Only a dad, but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing, with courage stern and grim,
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen,
Only a dad, but the best of men.
–Edgar Guest (1881–1959)
This slider-style mini-burger recipe has a delicious sweet and savory topping. It’s a fun twist on a regular burger. These sliders are so tasty that they earned a place in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Reader’s Best Recipes cookbook.
Notes:
- If you can find brioche slider rolls, they’re best. If not, dinner rolls will do.
- Mayonnaise is optional as we know some readers aren’t fans.
- You can make the Balsamic Glaze for the sliders that morning or in advance.
Bacon Topping
Ingredients:
6 slices Applewood smoked bacon
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Preheat grill to medium-high.
Arrange bacon in single layer on baking sheet. Cook in oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until brown and crispy.
Relish & Mayonnaise
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced
1 yellow onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon chili paste or sambal oelek (near hot sauces in most large supermarkets)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 lemon
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
Instructions
For relish: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
Add apples and onions and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Add chili paste and salt. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
For mayonnaise (optional): Remove zest from lemon and set aside. Juice half of lemon. In a bowl, combine zest and lemon juice. Add mayonnaise and scallions and
stir to combine.
Sliders
Ingredients
2 pounds freshly ground beef chuck
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze (*see below)
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 teaspoons dark-brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili paste
12 slices sharp white cheddar cheese
12 brioche slider rolls or dinner rolls, split in half
1 cup coarsely chopped red leaf lettuce
Instructions
For sliders: Break beef into clumps by hand and put into a bowl. Add parsley and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together Worcestershire sauce, Balsamic Glaze (*see below), melted butter, brown sugar, and chili paste.
Add to beef and gently mix to combine. Form into 12 patties.
Cook on grill for 3 minutes. Turn over, top each with slice of cheddar, and cook for 3 minutes more. Transfer patties to a plate.
Place rolls split side down on grill for 1 minute, or until lightly toasted.
To assemble: Spread mayonnaise on bottom half of each roll. Arrange lettuce on top. Add patty, cheese side up. Halve each bacon slice. Put one half on each patty. Top with relish and remaining roll halves.
*How to Make Balsamic Glaze
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar with 1/4 cup brown sugar. Allow sugar to melt, then bring to a low boil and cook 2 minutes, or until glaze coats the back of a spoon. Cool, transfer to a jar with a lid, and keep in the refrigerator
Free State of Jones
Set during the Civil War, Free State of Jones tells the story of defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War.
Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, & Mahershala Ali