Hackney's Inside-Out Burger

Thsi recipe is from "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" cookbook. Adapted from a recipe courtesy of Bill Blair of Hackney's on Harms.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  lbs ground beef
• 4  ounces bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1  cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 2  tablespoons canola oil (or olive oil)
• 4  hamburger buns (optional)

Directions

1. Divide the ground beef into 8 even portions. Line a round mold or lid with plastic wrap. Pat a portion of the meat into the mold. Top with a quarter of the bacon and cheese, taking care that the fillings aren't too close to the edge. Cover with another portion of ground beef and press the edges together to seal in the fillings. Remove the burger from the mold by the plastic wrap and shape into an even patty. Repeat to make 4 inside-out burgers.
2. Season the burgers with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the burgers, and fry, turning once, until the cheese melts and the burgers are cooked to the desired degree of doness. Serve the burgers solo or on a bun.
3. NOTE:Special equipment: 1 (4-inch) ring mold (a large lid of a mayonnaise jar works); plastic wrap.