Make Your Own Burger Like a McDonald's Big Mac

We've all been there. We're driving home late and starving and all we can think about is food. You don't really want to eat fast food, but due to our poor planning and time management skills, we are left with no other option. At this point, we don't really care what we're putting into our bodies as long as it takes away the uncomfortable stomach pains from hunger. It's quick and you'll suppress your agonizing hunger feeling, it's a win-win for you.

You have finished your medium #1 meal from one of the most popular fast rood restaurants in America. Your hunger is gone, which is good. 10 minutes later, you start to feel your stomach turn. Wondering if it's from how fast you scarfed down your meal or from the immense amount of grease that coats fast food like a wax.

Fast forward 3 days: Your child or younger sibling asks for you to stop off at a thriving fast food drive-thru on the way home. You can almost feel yourself putting your left blinker on to turn into the multi-billion dollar fast food drive-thru, but something stops you. It's your memory of the feeling you got from scarfing down your #1 medium sized meal 3 days prior to this.

A thought pops into your head: What if I tried to make my own version like the McDonald's Big Mac? Minus all the grease and potential dirt from the grills.

- 2 thin hamburger patties (room temperature)

- 1-2 (or more) pieces of pasteurized processed American cheese

- 2 sour dill pickles slices

- 1 tsp finely minced white onion

- 2 sesame buns: a top bun and two bottom buns

- 1/4 cup of shredded lettuce (rinsed, drained)

- Salt

- Pepper

(All of these items can be found at your local grocery store. A convenient store may have a good amount of these items as well.)

-Any type of plate

-Utensils: fork and knife

-Napkins

-A whisk or large spoon

-Small bowl for the special sauce

-Saran wrap or plastic food wrap to cover the special sauce bowl

-Skillet (if you choose to cook on the stove.)

(All of these materials can be found at your local grocery store.)

1. 1/8 tsp of salt

2. 1 tsp of ketchup

3. 1 tsp dried minced onion

4. 1/2 cup of mayonnaise

5. 2 tsp of dill pickle relish

6. 1 tsp white vinegar

7. 1 tsp of sugar

8. 1/2 tsp of paprika

(All of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.)

Note: This process can get messy, get the napkins ready.

1. Mix all of the ingredients into a small bowl thoroughly.

2. Cover the bowl with saran wrap or tinfoil.

3. Refrigerate the bowl for 1 hour before serving to let the flavors absorb one another.

*CAUTION: The next step involves using highly flammable and/or hot surfaces that you could potentially burn yourself with!*

1. Lightly toast two bottom buns (heel) and a top bun (crown) to your preference in a toaster or on the grill.

2. Turn on the grill/stove and let it heat up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Season the two hamburger patties with salt and pepper to add flavor.

4. Place the patties on the grill or stove.

5. Cook the patties for approximately 1-3 minutes on each side using a medium sized skillet. Cook until you are satisfied with how cooked the meat is.

1. Place the crown upside down on your plate. (Ex: The side with the sesame seeds should be touching the plate.)

2. Place heel bun #1 right side up on the plate.

3. Place heel bun #2 on top of the crown bun, which should be upside down.

4. Add approximately 1/2 tablespoon of the special sauce on the both of the heel buns.

5. Add 1/2 tablespoon of the onions on both of the heel buns.

6. Add 1/8 cup of shredded lettuce onto the two heel buns.

7. On the heel bun which is on the top of the crown bun, place two pickles on it.

8. Place 1 slice of American cheese on both of the heel buns.

9. Place the cooked patties on top of both pieces of american cheese.

10. Put the two halves of the burger together.

This recipe can be used to make individual burgers or many burgers for family and friends. This is a relatively low-budget meal which only takes about 15-20 minutes to make.

--Published on October 9, 2019 by Keira Murray