BRAWLEY, CA--(Marketwire - August 20, 2007) - Labor Day, also known as "the working man's
holiday," celebrates the contributions workers have made to the prosperity
of America. For many, Labor Day simply marks the chance to take a break
from the daily grind and enjoy the end of summer. Whatever you decide to
celebrate, world-class-chef Tom McAliney, has some tips and recipe ideas to
make your holiday experience much more memorable.
"Holidays are a great time for friends and family to get together, but
preparing the right menu can sometimes be a daunting and time-consuming
task for the host," said Chef McAliney. "Since Labor Day is all about
enjoying a break from work, how about trying a quick and easy twist on an
old American classic -- the cheeseburger? My recipe for Blue Cheese
Stuffed Brandt Burgers is easy to prepare and the flavor will definitely
give your guests something to celebrate."
Blue Cheese Stuffed Brandt Burgers (serves four)
-- 4 ounces artisanal blue cheese, room temperature
-- 1 1/2 pounds fresh ground Brandt Beef chuck
-- Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
-- Fresh baked burger buns or buns of your choice
Cooking Instructions:
-- Preheat your gas grill to medium-high heat for 30 minutes.
-- Prior to grilling, divide the blue cheese into four equal pieces and
roll into balls.
-- Divide the meat into four equal portions, wrapping each portion around
one piece of blue cheese.
-- Flatten each piece of meat to form patties and season with salt and
pepper.
-- Place the burgers on the grill. Cook on the first side for
approximately four minutes.
-- Turn and cook approximately another four minutes.
-- Remove the burgers from the grill, place on buns and serve.
"I prefer to use natural beef products from Brandt Beef when grilling
because they offer a great combination of quality, flavor and texture,"
added Chef McAliney.
Chef McAliney offers the following quick tips to ensure that your Blue
Cheese Stuffed Brandt Burgers are grilled to perfection:
1. Clean the grilling surface prior to every use and preheat the grill
30 minutes before grilling. Also be sure to have all necessary grilling
items including meat, seasonings, an instant read thermometer, tools,
etc. ready for use by the grill.
2. Add salt, pepper and seasoning before grilling burgers.
3. Grill all burgers on medium-high heat.
4. Always use tongs or a spatula to turn your burgers. When burgers are
pierced with a fork, flavorful juices can be lost. And remember to turn
the burger only once during grilling.
5. Never flatten the burger with a spatula. This will force flavorful
juices out of the burger, making the beef drier and less palatable.
6. The most accurate way to determine the temperature of the burger is to
insert an instant-read thermometer horizontally from the side into the
center of the burger.
7. Allow three to five minutes of resting time once your burgers have been
removed from the grill. This will ensure optimal consistency and flavor
are reached prior to serving.
For additional recipe ideas and cooking tips from Chef McAliney, please
visit http://www.brandtbeef.com/Recipes.html.
For grilling safety tips, Chef McAliney recommends visiting the Consumer
Product Safety Commission Web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML97/97128.html.
About Tom McAliney
Tom McAliney is the executive chef for Brandt Beef. He specializes in
working with natural and seasonal products. Prior to joining Brandt Beef
in 2006, Tom served as executive chef and director of food and beverage for
the Greenwich Country Club in Greenwich, Conn. Tom also has extensive
experience working as a corporate executive chef for special events and has
hosted such events as the Grammy Awards, Olympic fundraisers, the Elton
John AIDS Foundation Awards, the Silver Apple Awards, former New York City
Mayor Rudy Giuliani's Inauguration, Hollywood movie premiers, celebrity
weddings and corporate IPOs.
About Brandt Beef
Brandt Beef - The True Natural, is a family owned premium natural beef
producer for the up-scale restaurant and retail markets. The Brandt family
is passionate about producing the most consistent, highest quality, 100
percent source verified natural beef on the market. Through cattle
selection, natural feeding practices and humane treatment of animals,
Brandt Beef produces a product that is unparalleled in taste, tenderness
and consistency. Brandt Beef received the Master Chefs' Institute Seal of
Excellence in 2006 for its achievement in obtaining the Master Chef's
Institute standard of quality. To obtain more information or to purchase
various cuts of Brandt's premium natural beef, please visit
www.brandtbeef.com.
Contact Information: Media Contacts:
Sara DeNio
Dresner Corporate Services
312-780-7223
sdenio@dresnerco.com
Jennifer Jameson
Dresner Corporate Services
312-780-7241
jjameson@dresnerco.com