Cheeseburger of Champions

Try this Cheeseburger of Champions recipe from Weber's Real Grilling by Jamie Purviance and be the MVP of your Super Bowl party

On Super Bowl Sunday, the best football players in the country will meet to battle for the championship title. For the rest of us, the real battle will be preparing a Super Bowl feast that will have friends and family cheering for more. To add a little sizzle to the standard party fare, fire up the grill and treat guests to a feast that will make you the MVP of the party. Try this Cheeseburger of Champions recipe from the best-selling Weber's Real Grilling cookbook by Jamie Purviance.

Cheeseburger of Champions
Prep time: 10 minutes Grilling time: 8 to 10 minutes

1. In a medium bowl, using your hands, gently combine the ground chuck with the ketchup, basil, thyme, salt, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and pepper. Gently shape into 4 patties, each about 3/4 inch thick.

2. Grill the patties over Direct High heat until medium, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once. During the last minute of grilling, place a slice of cheese on each patty to melt, and grill the hamburger buns, cut side down, until toasted. Assemble the cheeseburgers with lettuce, tomato, and ketchup and/or mustard, if desired. Serve warm.  Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 thin slices Monterey Jack cheese
4 hamburger buns
4 lettuce leaves
4 tomato slices

And if your grilling game is a bit rusty, the pros at Weber have created their top tips to get you in shape for game day, including:

• Do your warm-ups: Players don't step on the field cold, and neither should you. Make sure to preheat your grill before you cook. After you've lit the fire, shut the lid, and let it heat for 10 minutes.

• No poking zone: Don't draw a penalty by poking your meat with a fork. This is a major grilling infraction that reflects badly on your whole team. Poking allows precious juices and flavor to escape, drying out your food.

• Know how to work the clock: Grilling times listed in the recipes are approximate. Allow for more cooking time on cold or windy days, or at higher altitudes.

• Your best defense against overcooked food, no matter what the weather condition, is an instant-read thermometer. Use the thermometer to check for doneness, but never leave it in the food while cooking.

For a complete list of tips, plus more winning Super Bowl recipes, visit: http://www.weber.com

Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories, and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen designed the Weber kettle with a lid that allows outdoor cooks to grill in all kinds of weather. A family-owned business for more than 50 years, Weber has grown to be a leading exporter of outdoor grills worldwide. Weber charcoal and gas grills are available at select home centers, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its all-year, round-the-clock Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and more than 200 original Weber recipes at http://www.weber.com