Okay, so maybe I might be tipsy-blogging here (a phrase originating from the lovely Kathleen at Jeremy & Kathleen) but I couldn't wait.  So beware, I might sound a bit nonchalant.  Oh, and vegetarians, shut yer holes, this is a meat post.  

I made my first burgers tonight.  I mean, from scratch.  One pound ground bison, salt-and-peppered.  I added a couple tablespoons of maple syrup and a palm full of parmesan cheese.  Mince a big shallot and toss it in there.  A tablespoon of grainy mustard, an egg, and half-cup of breadcrumbs.  Get your hands dirty and mash it all up.  Form into patties (balls just-smaller than a pool ball, and smush flatish) and refrigerate for a while.  An hour?  

Oh, a secret (via this dude on the internet): Poke a half-teaspoon of butter into the centre of each patty.  It keeps the burger ultra-moist and super-fatty.

Preheat your oven to 400°.  Heat a pan with a dash of olive oil and sear the shit outta those burgers.  Just a couple of minutes on each side.  Toss them in the hot oven to cook through.  Hm, about 10 minutes.  

I served them on raisin and walnut ciabatta bread.  Holy Jesus.  Sweet and savory faceoff.  Heirloom tomatoes, sliced red onion, various mustards, chipotle-spiced ketchup, and some mildly-stinky oka cheese from Quebec.  A side of green beans and roasted fingerling potatoes.  

Add in SYTYCD, Jersey Shore, Nick, Natasha, and T.J. (and several bottles of wine ie. Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 2009) and it turns out to be the most-perfect Thursday ever.

(It should be said, I'm not entirely pleased with these photos.  Tipsy-photography.)