How Do You Eat Your Burger

Today, May 29th is the day to celebrate one of America's favorite sandwich. The hamburger is the unofficial sandwich for events such as the Memorial Day cookout or the Fourth of July picnic. Hamburgers are American by origin. Americans have been eating hamburgers since the 19th or 20th century The one thing to know for sure is that the flavor the of the All American hamburger is one to be savored.

Whether you like your hamburger grilled on an outdoor grill, fried in a pan inside keeping cool and away from the heat and bugs. Top your burger with your favorite fixings:

• cheese
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• pickles
• onions
• bacon
• ketchup
• mustard

What's your favorite topping?? 

Did you know::

The World's largest burger was created on September 2, 2012 at the Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton Minnesota The burger weighed in at 2014 lbs. and would make up around 8,056 1/4 lbs sandwich 

History of Hamburgers

Thousands of years ago it was the ancient Egyptians who enjoyed eating ground meat. The traditional food went down through history. Ground meat has been enjoyed in many different forms including patties. 

The emperor of all emperors Genghis Khan and his army of Mongol horsemen battled and conquered many parts of the ancient world. The Mongols traveled fast and rode sturdy ponies. There were days when they would not dismount and had little opportunity to enjoy a meal. Behind the mounted soldiers were villagers who pulled large carts that carried sheep, goats, oxen and horses. This in turn led to ground meat and speedy meals. Ground meat would be made into patties that the horsemen would carry under their saddles and eaten raw. 

The traditional food of the time would be carried down by those who were battling. Genghis Khan's grandson would carry this tradition when they invaded Moscow. The Russians would adopt the cuisine and name it after the Mongols that they called "Tartars" The ground meat patties would be known as "Steak Tartare" This dish would travel through history and be developed into a fine dish that also included onions and eggs.

The Russian steak tartare would eventually travel back to Germany. The German port of Hamburg had previously created minced beef into delicious delicacies that were shared throughout Europe. The steak tartare would become known as Hamburg steak. Step ahead in time when the largest ports in Europe were in Germany and ships would travel to America. Sailors would help spread the Hamburg steak as they ate the sandwich at the ports in Hamburg. The eating stands in New York city harbor would offer sailors "steak cooked in the Hamburg style" 

German speaking immigrants to the United States would bring with them their favorite foods. The hamburg steak made the list of favorites that would be shared in America. The beef was shredded and low grade that contained spices and was cooked but it was also enjoyed raw. The seaport town of Hamburg would gain the name of Hamburg Steak stand.  

German immigrants would also travel to England in the mid 17th century. A recipe titled "Hamburgh Sausage" was found in a 1758 cookbook in England The recipe called for chopped beef, suet and spices. The recommendation of eating the sausage on toasted bread was also offered. By the mid 18th century the Boston Cooking School cook book had a recipe for broiled meat cakes as well as Hamburgh steak. 

• To make broiled meat cakes take chop lean, raw beef and season with salt , pepper and chopped onion. Make the mix into small flat cakes , broil on gridiron or on hot frying pan. Serve hot with butter
• hamburgh steak was made by pounding a slice of round steak. Fry a couple of onions that had been minced. Spread onions over the meat, fold ends of the meat together and pound again. Broil 2-3 minutes Spread with butter season with salt and pepper. 

During the early 1900s Upton Sinclair would author the book The Jungle. The book would tell the stories of the Chicago meat packing plants and the horrors found there. Chopped meat seemed to earn a distrust in the U.S. It would be a while before the Hamburger would be developed and then many would take the credit for creating it. Read the rest of the story here