the articles we read.

My wife still did not like the idea of bugs in the house but has managed to handle it rather well.

Grilling With Smoke

In this edition I would like to turn your attention to the grill.. not just the ordinary grill but a smoking grill. Anytime you have hot coals beneath your food, consider it your human obligation to throw on some smoking chunks or chips for flavor. I like to make a pouch from a 10 inch x 10 inch piece of foil filled with my favorite soaked wood chips. I will then place this pouch down deep into the coals and let it smoke as my food is grilling and the flavor is out of this world.

The Hard-Chargin' Blue Cheese Stampede Burger

I am going to share a burger recipe below that is out of this world as well... I am particularly fond of good burgers especially my own (if I can say that without sounding too braggadocios). You can always make ordinary burgers better with a little smoke.

I originally found this recipe in a "guy" cookbook and it is one that will be used for many years to come around my house.

Hard-Chargin' Blue Cheese Stampede

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Combine ground beef, onion, Tabasco sauce, honey, garlic salt, red pepper flakes and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Divide into 6 portions; form into patties around pieces of blue cheese. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Place burger on bun and top with roasted red peppers and portabella mushrooms.

Makes 6 servings.

Throw some mesquite on the coals when grilling the recipe above for an experience that is beyond words. I hope you are able to try some of these burgers soon... they are especially good at superbowl parties and such.

Everyone have a superb holiday season on me and remember to celebrate the real reason for the season

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Have a Wonderful Day and Keep Smoking (meat that is)!!!

Jeff Phillips
Pitmaster/Webmaster
www.Smoking-Meat.com
www.SmokingMeatForums.com

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