Cooking is back in full swing at camp and we are blessed to have a new outdoor kitchen, complete with an oven and FOUR gas grills!  After our first class—safety talk and the perennial favorite, chocolate chip cookies—we decided it was time to check out those grills.  And we had some delicious fun!  We made sliders and had a condiment bar that would put your favorite local burger restaurant to shame.  Our condiment bar included:  caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, pickle, bacon, pepperoni, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, ‘special sauce’, marinara sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, and Ranch dressing.  Campers made mini burgers, grilled them, buttered and toasted their buns, and topped them with whatever combination of condiments they desired.  Some made pizza burgers (marinara sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella), others made bacon cheddar burgers, mini mac’s (lettuce, tomato, special sauce, and a pickle), and most campers just created their own combinations.  They all were delicious and fun to make.  We look forward to a long, and yummy summer of cooking and grilling!

IMG_4496

Camp Merri-Mac Sliders

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt, pepper
  • 12-16 small rolls
  • Melted butter

Directions:

  • Preheat grill
  • Divide ground beef into eight 2-3 ounce pieces.  Roll the pieces into a ball, flatten, and press down in the center.
  • Gently brush both sides with olive oil.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Split small rolls and brush each side with melted butter.
  • Place sliders on preheated grill and cook 3-4 minutes.  Flip and add cheese, if cheese is being added.
  • Cook another 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove to serving tray.
  • Place each roll, buttered side down on grill, away from direct heat, and lightly toast.
  • Remove to serving tray.
  • Create your own slider with toppings and condiments.

Examples:

  • Pizza burger:  use mozzarella cheese, top with marinara sauce, and pepperoni
  • BBQ bacon burger: use cheddar cheese, top with bbq sauce, and bacon
  • Traditional cheeseburger:  use cheddar, top with ketchup, and a sliced pickle
  • Mozzarella mushroom burger:  use mozzarella, top with mushrooms, and Dijon
  • Caramelized onion burger:  use cheddar, top with onion, and special sauce

SPECIAL SAUCE:

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup chili sauce

Juice of one lime

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

CARAMELIZED ONION:

2 onions, sliced in half, then thinly sliced

4 tablespoons butter/margarine

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Melt butter, add onions, sauté, stirring constantly, as onions begin to brown.  Add brown sugar and continue to sauté until golden brown.

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS:

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

4 tablespoons butter/margarine

½ teaspoon garlic salt

Melt butter, add mushrooms and garlic salt, sauté, stirring constantly, until soft.