Easy Entertaining for Beginners

Makes 12 hamburgers
12 slices bacon
1 package (12 ounces) sliced white mushrooms
Salt to taste
1 large red onion, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
Olive oil for brushing
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced
Juice of 1 lemon
4 tomatoes, sliced
12 red leaf lettuce leaves, washed and dried
Sliced sweet and dill pickles
12 slices assorted cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss, jack, pepper jack)
4 pounds lean ground beef, Sirloin-7% fat, or ground turkey or garden burgers
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray
12 gourmet hamburger buns
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp; drain on paper towels. Sauté the mushrooms for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of the leftover bacon grease; salt to taste. You may grill some of the onion slices if desired. Brush with olive oil and grill for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once. Prepare the other accompaniments (avocados, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and cheese). When slicing the avocados, sprinkle with the juice of 1 lemon. This will prevent them from turning black.
Mix the ground beef or turkey with the kosher salt and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into 12 patties about 3/4 inch thick. Light a fire in a charcoal grill, or preheat a gas grill to medium. Coat the grill with cooking spray and grill the patties. Turn them once, and do not squish down with the spatula as this will squeeze out all the juice. When cooked to the desired doneness (4 to 5 minutes on each side), put on a serving platter. If making cheeseburgers, put slices of cheese on the burgers and leave on the grill until the cheese is just soft and a little melted, probably no more than 1 minute. Let guests pick their toppings from your gourmet bar.
Tip: Most grocery stores carry a line of gourmet hamburger buns, such as potato, onion, or seven-grain or you can get fresh French or ciabatta rolls from your bakery. For this meal, definitely do not buy the white enriched bargain buns. The idea is gourmet hamburgers!