The Mitchell's 60/40 Burger

This is our take on a burger made by a local burger joint - 60% beef, 40% bacon.  No, I don't measure it out to be that precise, and I add some other ingredients too ;o)

Makes 8 burgers

Calories per serving (1 burger): 287 (w/o bun, using romaine as the bun) 

~About 467 calories (w/ bun = 180 cals).

*Total calories includes lettuce, tomato slice, ketchup (1 tsp), spicy brown mustard (1 tsp), and cheddar cheese (0.5 oz).

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. lean beef (I use 93%)
• Jalapeno peppers (for extra kick, keep the seeds of one pepper)
• 5 slices of bacon (I use Farmland Hickory Smoked Bacon)
• 1/3 of a sweet onion, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 egg (you can substitute a but of olive or coconut oil to help the burgers bind better)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Smoked Paprika to taste
• Chipotle Chile Pepper (dried) to taste
• Hamburger buns (unless you want to eat it in between two lettuce leafs for a lower calorie meal!)

Directions:

1. Chop all the veggies and add to large mixing bowl.
2. Add the egg to the veggies and Mix together.
3. Add spices and mix.
4. Finely chop the bacon into small pieces and add to the egg/veggie mixture.  Mix well.
5. Cut 8 pieces of wax paper (squares work best) and set next to a plate.
6. Add the beef to the bowl, and mix with hands.  This is where you get to add the love into the food!
7. Place hamburger mixture onto cutting board and flatten into a rectangle.  Cut into 8 equal pieces, then use each piece to form a ball.  Place balls back into bowl.
8. Form each ball into a burger patty, then place onto wax paper and onto plate (my husband loves the ease of grabbing the wax paper and flipping the burger onto the grill!).
9. While the burgers are grilling, cut cheese slices, tomato slices, and wash the lettuce.  Of course get all the rest of your favorite condiments and toppings ready for consumption.
10. Enjoy!