a dinner party for boys.

i ran into a few of my friends the other day on the way out to a halloween party.  we started talking and realized that they were long overdue for a dinner party at my apartment (which i was absolutely thrilled to throw as usual) and we made plans to get together on monday night.  before we parted ways, i asked if there was anything in particular they'd like me to make.  they said that any form of meat between two slices of bread was perfectly fine with them.  sigh.  boys.

here i was, excited to make something elaborate and new, but it seemed that hamburgers were the order of the day.  so, instead of making something boring and predictable, i made my own spin on the comfort food.  ready for this?  inside-out cheeseburgers.  they are quick, flavorful, and with only a few ingredients, even relatively inexpensive.   they are so easy, even a college boy who usually microwaves water for ramen noodles could do it :]

i started by running to the grocery for some ingredients for my party of 8: 
- 1 1/4 lbs. 80/20 ground beef (burgers for the boys, humanely raised if possible- makes 4)
- 1 1/4 lbs. 93/7 ground turkey (lighter for the ladies- makes 4)
- 1 medium sized buffalo mozzarella ball
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- S&P to taste
- olive oil
- small head of boston lettuce
- 2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes
- wheat hamburger rolls (i find ones with no HFCS and high fiber)

*a note about the beef:  i used 80/20 ground beef because i wasn't too concerned with the fat content for growing college boys.  if you want to turn this in to a slightly leaner burger, go with the 92/8 ground beef option by Laura's Lean Beef which still has lots of flavor, but a fraction of the fat.  or, just as easily, make all the burgers turkey burgers!

i started off with crafting my delicious and lighter turkey burgers.  i put the lean turkey into a bowl along with a healthy pinch of salt, some good cracks of black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil to keep them moist, and two teaspoons (or less-- do this to your liking) of dried rosemary.  **crush the rosemary in your hand before you add it to the meat and it will release its flavor better!  i mixed the meat and spices gently together and then using my hand, scored the meat into 4 equal pieces.

taking the first quarter, split the portion in half and form the meat into two thin patties. then take a slice of buffalo mozzarella and place it on one patty and cover it with the remaining half (shown in the photo to the right).  pinch the edges together to seal the cheese in between the top and bottom, and set aside.  repeat this with the other three turkey burgers, set them on a plate, and stick them in the fridge while you make the beef burgers.

for the beef burgers, put the meat in a bowl and add a pinch of salt, a good bit of cracked pepper, and 2 tsp. (or less) of crushed red pepper flakes for some kick.  you won't need to drizzle these with olive oil since the meat has a high enough fat content to stay moist through grilling.  follow the same steps as before and fill the beef burgers with a piece of mozzarella and seal them up.  place them in the fridge.  here's what they all look like when they are in their cute hamburger shapes:

once you are ready to cook, warm up your grill pan or skillet with a touch of olive oil in the bottom and begin to grill the burgers.  i did mine in two batches, turkey first and then beef.  **note:  although you can undercook your beef burgers (medium, medium well, etc), you can't undercook a turkey burger! ** cook the turkey burgers on medium-medium high heat for about 4-5 minutes per side, making sure they are completely cooked through.  grill the beef burgers to your liking (medium well is about 3-4 minutes per side).

get the boston lettuce washed and separated into fluffy leaves for your guests to pop on their sandwiches.  slice the tomato into thick pieces and put out extra mozzarella if you have it (add basil and you have a tomato/basil/mozzarella burger!)  you're welcome to warm or grill the buns if you'd like, but i tend to like mine as-is.

i served my meal with french fries and black seedless grapes (picnic style!).  also try these delicious inside-out burgers with a salty italian pasta salad, or even a juicy fruit salad.  if you're feeling adventurous, try a greek salad with cucumber, tomato, olives, and feta!  the possibilities are endless.

this is sure to please even the most picky eaters.  try this out on your fam and let me know how it goes!  or, if you are a college boy reading this, these burgers are very impressive to make for a date :]  enjoy!

Inside-Out Mozzarella Cheeseburgers