Faux Juicy Lucy

I was watching the show Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel and the host traveled to Minneapolis to taste the famous juicy Lucy at Matt's bar. Little did I know that there is another restaurant, called the 5/8's, that also has a Juicy Lucy in their menu. There is a debate about who came up with the original Lucy and where the best one is, but just to refresh your memory, a juicy Lucy is a lot of cheddar cheese stuffed in-between two hamburgers then it's pan-grilled to perfection. I was craving this wonderful burger and I came up with my own version. Of course, it wasn't as good at the one at Matt's Bar, but it definitely calmed my craving.

INGREDIENTS (makes 1 juicy Lucy)

• 2 - 1/4 lb. hamburger patties
• Slices of Tillamook mild cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Hamburger fixin's like onion, tomato, mayo, and pickles

DIRECTIONS

Take your two hamburger patties and flatten them down just a tad bit more to 1/4" thick. Place smallish slices of cheddar cheese in the middle of one patty, leaving about 1/8" border around the hamburger. Top it with the other patty and smoosh the sides good so that it forms a tight seal around the hamburgers.

Heat a non-stick pan on medium-high and add a teaspoon of vegetable or canola oil. Season one side of the hamburger with salt and pepper and place it on the pan, seasoned side down. Season the other side while you cook for about 8 minutes (yeah, I know it's a long time, but remember you have cheese in the middle). Turn patty over and cook another 6 to 8 minutes.

Make sure the hamburger rests for at least 5 minutes before you serve it because it's hot! Serve in a hamburger bun with a little mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato and pickles.