Happy Thursday! Can you believe we have only more week of February left??!! February is my least favorite month of the year. It’s usually pretty grey where I live and besides the Super Bowl, there isn’t much to look forward to. March is on it’s way and I couldn’t be happier… and hopefully we’ll get some 70 degree weather like we did last year!
Along Lake Michigan, March 2012
Since it was so warm last spring, I was able to use my grill a lot. Besides my Vitamix and slow cooker, my grill is another prized possession. There is something fun about cooking outside, the smell of the grill and easy clean up.
I long for those warm days. Earlier this week, Chicago’s windchill was in the negatives. Way too cold to be cooking outside, so I came up with a meal that reminded warm days will be here soon.
Blue Cheese Burgers with Steak Sauce Tomatoes & Onions. There isn’t much to it but when I took my first bite, I felt like this is something I would eat during the dog days of summer. Burgers stuffed with blue cheese. Homemade steak sauce. Freshly sliced tomatoes and onions. Doesn’t it sound like something you’d be eating at a cook out??!
I also made a side of sweet potato chips. I finally used my mandolin slicer for the first time. I’m loving this kitchen gadget, too! There is no way I would take the time to slice super duper thin potatoes with a knife to make chips. Now that I know how to use the mandolin, I feel like the world is my oyster.
If you’re wishing for warm days, I hate to break it to you but Mother Nature doesn’t care what you want. But this Blue Cheese Burger Meal will make you feel like it’s time to slap on the SPF and a tube top… or whatever you like to wear in the summer. 
Ingredients
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- Salt & pepper
- Blue Cheese Crumbles
- 4 Buns, sliced & toasted
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 8 oz canned tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tomatoes, sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 1 small onion, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 2 tablespoons parsley leaves, chopped
- 2 sweet potatoes, pick more round shaped potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- For the burgers, add all ingredients except blue cheese into a bowl and mix with your hands. Shape into 4 patties. Make a hole in each patty and add blue cheese. Reshape patty to seal in the blue cheese. In a skillet, cook patties 5 minutes per side or until desired doneness. When burgers are done, remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes. Place burger on toasted bun and top with Steak Sauce Tomatoes and Onions.
- For the Steak Sauce Tomatoes & Onions - in a sauce pan, add vinegar and the next 3 ingredients. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Add tomato sauce and whisk in olive oil. Set aside to cool. In a bowl add tomatoes, onions and sauce. Toss to coat and garnish with parsley. Serve on top of burger patty.
- To make Sweet Potato Chips - Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice potatoes to be 1/4 inch thick. Add potatoes and all ingredients to a ziplock bag. Shake potatoes and the marinade. When the sliced potatoes are fully coated, place in a single layer on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Don’t forget that February in Chicago does have one big positive…. Restaurant Week!
True!! But I totally missed out this year. Was it just me or did they have it really early this year? I feel like Restaurant Week is usually the week after Valentine’s Day.
I also don’t think they promoted it as well as in the past or had as many participants. Though most of the usual suspects, and my favorites, in Lincoln Square were part of it.
Where are your favorite spots in Lincoln Square?
Essence of India is a great spot….so is Spacca Napoli for pizza. In the summer, the rooftop of Gene’s for schnitzel and a beer is the best. And if you like BYO Italian joints that know how to crank up the garlic, try Caro Mio. What part of the city are you guys in?
I live in Bucktown. We’ve been in this part of town since June. Before that, I lived in Lakeview & Lincoln Park.
YUM. I love the grill. I’m in NC though, so we basically grill year-round, even if sometimes it IS freezing. These burgers look great!!
P.S.- We have restaurant week here in February, too. It’s the best.
I WISH I could grill all year round!!
These look fantastic!
Thanks Shiloh!
Stopping by from SITS — before I’ve eaten breakfast — and now THIS is what I want to eat. Alas, I’ll have to pin it for later. Looks incredible. Thank you!
I have that same problem — forgetting to eat before looking at food blogs. There really should be some kind of reminder pop up! Thanks for coming by!!
That burger looks so good!
Thank you!!
My son is at Northwestern. Last year was his first year in Chicago (which he has, understandably, fallen in love with) and was majorly spoiled by last winter. St. Patrick’s Day was 70 degrees in Chicago last year! Crazy. Here in St. Louis, we are always about 10 degrees warmer than you in the winter. Except in the snow or bitter cold, I do sometimes throw something on the gas grill. These burgers have me thinking, “As soon as the snow melts off the grill…..” Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Wendy! Yes, last year’s St. Patrick’s Day was sooo nice! It’s always a fun day in Chicago but having the nice weather was an added bonus. I’m happy your son is enjoying Chicago!
Love me a good burger! Looks delish… Thanks so much for coming to party at Super Saturday Show & Tell
I hope you’ll come again next week. xoxo~ Ruthie
Thanks so much for linking your yummy sounding (and looking) recipe to the Dinner Time Recipes linky! I hope that you continue linking your delicious recipes each week. You post has been pinned by me! http://southernmomcooks.com/dinner-time-recipes-weekly-link-up-4/
Hi~ Being from WI I have been to Chicago many, many times! The food is fantastic:) There is so much to see and do in the Chicago area….Nothing better than Lakeshore Drive in the Spring time:) Have a Great Week~ Spring is right around the corner:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines! Your burger looks delicious!
It’s been chilly here, too. I felt bad for all the golfers at the Accenture Match Play this last weekend. Luckily the day we went it was beautiful out. But today is another cold one {45ish for the high-yes, that’s cold for Tucson!}. We love to grill and we love blue cheese burgers! Going to have to try this one for sure. YUM!!!
45 degrees??!! That’s sweatshirt weather here
You and your hubby looked super cute at that golf outing!
Thanks! And thanks for sharing this awesome recipe at Wicked Good Wednesdays last week! There may just be a feature with your name on it
Awe, thanks Doll!! I’ll be by later today to link up!
Man I miss that view! These burgers look amazing! Thanks for sharing at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!