Starker's Bacon and Cheese Curd Burger

Place bacon slices on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Sprinkle each slice with brown sugar. Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until crisp. When cool enough to handle, chop bacon; set aside.

Divide and pat beef into eight patties approximately 4 inches in diameter and about 3/4-inch thick.

Place one-fourth of the chopped bacon and 3 tablespoons of the cheese curds in the middle of four of the patties, leaving 1/2 inch around the edge of the patty. Top each with the remaining four patties. Pinch edges of patties together to form one large burger patty. Chill, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Season burgers with salt and black pepper. For a charcoal grill, place the patties on the well-oiled rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 10 minutes. Turn with a wide spatula and grill 10 to 12 minutes more, until meat is cooked and an instant-read thermometer inserted into patties registers 160 degrees F. Toast buns, cut side down, on grill during last 1 to 2 minutes of grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place patties on grill rack and cover and grill as above.)

To serve, place a cooked burger on bottom half of each bun. If you like, top each with tomato, onion, and lettuce.