Peanut Butter Burgers with Slim Jim Fries and Chocolate Malted Milkshakes

During my undergraduate career at Ohio State in Columbus, OH I met and became friends with a lot of people from the state of Ohio. However, despite this I never met anyone that ever heard of the famous peanutbutter from Bearden’s in West Cleveland. I even asked those whom I know are from that area and they were clueless. Apparently the next time I visit those friends we will have to fix that issue and hunt down that restaurant. In the meantime, I made it at home!

This burger is proof that I have a deep love for peanut butter and will put it on just about anything. Yes you heard me. Peanut butter melting on top of a burger was as glorious and a gooey peanut butter cookie fresh out of the oven – at least to me. But the burger is only a part of an entire meal. It is the star but there are other necessary players in order to complete this belly-fulfilling-journey. Emphasis on the FILLING.

What’s a burger without fries? I personally prefer my fries to be crispy and often order my fries to be double fried at restaurants, but these slim fries are baked which means they are a little healthier and easier to control how crispy they get. Of course being slim fries they got crispy faster than thick fries would, which was also fine by me! Definitely a good fry recipe for all kinds of burgers.

Last but not least there’s the milkshake. Paired with a peanut butter burger it’s a no-brainer to choose chocolate. Unless you are me and tend to not enjoy chocolate shakes. However, in this situation paired with the peanut butter, it was perfect. Especially with the malted powder, which I used vanilla instead of chocolate just due to my personal preferences. I did drizzle some fudge sauce over the top but I think it would’ve been prettier if I had put a dollop of whipped cream on top first.

Overall, this was a fantasticly indulgent meal and much needed fat-kid food to sooth my recent stress levels. Would I put peanut butter on my burger again? You bet I would! Maybe next time I will get daring and do it with cheese too.

One year ago: German Chocolate S’mores Gooey Cake Bars

PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS WITH SLIM JIM FRIES AND CHOCOLATE MALTED MILKSHAKES

Serves 4

Ingredients:

BURGERS

1 lb. ground beef

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

8 slices cooked bacon, optional (I used turkey bacon)

4 burger buns, toasted

FRIES

3 lb. russet potatoes, peeled (if desired) and sliced into 1/4-inch strips

3 Tbsp olive oil

1-1/2 tsp seasoned salt

1 tsp pepper

MILKSHAKES

4 cups chocolate ice cream (I used double churned low fat)

1 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup vanilla or chocolate malt powder

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Whipped cream and hot fudge sauce, optional

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top of each. Spray the rack with nonstick spray.
2. Add ground beef to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Form into four equal patties and then let sit at room temperature. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl toss the fries with olive oil. Add the seasoned salt and pepper and arrange the fries in single layer on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes, flip over each fry, then bake for another 15-20 minutes or until desired doneness.
4. About 15 to 20 minutes before the fries are ready, grill the burgers about 4 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Remove from the grill and cover with foil.
5. For the milkshakes, in a blender, combine the ice cream, malted milk powder and vanilla. Add the milk, a quarter cup at a time, blending between each addition, until the desired consistency is reached. Divide between four glasses and top with whipped cream and hot fudge sauce if using.
6. To assemble burgers warm the peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place a burger on its bun and top with warmed peanut butter and 2 slices of bacon if desired and add the top of the burger bun.
7. Serve the burgers fries and milkshakes!

Source: Half Baked Harvest