Ingredients for Romance

INGREDIENTS FOR ROMANCE

Kevin poked through his cooler in growing frustration--where was the ground beef? He had offered to make All-American Hamburgers for the July 4th picnic. But no beef, no burgers. He was going to look like an idiot at his first family gathering in fifteen years.

"Marion," he said to his second cousin at the other end of the picnic table, "I seem to have mislaid the ground beef. Can I run to a store to pick some up?"

"Sorry, Kevin. You wouldn't get back in time for supper."

Marion was glad to have Kevin there. She'd had a heavy crush on him when they were ten years old. Then Kevin's family had moved away and they'd lost track. Now, he was back, looking as good as ever, taller, more muscular, more mature. And the way she felt when he smiled at her made her realize some of that puppy love was still snuggling in her heart.

"I'm missing an ingredient, too. I'm doing Buffalo Grilled Corn-on-the cob, but I can't find the hot sauce. It just won't be buffalo corn without hot sauce."

Kevin grinned at her, stirring little flutters in her tummy.

At the scent of burning charcoal, she ran to put her corn cobs on to grill, then returned to Kevin. They somehow had a little island of privacy in the swirl of family conversation and hi-jinks.

"I feel so stupid, forgetting the main ingredient of a hamburger," he confessed.

"Well, yeah, noodle-head. You always did have less brains than a guppy."

He laughed, "Nobody's called me noodle-head since we moved away. And who are you to call names? You forgot the hot sauce!"

Marion enjoyed the banter, feeling the comfort of an old relationship spiced with the warmth of something new.

"You know, I didn't realize until now just how much I've missed you," he said. The gleam in his eye told her he was feeling a little spice too.

"Hey, Marion, how about this? I'll toast the hamburger buns, add the cheese, sliced onions, tomato, and bacon. Instead of burgers, we'll have All American Grilled Cheese Sandwiches."

"That sounds like a plan. But what can I do about my un-buffalo corn? I always do a few plain, but most like 'em spicy."

"Would chili sauce work? I have chili sauce. And Worcestershire sauce."

"Might work. We'll give it a try."

###

When everyone gathered to eat, there was a lot of laughter at Kevin's expense, but people enjoyed the grilled cheese sandwiches. Dad commented, "The corn seemed hotter last year, but it's good!"

After supper, in the gathering dusk, Dad and Uncle Mike set off fireworks in the meadow adjacent to Spencer Creek. Kevin and Marion found a spot where the brilliance in the sky was reflected in the creek, and sat holding hands. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"It's so nice to have you back, Kevin," she said.

"It's great to be back. It seems we're the missing ingredients in each other's lives."

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ALL AMERICAN HAMBURGERS

Ingredients

         1 pound ground beef
         2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
         2 tablespoons chili sauce
         2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
         2 teaspoons prepared mustard
         4 slices American cheese, cut diagonally to make triangles
         2 slices Swiss cheese, cut diagonally
         4 hamburger buns, split
         Optional: Lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, sliced onion, cooked bacon strips, ketchup and relish

Directions

         1. Combine first 5 ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 patties.
         2. Grill burgers, covered, on an oiled rack over medium direct heat until a thermometer reads 160 and juices run clear, about 6          minutes on each side. Toast buns.
         3. During the last minute of cooking, top each patty with 2 triangles American cheese and 1 triangle Swiss cheese.
         4. Serve on buns. As desired, top with lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, ketchup and relish.

Nutrition

         1 hamburger: 432 calories, 21g fat (9g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 681mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 30g protein.

Source
         Adpted from Taste of Home  

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Notes ▼

An entry for "Sharmelle's Recipe Kitchen Contest" 
Word Count (Recipe): 168
Word Count (Story): 497
Prompt: Regular Recipes
Recipe Format: Standard
Recipe Notes: All American Hamburgers