• Grass-Fed Western Bacon Cheeseburger

[Moose]

I probably eat fast food about 2-3x yearly, not out of choice but of necessity, usually declining blood sugar that needs to be stabilized ASAP and when I don’t have the patience to either fix something myself or pick something up from a respectable food establishment. And I pay the price for it – my body is not used to processed, preservative-laden frankenfood.

In my early 20’s when I was working two jobs and going to college full-time, I really splurged – I probably ate fast food 2-3x a month! It was around that time that I discovered the Carl’s Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger. This to me, was the ultimate burger: Meat, cheese, crispy onion ring, bacon & BBQ sauce. What’s not to love about that?

Yesterday, I had a craving for…you guessed it: a Western Bacon Cheeseburger. But I wasn’t going to Carl’s to get one, I decided to make one myself. This isn’t the first time I’ve made one, however, I have been eyeing grass fed beef at the market of late, and though this would be the perfect excuse to try some. And it’s not cheap – it’s $7.99 a lb, but I was in the mood to splurge.

Before I go any further, please forgive the quality of some of the photos in this post – I was too tired and lazy to bring out my DSLR, so I just used my Iphone.

So here’s what I brought back from the store:

Next, I unpacked the beef and made two patties:

Then seasoned them generously with Lawry's and fresh cracked black pepper:

Then onto the grill indirect with some oak for smoke flavor:

Meanwhile, The Missus worked on the onion rings. She made a slurry using some Lefty's before they were dropped in the hot oil:

Then, I moved the burgers closer to the fire to finish:

Now added cheese - The Missus wanted American on hers(rt burger) while I had two slices of Cheddar(left burger):

Bacon at the ready:

I then began the process of burger construction, starting with the bottom bun and a slather of mayo:

Then added the cheddar cheese patty and put the onion ring on top:

Then came the bacon:

Then generously anointed the whole thing with Stubbs BBQ sauce:

And finally, the top bun:

Then smooshed and sliced:

Cheese up close:

And finally what was left of one half:

It was truly spectacular, and without question, one of the best burgers I've ever eaten, for two reasons: The combination of all those fresh ingredients beats the commercial version by a landslide, but more importantly, the flavor of that beef! It had a richness and depth I've never tasted before, even compared to fine USDA prime chuck. It was simply out of this world. I think we'll stick with the grass fed ground beef moving FW.

 

[Mike Twangzer]

Nice Moose !!! Now I'm hungry. So what do you like better ... your Habit or your Carl's ?

 

[roncoinc]

Getting un contaminated ground beef from a good source makes it so you dont have to cook that burger well done.

I get a lot of beef from a local "natural" farmer and the taste is way diff than from the super market.

so what if it's pricey ??

look and taste the quality of the finished product !!

 

[Moose]

Nice Moose !!! Now I'm hungry. So what do you like better ... your Habit or your Carl's ?

That's a good question, Mike. I love them BOTH. Next time I'll use the grass fed beef to make a Habit Charburger. Double cheese on both, of course.

You know we're having a bash at Greg's in early September, yes? Hope you and your wife will come. :thumb:

 

[Moose]

Getting un contaminated ground beef from a good source makes it so you dont have to cook that burger well done.

I get a lot of beef from a local "natural" farmer and the taste is way diff than from the super market.

so what if it's pricey ??

look and taste the quality of the finished product !!

Indeed. I also noticed the burger retained its overall shape during cooking. Burgers made from commercial seem to "plump" when they are cooked.

 

[PatAttack]

Two, please.

One with cheddar, one with American.

Nice job, Moose.

Who knew a classically trained pianist could cook so well???:thumb:

 

[buccaneer]

Looked tasty!
How did you find the grass fed beef, Moose?
We are so spoiled for produce down here, and lately there have been some incredible deals.
I got a whole rib eye roll for $10/kg, grass fed.
None of our beef here gets hormone or antibiotics of additives, I believe.
Never in my life have I had a fried onion ring in a burger, that is about to change!
:wink:

 

[landarc]

Nicely done, that is a far better than the inspiration burger. Personally, I like grass fed ground beef

 

[Gore]

That looks absolutely fabulous. I'd only suggest a bit of parsley, otherwise, the missus will insist on feeding you some other green like broccoli.

 

[roncoinc]

You people do realize that beef takes a couple years to grow and in MOST places they cant eat grass every day until they mature ??

so " grass " feed beef is another misnomer ?

 

[buccaneer]

You people do realize that beef takes a couple years to grow and in MOST places they cant eat grass every day until they mature ??

so " grass " feed beef is another misnomer ?

Not here, I don't know the ruling there.
Here, 'Grass Fed' means a natural diet, he cow is raised in pastures and isn't fed grain. Ever.
If the animal has been fed grain they have to label and date the period. e.g. 200 day grain fed.

 

[roncoinc]

Not here, I don't know the ruling there.
Here, 'Grass Fed' means a natural diet, he cow is raised in pastures and isn't fed grain. Ever.
If the animal has been fed grain they have to label and date the period. e.g. 200 day grain fed.

So you have grass growing year round there with no winter ??
we feed our cow's hay during the winter and some grain as supplement to keep them healthy .
come spring they roam the fields and eat only grass until it's their time..

local farmers will grow corn to supplement the hay during the winter feed.

we see no reason to make an animal suffer during the cold season and keep them comfortable with what they need.

 

[kathicooks]

Some days I think I should cut back on red meat and then I see a post with pictures like this and it all flies out the window.
That looks just about perfect.

 

[Stingerhook]

Omggggggggggg!

 

[Moose]

That looks absolutely fabulous. I'd only suggest a bit of parsley, otherwise, the missus will insist on feeding you some other green like broccoli.

 

[Fwismoker]

Good pics Moose! I'm too poor/cheap to buy that ground! LOL Tasty meal for sure.

 

[ShadowDriver]

I just drooled all over my keyboard, Moose. Dang it!

That looks... awesome.

 

[Sopchoppy]

WOW!! Nuff said.

 

[buccaneer]

So you have grass growing year round there with no winter ??
we feed our cow's hay during the winter and some grain as supplement to keep them healthy .
come spring they roam the fields and eat only grass until it's their time..

local farmers will grow corn to supplement the hay during the winter feed.

we see no reason to make an animal suffer during the cold season and keep them comfortable with what they need.

We don't have winters that are grassless, rather the opposite, that is when the grass is most plentiful.I don't understand the point in your last sentence. I was sharing information not making accusations of any kind.

 

[smoke ninja]

Nice.

Hardee's (Carl's Jr) has some of the best burgers to copy at home