Wisconsin Burgers

These grilled burgers combine ground beef and pork with shredded cheese, apple, mushrooms, bacon, hickory seasoning and wine.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 lbs fresh ground beef sirloin
• 3/4 lbs fresh ground lean pork
• 1 bunch green onions, trimmed and sliced on diagonal
• 1 Delicious apple, cored, peeled and shredded
• 1/2 lb shredded extra-sharp Wisconsin cheddar cheese
• 16 oz shiitake mushroom tops, sliced 1/8-inch thick
• 12 slices precooked smoked bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried Italian bread crumbs, with imported romano cheese
• 2 small eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 tbsp stir-fry sauce
• 2 tbsp concentrated all-natural hickory seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup Cabernet Sauvignon wine
• 6 large kaiser rolls
• Herb butter

Directions:

Set up grill for direct grilling and preheat coals to high. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix sirloin, pork, green onions, apple, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, bacon and bread crumbs. In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs; add stir-fry sauce, hickory seasoning, garlic salt, pepper and wine. Mix small bowl ingredients into those in large bowl. When ready to grill, brush and oil grill grate. Loosely form meat mixture into 6 burgers. Grill burgers on grate, about 7 minutes per side, rotating 90 degrees after 3 1/2 minutes. Spread an herb butter on all sides of rolls. Toast rolls on indirect heat, off to the side with buttered side down, about one minute, until golden brown. Serve burgers right off grill; do not put them aside to keep warm.

Number of Servings: 6

Notes from the Cook: This is a great American burger because it conforms to the American method of cooking--simple yet elegant. It was created in Brookfield, WI, using a tasty collection of ingredients, enhanced with Cabernet Sauvignon. This burger looks great, because when grilled, it presents a tasty caramelized collection around the Wisconsin cheddar that forms between the grate pattern.