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I did it!
I made it through the first whole week back at work after my two-week hiatus. It was hard. It wasn’t fun, and I pretty much wanted to take a big fat nap under my desk every other hour. I could legitimately do this since my desk isn’t like a normal desk that goes straight across, it kind of curves and would fit my short body perfectly. I could probably even get a small shelf in there with a little nightlight and everything – George Costanza style. Being the good employee, I am, I refrained, and instead got up and went to the kitchen to stuff my face with snacks hoping to fight the back-to-work blues.
Last week, I lived a life of leisure. It went a little something like this: Wake up at 9:30am. Drink coffee on our balcony overlooking all of PV and the ocean. Read. Go to breakfast on the beach. Lay out on the beach. Read. Come home, get ready. Drink a Mexican beer. Go to dinner. Read. Sleep. Do it all over again.
Now, instead of gradually waking up by the rising sun, and the scent of coffee coming from the kitchen, I’m abruptly woken up by my internal alarm clock and the scent of Ravioli’s dog breath.
Instead of walking out to a pristine ocean view and a comfortable 80 degrees, I’m now walking out to a snow-covered driveway and a bitter 20-something degrees.
Don’t you feel sorry for me?
The more days that go by, the easier it gets to adjust back to real life. My body has slowly started to come to temperature, I’m finally used to getting up before 8am again, and I don’t crave a strong margarita come 5pm. I must be coming to terms with reality. One cannot live like a lazy beach bum day to day.
I’ve told you a thousand times, but I have a very serious love for Mexican food, and I didn’t get sick of it once last week, not once. In fact, I’m having it again tomorrow, because I just can’t get enough. BUT the one food that I desperately craved in Mexico besides enchiladas, guacamole, tacos and fundito was a burger, and I would have satisfied my craving there, but I wasn’t too sold on a Mexican burger. Every time I saw a waiter on the beach coming from the kitchen with a burger, I followed it secretly with my eyes and would start to order it, then retreat.
On the plane ride back, I immediately started my burger making plans. Since I just consumed a boat-load of food in the previous week, I decided to go with a bison burger to slightly lighten the dish up, and allow me to pile it high with all kinds of delicious toppings.
If you haven’t had bison before, I recommend you give it a shot. I hesitantly tried it for the first time about five years ago, at a local gourmet burger shop, and fell head over heels, because honestly, I can’t really tell too much of a difference between it and regular lean ground beef. Keyword: LEAN. I can tell the difference between bison meat and an 80/20 ground beef mix, but I can also tell the difference between a lean ground beef and an 80/20 ratio also. It’s not a bad difference, just a slightly less fattening taste – if that makes sense. It cooks up the same as ground beef, although I like it more on the medium-well side versus how I would normally order a burger, which is medium.
I made the patties the same way I make any other lean ground beef or chicken burger: plenty of grated onion for added moisture, a little bit of garlic, worcestershire sauce and a generous amount of salt. You don’t want to alter the flavor of the meat too much, just enhance it and prevent the meat from drying out while cooking.
Next up, the toppings, which in this case MAKE the burger.
Pears + Brie + Bacon + Arugula
I’ve been thinking about this burger combo for a while now, since summer actually, but I thought it was more of a “winter” burger, maybe because I associate pears and brie with the colder months and holidays. Anyways, since then, I’ve kept it in my little recipe arsenal, just waiting for the perfect time to bring her out.
The pears? Ohmygosh. So so good. I kept sneaking bites of them, and almost had to make more, but showed a smidge of restraint before they disappeared.
First, I fried up the bacon, removed all of the grease except for about a teaspoon or so, then melted a tablespoon of butter into the pan, browned the butter and then threw in the sliced pears, a little bit of brown sugar, salt and crushed red pepper flakes. I cooked the pears until they were just softened, sticky, sweet and slightly spicy.
When the burger was almost finished cooking, I piled the patties with lots of brie cheese, covered and waited for them to melt it into a gooey oblivion. Here’s a little trick I learned from Bobby Flay, before you cover the burgers, pour a couple tablespoons of water into the grill pan, it will help to melt the cheese quick, and give the burgers a little bit extra moisture. I then stacked the patties on a toasted bun covered in a little mayo and arugula, then topped them off with the bacon and caramelized pears.
