My cousin Cynthia gave me this recipe she found for the original “Goody-Goody” hamburger.  Those of you from Tampa should remember the Goody-Goody Drive In Restaurant in downtown Tampa when we were growing up.  It was a special treat to gather the family in the car and drive there to eat these mouth-watering, dripping and messy hamburgers right in the car.  Oh, how we looked forward to that outing!  Now you can recreate that flavor for your own family.  Here is the recipe with my twist!

GOODY-GOODY HAMBURGER SAUCE:

  • 3 T butter
  • 14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp. celery seed
  • 1/2 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 T lemon juice

Combine all in a small but heavy saucepan.  Cook low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.  The tomatoes will break up as thy cook and will form a thick sauce (you can help it along smashing it with a fork).   Makes enough for about 6 to 8 hamburgers. (You can make this the day before and refrigerate, just heat before serving)

HINT OF BEER HAMBURGERS:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground Sirloin (try to find PRIME or 80/20 ground beef)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
  • 1/4 C regular beer
  • 1 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • Hamburger buns of your choice
Optional:  torn lettuce leaves or arugula, sliced tomatoes, dill pickles, sliced or diced onions
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Mix all the above ingredients together.  Shape mixture into 6 patties, about 3/4 inch thick.  (hint:  Form mixture into 6 evenly shaped round balls and lay out on parchment paper before forming into patties, this will help you make them all the same size.)  Separate patties with wax or parchment paper.  Make a small indention in the center of the patty before grilling.  Can be frozen. 
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COOKING METHODS:
GRILLING:  Lightly oil the grill grate.  Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done.  Turn only once and do not poke with knife or fork.
STOVETOP/OVEN:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Preheat a cast iron skillet over the stove at medium-high heat.  Add a touch of olive oil.  Place the patty in your skillet until the bottom has browned and you can see the juices emerging from the top of the patty.  Then, flip the burger over.  Place the skillet with the flipped burger in it into the heated oven for about 5 minutes for a medium temperature.  That’s it, you’re done.
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FINISHING OFF:

BUTTER AND TOAST A GOOD HAMBURGER BUN IN THE OVEN OR ON THE GRILL, PLACE THE HAMBURGER PATTIE ON THE BUN, TOP WITH THE GOODY-GOODY SAUCE, A FEW DILL PICKLE SLICES AND CHOPPED RAW ONIONS.  OPTIONAL:  ADD LETTUCE  OR ARUGULA,  SLICED TOMATOES AND SERVE!  SERVES 6