Hamburger Cake Food

HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a roasting rack on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven.
• Using your hands, break the meat into small pieces and combine evenly but loosely on a parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the meat out and season it generously with salt and pepper. If desired, add the spice mix at this time.
• Divide the meat into 4 portions (about 6 ounces each). Using your hands, form each portion into a ball-shape by gently tossing it from 1 hand to the other. (Don't over work or press too firmly on the meat.) Gently form each portion into a patty about 3 1/2 inches wide and 1-inch-thick.
• Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the oil. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until well-browned, about 2 minutes each side.
• Using a spatula, transfer the hamburgers to the roasting rack in the oven and continue cooking to desired doneness, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium, and 13 to 15 minutes for well-done. If you are using the cheese, top the hamburgers during their last couple of minutes of cooking to melt.
• Transfer the hamburgers to a plate, let rest for a couple minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns. Assemble the hamburgers with the condiments and toppings of your choice. Serve.
• When cooking on a countertop grill, turn on grill, then place burgers on the heated grill.
• Timing for a countertop grill:
• For Medium-Rare: Cook for 3 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 2 to 3 more minutes.
• For Medium: Cook for 4 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 4 more minutes.
• For Well: Cook for 5 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 5 more minutes.
• Combine all ingredients.

APRIL FOOLS' DAY CHEESEBURGER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Grease 2 8-inch layer cake pan.
• Prepare the box of white cake mix and bake according to the recipe.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Invert cakes on rack after 15 minutes and let cool completely.
• Prepare the box of brownie mix, and bake as directed in the 8 inch layer cake pan.
• Cool for 15 minutes in pan, then invert and let cool completely.
• "Tomato Slices" Place plain cookies on a wire rack set over wax paper.
• Put about 1/2 cup vanilla frosting in a small saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until melted and smooth.
• Remove from heat and stir in red food coloring (and a bit of yellow if needed) until frosting is tomato colored.
• Brush or spoon on top and sides of cookies.
• Let stand at least 30 minutes until firm to the touch.
• "Cheese" Spoon another 1/2 cup of vanilla frosting into a small bowl.
• Stir in yellow food coloring (and a drop of red if needed) until cheese colored.
• Cover to prevent drying.
• "Lettuce" Sprinkle granulated sugar on a large sheet of wax paper.
• Working with 1 at a time, place spearmint leaves on the sugar and fold wax paper over, so the candy is sandwiched between the sugar and the wax paper.
• Roll with a rolling pin until flattened and edges are jagged.
• The candy will become very sticky, but the sugar should help it release from the wax paper.
• "Buns" Put remaining vanilla frosting in a medium sized bowl.
• Stir in milk chocolate frosting and red and yellow food coloring, little by little, until frosting is the color of a hamburger bun.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate.
• If well-rounded, best to cut off the hump, then put it upside down for the flat top.
• Cover with frosting.
• Arrange spearmint leaf "lettuce" on top and around edges of the bottom "hamburger bun".
• Place brownie cake on top of the "lettuce" using spatulas.
• Spoon "cheese" about 1 inch from edge of top of burger, letting some run down the sides.
• Top with "tomato" slices.
• If needed, now is the time to insert toothpicks through the brownie layer (leaving at least ¼" above the tomato cookies) to keep the cake layers from sliding off!
• Take the cake layer that rose the most for the top "bun".
• Place cake on wax paper and frost with remaining bun colored frosting.
• Lift onto tomato topped burger.