Meal No. 1099: Peanut Butter Bacon Burgers

For several years, I had the pleasure to work with the faculty and leadership at a charter school in New Orleans where my friend and former Wake Forest grad student Tim Schwarz was on staff. Tim was always fantastic about planning the evenings as well as he planned for his instructional coaching of teachers, and he knew how to make sure I got the full measure of available excellent and unique eateries in that wonderful city. We rarely ventured into the French Quarter, but I'm glad he made an exception so that we could hit Yo Mama's where the recommended specialty was peanut butter bacon burgers.

Let's just say I had to learn how to make 'em for myself once I got back home, and it is not uncommon for guests of the RoHo to demand them and then to marvel that they could be so good.

It felt like it had been a while since I threw this amazing concoction onto the table at dinner time, and it's just too unique and good to be left out of some sort of regular rotation of meals at the Roediger House. I brought it back last night and found that the small crew who gathered were pleased at the results while being simultaneously daunted by the sheer height of the stack of goodness therein.

A review of key points about peanut butter bacon burgers:

• Inspired by Yo Mama's in the French Quarter of New Orleans
• First Made: Meal No. 180
• Last Made: Meal No. 1028
• Homemade Peanut Butter
• Fresh-Ground Beef from boneless beef short ribs and top sirloin
• Homemade Classic Burger Sauce (recipe below)
• Labeled Finished Burger: Guide to Meal No. 234
• Some guidance, inspiration, and tips are based on Cook's Illustrated, No. 93 (July/August 2008), p. 10.

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Classic Burger Sauce

from Cook's Illustrated, July-August 2008, p. 11.

4 T mayonnaise
2 T ketchup
1 tsp sweet pickle relish
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.