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.
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:
![IMG_2157_zpsoh3natlf.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2157_zpsoh3natlf.jpg&hash=1d592531c7eb1588ad53ee3501a79c02)
![IMG_2158_zpsnzcil3qt.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2158_zpsnzcil3qt.jpg&hash=723a02e590a35e9700ad519c47f0214d)
![IMG_2160_zps5bkbskdf.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2160_zps5bkbskdf.jpg&hash=32c252413a064b87d551ca5723abe68f)
![IMG_2153_zpsyrcy8m8q.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2153_zpsyrcy8m8q.jpg&hash=89be882ea131ced217003a40d1a2c03d)
Next, I unpacked the beef and made two patties:
![IMG_2161_zpsirrhfchj.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2161_zpsirrhfchj.jpg&hash=0121d96cad4388f5bd434c7a56d8fbf1)
Then seasoned them generously with Lawry's and fresh cracked black pepper:
![IMG_2162_zpscjgkori8.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2162_zpscjgkori8.jpg&hash=617d0835f62ef18b8bb8e5482924b69a)
Then onto the grill indirect with some oak for smoke flavor:
![IMG_2163_zpshvxophul.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2163_zpshvxophul.jpg&hash=21ef0d91d434749b69077a55e29520f0)
Meanwhile, The Missus worked on the onion rings. She made a slurry using some Lefty's before they were dropped in the hot oil:
![IMG_2164_zpsixtmrhas.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2164_zpsixtmrhas.jpg&hash=b5a95f9dcf610e10d1dfae77f86e1752)
Then, I moved the burgers closer to the fire to finish:
![IMG_2166_zpskwlhuvbh.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2166_zpskwlhuvbh.jpg&hash=70aa9399da8477f77a2b769897587f77)
Now added cheese - The Missus wanted American on hers(rt burger) while I had two slices of Cheddar(left burger):
![IMG_2170_zpsn9tl1r7w.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2170_zpsn9tl1r7w.jpg&hash=2138eec3c62de26913d16b48b38aacfd)
Bacon at the ready:
![IMG_2171_zps9hbhevms.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2171_zps9hbhevms.jpg&hash=7fa3797bf4cfbf7b8f80976f52046385)
I then began the process of burger construction, starting with the bottom bun and a slather of mayo:
![IMG_2172_zpssmcx8mk2.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2172_zpssmcx8mk2.jpg&hash=713eb390e73cfd354a7bbfb8b91fb547)
Then added the cheddar cheese patty and put the onion ring on top:
![IMG_2173_zps4ead3mnl.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2173_zps4ead3mnl.jpg&hash=49eb7cc7fe8e8918ba0c469f526525b1)
Then came the bacon:
![IMG_2174_zpsefxv3zkk.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2174_zpsefxv3zkk.jpg&hash=acff18fbfdfd0d4c23c638a239b249fd)
Then generously anointed the whole thing with Stubbs BBQ sauce:
![IMG_2175_zpsmhhm3etv.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2175_zpsmhhm3etv.jpg&hash=22f07ffe5bbd55fd0b6d319cb63d8081)
And finally, the top bun:
![IMG_2176_zpsyhzuj0la.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2176_zpsyhzuj0la.jpg&hash=3f2f961c1296c499decf4466c9e544a9)
Then smooshed and sliced:
![IMG_2177_zpsirv2ehxd.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2177_zpsirv2ehxd.jpg&hash=6084b7cb389f2a01bb334f3ae8e89811)
Cheese up close:
![IMG_2178_zpsjelqjxdl.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2178_zpsjelqjxdl.jpg&hash=9b8cd2da359199f519ef58152168f237)
And finally what was left of one half:
![IMG_2182_zps06prjdf5.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi980.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae286%2FPashn8one%2F2016%2520June%2520Grass%2520Fed%2520Western%2520Bacon%2520Cheeseburger%2FIMG_2182_zps06prjdf5.jpg&hash=801dbde875ad1df37ac0413da5f0f9a6)
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.
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