Spice up your holiday burger

When I told my husband the other day I wanted to come up with a recipe for Memorial Day, he suggested Nacho Burgers. I looked at him like his sombrero was on backward.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love nachos. I would eat them every night if I could; or at least every other night. But nachos on a burger?

It took a little convincing, and the promise that there would be no actual nacho chips on the burger.

We batted the idea around.

Actually, he batted. I clung to the belief that he had lost his mind.

He suggested mixing salsa into the ground beef. That made sense. I suggested adding some taco seasoning, and then topping it with a slice of pepper jack cheese.

Instead of pickles, I also suggested some sliced jalapenos. He added shredded lettuce and a sprinkling of sliced black olives. I insisted on a slice of red onion.

I also suggested a nice dollop of ketchup.

"No way," said Jim.

The man will eat anything except strawberries and lemons. He also limits his annual ketchup consumption to under a quarter cup a year.

"Fine," I sighed. "How about just topping it with more salsa."

"No. Sour cream."

Sour cream?

"Who puts sour cream on a hamburger?" I demanded.

By the set of his jaw and the way he folded his arms, I could see he wasn't going to budge. I muttered something about not having to eat it. Undaunted, he proceeded to fire up the grill.

I ate the burger, with a little crow on the side.

Jim was right. The Nacho Burger was delicious. The meat was spicy, but really tender from the addition of the salsa. And the sour cream helped take the edge off that extra bite from the jalapenos.

It seems to me like we're getting the summer off to a great start.

Nacho Burgers

Makes 4 hamburgers

1 pound ground beef

4 tablespoons salsa

1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix

1/2 teaspoon salt

teaspoon pepper

teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

4 slices pepper jack cheese

4 Kaiser rolls

4 slices red onion

Shredded lettuce

Sliced jalapeno peppers

Shredded lettuce

Black olives, sliced

Sour cream

Combine the ground beef, salsa, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce, then form four patties. Lightly indent the center of each patty, then grill over medium heat until cooked the way you like them. Top each with a slice of pepper jack cheese and let melt. Remove from grill.

Place each patty on a bun. Top with onion, lettuce, jalapeno peppers and olives. Spread the top of the bun with sour cream.

Serve with corn chips.