Jalapeno Pepper Juicy Lucy Food

JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Lightly mix 6 ounces ground beef chuck with a big pinch of kosher salt. Form into two equal balls, and then shape into two flat patties. Lay two slices American cheese between them and form the meat around the cheese; make an indentation in the center of the patty. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat; sprinkle the skillet with salt. Cook the burger 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve on a soft bun.

SPICY JUICY LUCY-FER SLIDERS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions, spreading them into an even layer. Cook, without stirring, until the edges of the onions are beginning to brown, 5 minutes. Stir the onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and caramelized, another 20 minutes. Add the chipotles, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until fragrant and well combined, 1 to 2 minutes, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven broiler. Divide the meat into 12 portions, about 2 ounces each. Form a patty around each piece of cheese and flatten to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. Put the wrapped patties on a foil-lined baking sheet and sprinkle all the patties with 3/4 teaspoon salt.
• Broil until the cheese is melted and the burgers are still a bit pink inside, about 6 minutes. The burgers will be cooked to at least medium in order to melt the cheese but still stay juicy.
• Mix the ketchup, balsamic and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Brush the burgers with some of the ketchup sauce and divide the rest among the bottom halves of the buns. Place a burger on each bottom bun, top with some of the spicy onions and finish with a top bun. Serve warm.

MOLTEN CHEESE JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Mix the beef with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Form the beef into eight 1/4-inch-thick patties. Fold each cheese slice into quarters and place a folded slice on 4 of the patties. Top each with another patty, then form the meat around the cheese to fully enclose.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare.
• Serve the burgers on the buns and top with ketchup, mayonnaise and/or pickles. Let sit a few minutes before eating.

LOBSTER JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• For the caramelized onions: Melt bacon fat in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook slowly, stirring often, until they turn brown, about 20 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper and vinegar. Spread out on a cookie sheet and allow to cool.
• For the tarragon aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, tarragon, lemon juice and salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until evenly mixed.
• For the cheese stuffing: Melt American cheese and Taleggio together in a double boiler. Remove from heat and fold in lemon juice, herbs and lobster meat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread on a cookie sheet to cool and thicken. (Cheese layer should be 1/2-inch thick.)
• For the lobster Lucy: Weigh beef out into 3.5-ounce balls. Flatten meatballs into circular patties using wax paper and a 6-inch pizza pan. (Patties should be no more than 1/2-inch thick.) Cut out circles of cheese stuffing using a 1-inch ring mold. (Cheese should be 1.5-ounce pieces.) Place cheese stuffing in center of a beef patty. Place a second beef patty on top of cheese stuffing. Using thumb and forefinger, crimp the two patties all the way around to mold them together, leaving no air inside and no seams in the beef. Repeat with remaining beef and cheese stuffing.
• Sprinkle lobster Lucy patty generously with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat, add oil and lay patties in pan. Cook for 4 minutes on each side, uncovered and unpressed. Poke a hole in top of each patty after flipping it to allow air pressure out. Allow to rest off heat 2 minutes before serving.
• Toast hamburger buns. Place lobster Lucy patties on bottom burger bun. Top each with 1.5 ounces caramelized onions and 1 ounce lobster claw. Spread 1 ounce tarragon aioli on top bun and place over lobster Lucy to finish. Garnish with chopped chives.

HOMEMADE JALAPENO PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Combine the bell peppers, chile peppers, vinegar, sugar, and cayenne pepper in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. When the mixture comes to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stir in the pectin. Cook for 5 more minutes at a boil, then remove from the heat. Stir in the green food coloring, if desired.
• Ladle jelly into hot sterile jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process jars in a boiling water bath for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure a good seal.