Burger Surprise and Sweet Potato Fries

I know for some of you just cooking a burger and fries for yourself or your special someone would be a surprise all by itself. Now imagine the look on their face when the burgers and fries are nothing like what they expected. For the burger surprise and sweet potato fries you will need the following:

• 2 sweet potatoes, cut into large French fries
• 1-1/2 teaspoons water
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/2 pinch salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

You should get the fries going first because they will take longer to cook than the burgers. After you get your fries in the oven begin working on the fries and they should be ready at approximately the same time.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place the cut sweet potatoes into a microwave-safe dish with the water. Cook on in the microwave for 5 minutes on full power. Drain off liquid, and toss with Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Arrange fries on a baking sheet in a single layer.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, turning once, or until fries are crispy on the outside.

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons barbeque sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 5 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
• 2/3 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split
• a mixing bowl

1. Place your ground beef, black pepper, salt, barbeque sauce, and garlic powder in your mixing bowl and blend together using your hands.
2. Take about a handful of your mixture out of your bowl and make eight evenly sized patties. Put your patties on a plate or cookie sheet, cover them up with paper towels or plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator.
3. Cook your bacon in a skillet on medium high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove your bacon after it is cooked and place it on a paper towel to drain off the excess grease.
4. Turn the heat down on your stove to medium and pan fry the onions in the remaining bacon grease until they are soft.
5. Break your bacon into even sized pieces and mix in a bowl with your onions.
6. Prepare a grill or large skillet for medium heat.
7. As the grill heats, pull beef patties out of the refrigerator; top 4 of the patties with 1- 1/2 tablespoons of the bacon and onion mixture each, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Top each with one of the remaining patties and press the edges together to seal.
8. Grill or pan fry the stuffed and sealed patties until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve on hamburger buns with condiments of your choice.

Let me and the other readers know how this worked out for you. Good cooking and I look forward to you all stopping back past soon.