Monte Cristo Burgers

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chuck
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• to taste olive oil
• 4 hamburger buns
• to taste few shots of hot sauce
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 4 slices cheese
• to taste nonstick cooking spray

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 200°F.
2. Combine the egg, hot sauce, and cream in a pie plate.
3. Dip the cut sides of the buns into the egg mixture.
4. Move to a cooling rack and let sit 10 minutes.
5. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat.
6. Grease with cooking spray.
7. Add the buns, one at a time, and cook until browned on the cut side.
8. Move to a clean plate and repeat until all buns have been cooked.
9. Keep warm in the oven.
10. Form the beef into 4 equal patties.
11. Brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
12. Heat about 28 charcoal briquets in a large chimney starter.
13. Once hot, disperse evenly around the bottom of a grill and reapply the grate.
14. Add the patties and cook, turning often, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, 160°F for medium, and 170°F for toast.
15. Remove to a plate, top with cheese, and cover with aluminum foil.
16. Let rest 3 minutes.
17. Place a patty on the bottom half of each bun.
18. Top with the upper half and serve warm.