Hamburgers are a favorite of both Canadians and Americans year round, but there is nothing quite like grilled hamburgers.

This is a very tasty hamburger recipe, with lots of variations.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 egg (optional)
1/2 - 3/4 cup bread crumbs (optional)
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
a few drops of hot sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons mustard
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
cheese slices
Whole wheat hamburger buns

Directions:
Combine the first 11 ingredients and mix well. (The egg and bread crumbs are optional. I like it with them because they allow the meat to stay together better). Shape into 4 very large patties or 5 smaller patties.

Place the patties on a grill over medium coals and grill 4-5 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness. Top with cheese for the last minute of cooking.

Serve in buns with your favorite condiments and toppings.

Makes 4 servings.

Suggested Hamburger Toppings:
Mustard
Relish
Cheese
Pickles
Ketchup
Sliced tomato
Sliced or chopped raw onions
Sliced hot peppers
Mayonnaise
Lettuce
Guacamole
Cooked bacon slices
Roasted peppers
Barbecue sauce
Cooked sliced onions

Variations:

• Fancy up your burgers. Put a small cube of cheddar or blue cheese in the middle of the patty as you make it, then shape the patty all around it so the cheese is well hidden. Grill as directed. When the hamburger is eaten the gooey cheese inside will be a nice surprise.

• As stated above you can use a mixture of ground meats instead of all beef. Try a mix of beef and pork, or beef, pork and veal.

• Wild game meats also make a great hamburger recipe. They are naturally lean and full of flavor. If you have access to that kind of meat, try it.

• Of course you can also make bbq hamburgers out of ground chicken or turkey. They do need extra moisture added though, so you may want to look at adding a bit of water or milk.