When I was growing up, one of my most favorite cartoon characters was J. Wellington Wimpy, on Popeye. He was the Hamburger obsesses character in the Popeye cartoons. I would watch that program on TV when I was very young. I have copied an excerpt from a website that I found:
Wimpy was a regular character in E.C. Segar's comic strip called Thimble Theater. He was actually one of the more important characters until Popeye was introduced and became Olive Oyls new boy friend. Wimpy was soft spoken and a bit of a coward, thus living up to his name. He was also the world's biggest moocher. The strip originally centered around Olive's family. Wimpy had a crush on her, but when Popeye showed up she only had eyes for him. When the Popeye cartoons were being made at Fliesher Studios, Wimpy then became a minor character. Dave Fliesher said Wimpy was too much of an intellect to be a good character in film cartoons. He was very intelligent and well educated but a big lazy moocher as well. His famous line, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." was first introduced in the 1934 Popeye cartoon "We Aim To Please". In "Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor", Wimpy is seen eating hamburgers almost the entire show. No matter about his character flaws, you gotta love the guy.
The reason I am writing all about this is…drum roll please….Hamburgers. This is my small addition to the world's most beloved food. It has it all. It has carbs, protein, vegetable, fats and fruit. How can you go wrong? My family has a saying about our family's favorite the old fashion (family name) hamburgers. My children all know what we will have. It consists of humongous sesame seed buns, ¼ pound of hamburger, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, large sliced tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onions, slice of American cheese and pickles, it is all sliced and cut on their own separate plates and we just move around and stake them high. Just imagine all of that piled high, on your plate full of baked beans and my wife's fantastic homemade potatoes salad. She actually got if from my Mom who made the best. I could tell you a funny story about how my wife came about the recipe from my mom. Well I couldn't tell you since my wife would kill me…Oh well, you don't know who I am so it won't matter right…hmmmm, do I sleep on the coach when my wife reads this…oh what the heck. We were dating, and my wife wanted to impress me, so we went for a beach picnic, just the two of us. The weather was windy, but the ocean sounds and smells were fantastic. I think we had a fire going…I don't remember. But the piece' de resistance was her potatoes salad. Well I looked at it at it looked okay until I bit into the first bit and it was sort of mushy. I asked how she boiled the potatoes and she said cut up without the jackets. I laughed inwardly so she wouldn't feel bad, then told her the when you boil potatoes for salad you have to boil with the jackets on…well it was okay…I wouldn't tell my wife how I really felt..I just kidded her and she fell apart. Here she was, making this for our first of many beach/picnic experiences in our lives. Oh well, to say the least. That has all changed, and I and all of our children can't get enough of her salad. That goodness! Well anyway. I was the one who usually made the baked beans, usually from scratch, then van camps, then bush beans. The latter is much better and tastes great. We just put some strips of bacon on the top and back and they are made and ready for the table. I have to have the beans next to the potatoes salad so I can mingle the flavors…my mouth is watering right now as I speak and on top of all of the I leave a very small space for my crinkled potato chips, of course I have to cut my hamburger in half so I can get my mouth over it. I am full now from the thought of it all. Here are some recipes that I have found interesting.
Hamburgers
Prep Time: 10 min
Inactive Prep Time: 0 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Level: 0
Serves: 4 hamburgers
Ingredients
10 ounces ground sirloin
10 ounces ground chuck
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 slices cheese, such as cheddar, American, Saga blue cheese, and Swiss (optional)
4 soft hamburger-style buns, split
4 slices beefsteak tomatoes (optional)
Assorted lettuces and greens, such as iceberg, romaine, or watercress
Assorted mustards, such as whole-grained, Dijon, or French's (optional)
Mayonnaise (optional)
Ketchup (optional)
8 slices cooked, crisp bacon (optional)
Directions
Using your hands, break the meat into small pieces and combine evenly but loosely on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread the meat out and season it generously with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Place a roasting rack on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven. Divide the meat into 4 portions (about 5 ounces each).
Using your hands, form each portion into a ball-shape by gently tossing it from one hand to the other. (Don't over work or press too firmly on the meat.) Gently form each portion into a patty about 3 inches wide and 1-inch-thick.
Preheat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the oil. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until well-browned, about 2 minutes the first side, and 1 minute the second side.
Using a spatula, transfer the hamburgers to the roasting rack in the oven and continue cooking to desired doneness, 5 minutes for very rare (blue), 6 to 7 minutes for rare, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium, and 13 to 15 minutes for well-done.
If you are using the cheese, top the hamburgers during their last couple of minutes of cooking to melt. Transfer the hamburgers to a plate let rest for a couple minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns. Assemble the hamburgers with the condiments and toppings of your choice. Serve.
More Hamburgers
Inactive Prep Time: hr min
Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 hamburgers
Ingredients
24 ounces ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Spice Mix, optional, recipe follows
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 slices cheese, such as cheddar, American, Saga blue cheese, and Swiss, optional
4 soft hamburger-style buns, split
4 slices beefsteak tomatoes, optional
Assorted lettuces and greens, such as iceberg, romaine, or watercress
Assorted mustards, such as whole-grained, Dijon, or French's, optional
Mayonnaise, optional
Ketchup, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a roasting rack on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven.
Using your hands, break the meat into small pieces and combine evenly but loosely on a parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the meat out and season it generously with salt and pepper. If desired, add the spice mix at this time.
Divide the meat into 4 portions (about 6 ounces each). Using your hands, form each portion into a ball-shape by gently tossing it from 1 hand to the other. (Don't over work or press too firmly on the meat.) Gently form each portion into a patty about 3 1/2 inches wide and 1-inch-thick.
Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the oil. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until well-browned, about 2 minutes each side.
Using a spatula, transfer the hamburgers to the roasting rack in the oven and continue cooking to desired doneness, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium, and 13 to 15 minutes for well-done. If you are using the cheese, top the hamburgers during their last couple of minutes of cooking to melt.
Transfer the hamburgers to a plate, let rest for a couple minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns. Assemble the hamburgers with the condiments and toppings of your choice. Serve.
When cooking on a counter-top grill:
Turn on grill. Place Burgers on the heated grill. For Medium-Rare: Cook for 3 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 2 to 3 more minutes. For Medium: Cook for 4 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 4 more minutes. For Well: Cook for 5 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 5 more minutes.
Spice Mix:
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
Hot Sauce, to taste
Combine all ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons green pepper, finely chopped
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 dash pepper
toppings
4 split toasted buns
Preparation:Combine lean ground beef with onion, green pepper, ketchup, horseradish, salt, mustard, and pepper; mix lightly. Shape into 4 patties about 1/2 inch thick. Grill or broil to desired doneness, about 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Serve with a variety of toppings and split toasted buns.Serves 4.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese or American cheese
1 slice bread, crumbled
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 small onion, grated
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Preparation:In a medium bowl, combine cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, and milk; form into 4 balls. Set aside.
In the same bowl, combine beef, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and salt; divide into 4 portions. Shape each beef portion around a cheese ball, then flatten lightly with hand to make hamburger patties.
Brown on both sides in a large frying pan; cover and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, until done. Serve on buns with condiments.Serves 4.
1 to 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 jar mushroom pieces drained (2 1/2 oz)
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
1 tablespoon dried parsley
Preparation:Thoroughly combine ground beef, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and soy sauce. Divide mixture into 8 thin patties of equal size. Combine remaining ingredients and divide evenly on four of the patties. Top each of the 4 patties with remaining patties; seal edges. Cover and refrigerate or cook immediately. Cook on grill or under broiler to desired doneness.Makes 4 burgers.
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