This is one serious burger. Juicy, cheesy, sweet, spicy, crunchy and totally fabulous.
- 1 pound of ground bison
- ½ onion, grated
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 pears, cut in half cored and sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Red pepper flakes
- 8 slices center-cut bacon
- 4 ounces brie
- 2 cups arugula
- 4 buns
- In a large bowl combine, ground bison, grated onion, garlic, salt, pepper and worcestershire sauce. Do not over mix.
- In a large non-stick skillet, cook bacon. Drain on paper towels. Remove all but one teaspoon of bacon grease.
- Melt butter over a medium-high heat, swirl pan until butter browns. Add in pears, brown sugar, salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook, until just softened, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
- Heat a gril pan over a medium high heat. Form bison mixture into four patties. Drizzle buns with olive oil and grill until slightly toasted. Slather with a little bit of mayo.
- Grill burgers until desired doneness, about 2-3 minutes per side for medium. When the burgers are almost done cooking top with brie and pour two tablespoons of water into the pan, cover until cheese is melted, about 30 seconds.
- Top the bottom of each bun with a handful of arugula, then the patty, followed by bacon and pears.
Karyl says
Incredible Nicole; this is so going onto our “have to make it soon recipe list”. Looks amazing.
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
It’s so hard getting back into the swing of things after a long vacation. Congrats on making it through the first week!! These are gorgeous Nicole! My hubby would go nuts over these burgers!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Haha, I love how you went into depth about how you “could” take naps under your desk. And I also love these burger toppings. Caramelized pear?! Yes please! And you can never, NEVER, go wrong with bacon 🙂
Nicole says
I totally could! Haha. Agreed. You can never ever ever go wrong with bacon!
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats says
I’ve pretty much been dying over this burger since I saw it on Instagram last night. It’s like you’re speaking to me. Brie is my favoooooorite. I love it so so much. And bacon. and Caramelized pears. ohmygod. I can’t believe you held out so long! 😉 Definitely saving this! (I’d make it allll summer long!)
As for feeling sorry for you…hmmm….only a little. I mean, I’m sorry you had to go back to work, but you DID get a fabulous vacation…one that I would pay mega moola for these days..I’m in dire need of one, instead, we have to save all the megabucks for moving again. Oy vey..post your vaca pics so I can live vicariously through you! 😉
Nicole says
Hahaha thanks girl!! I know! I’ve been thinking about it FOREVER, don’t know why I waited so long!! I will definitely do a PV post ASAP! Moving SUCKS, hopefully once you finally get settled you can start thinking about YOUR vacation! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Oh wow, wow, wow! I read the title of the recipe expecting it to say caramelized ONIONS. But pears? oh my gosh, that sounds and looks ridiculously good. I love pairing fruits with savory foods. Love the tip about adding some water to the grill pan to melt the cheese and add moisture to the burgers. Going to have to remember to try that!
Ashley says
This is definitely one serious burger! And it looks so amazingly good! Love the brie / pear combo. I’ve never had a bison burger … I need to give it a try. And I feel you on being back to work. I had the hardest time this past week (first full week back) and I wasn’t even on an awesome vacation!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Glad you survived work and hope it gets easier as the year goes on girl! This burger, oh goodness, I usually don’t crave burgers but now it’s all I can think about! Looks amazing!
Nicole says
Thanks Pamela!!
Bibs @ Tasteometer says
OMG I’ve wanted to try bison for so long, may just have to go down this route. Can’t get it in Spain but off to UK soon for a few weeks to visit family and I know a company that delivers meats from around the world.
Nicole says
You have to try it! So low in fat and tastes almost identical to ground beef! I’m a HUGE fan!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I have a serious love of bison meat! And with bacon, caramelized pears AND BRIE?!
This is love between two buns and on a plate. Holy-get-in-my-face-now batman!
Glad to hear you made it through work…it’s always so hard after those vacays!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
There is a bison farm near our cottage in Maine. When we go up for there for the summer and I start grilling, I’ll be heading to the farm for some bison to make these burgers.
Nicole says
Ohmygosh, I would kill to have place I could get produce and meat fresh off the farm, that’s amazing!