So last week was the start of this new addition to my blog!  I decided that this week, I would have some friends over to help me enjoy the yummy food I was going to make and share with all of you <3  We planned a little girls night in.  I asked everyone to bring their favorite bottle of wine and a fun side or appetizer.  These ladies delivered!! I am so excited to share this recipe with you.  I modified it slightly from the original but I am blaming the fact that I forgot to buy a pear and also, I was drinking Montelpuciano which is my absolute favorite wine so when we decided to do an opal apple instead.. I totally spaced it and we just ate the yummyness that was already on our plates!  Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS
For The Relish:
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ red onion sliced thinly
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons red wine
1 tablespoon maple syrup
For The Burger:
2, 8 ounce beef patties
2 Brioche buns, toasted
4 slices smoked bacon
1½ cups candied walnuts, crushed in a food processor
1 large pear
2 thick slices of Wisconsin Blue Cheese
2 cups arugula leaves

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the sliced onions. Cook for about 10 minutes and the onions become soft.
Add the balsamic, red wine and maple syrup. Cook for 30 minutes and the liquid has reduced to a syrup consistency.
Meanwhile press both sides of the bacon slices in the crushed walnuts and place on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees oven for 15 minutes and the bacon is crispy around the edges.
Preheat your grill to a high heat and cook the beef patties, about 5 minutes on each side for medium-well done.
Slice the pear into 4 good size slices and grill for about 1 minute on each side.
Place some of the relish on the bottom of the bun followed by a beef patty.
Add two slices of the grilled pear, 2 slices of the walnut bacon and then the blue cheese.
Finally add some of the arugula and place the top of the brioche bun on the burger.

 

for starters, I used crumbled blue cheese instead of sliced. Also-no pear! wah wah wah. (I will have to make this again with ALL of the ingredients)

REAL maple syrup.  I honestly never knew the difference, but I wouldn’t use any other substitution!

Our grocery store didn’t sell candied walnuts so I made them myself!  you just do sugar and butter in a hot pan and roast them! When they cool, they are like the NutHut nuts at the mall during Christmas time.   Mental note for next December 😉

seriously-yum.

Coty brought yummy bean and cheese dip.  It was too hot to eat it right away but we did it anyways… so stinking good.

I used my awesome slicer again, that my dad got me for Christmas.  I stinking love this thing.

And all the wine… Do you think we had enough?? This actually might not even be all of it

the start to the yummy relish.  I think this is what made this burger so so so good.

we dipped the bacon in the candied walnuts (after going through the food processor of course)

Jess brought the carbs and some more yummy cheese dip!

the relish after I added the wine and the balsamic! Oh and the REAL maple syrup! 

the finished product.  Not only was it so yummy, but also it was pretty.  I like when food is pretty.

nom nom!

 

You guys should share some of your favorite recipes with me!! I need ideas for next week <3

 

xoxo