Cows in a Blanket

Sometimes Justin and I just get weird dinner ideas. They come to us out of nowhere. Sometimes they don't work out very well, and sometimes they do; you never really know until you try. This is one of those ideas.

When we were planning our meal list for our most recent grocery shopping trip, we started talking about pigs in a blanket but wanted to do something a little different. I'm not sure which of us decided that burgers would be a fun idea, but we ran with it. The result is quite tasty. The crescent rolls give you the flavor of a buttery, toasted bun. If that's your kind of thing, you'll like this idea.

We used reduced fat crescent rolls and 93/7 ground beef. Burgers are typically juicier and more flavorful with a higher fat percentage, but we think 93/7 gives you just enough flavor without being overly high in calories. Also, if your burgers are too juicy, you'll end up with soggy crescent rolls. Whenever making burgers by hand, the more gentle you are with the beef, the better your burgers will be. Handle it just enough to get it into shape; don't smash it together as hard as you can. With these, it's also important to let them rest for a couple minutes before wrapping them because if not, you'll end up with soggy, greasy crescent rolls.

My personal preference is for my burger condiments to be cold. I don't want hot mayo or ketchup on pretty much anything. Therefore, I didn't put them on before placing the burgers in the oven. If it doesn't bother you, feel free to try it, though you might want to cut back on the amount you use so that you don't get soggy crescent rolls with liquefied ketchup running out of both ends. As an alternative, you can do like I did and dip them after they're finished.


Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
2 tsp burger seasoning*
4 slices cheese (American, cheddar, etc.)
1 pkg refrigerated crescent rolls*
Salt
Pepper
Burger toppings such as onions, tomatoes, etc.

*If you don't have burger seasoning, substitute a combination of your favorite spices--onion powder, garlic powder, ground red pepper, season salt, etc.


Directions

Sprinkle burger seasoning over ground beef in a large bowl and gently mix with your hands. Divide beef into 8 portions, and gently form each portion into a log, similar to a hot dog. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Cook in a skillet over medium-high heat, stopping shy of the final doneness you'd like--the burgers will finish cooking in the oven. Remove the burgers from the pan, and allow them to sit for 2-3 minutes before continuing.

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Separate each package of crescent rolls into 8 triangles. Top each rectangle with desired burger toppings, a half slice of cheese, and a burger. Roll up and place on a baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining burgers. Bake until golden brown, about 11-13 minutes.


Servings: 4