Knife and Fork Burgers and Garlic Fries

I wanted a fun meal for Friday night and Burgers and Fries sounded perfect. I found this Rachael Ray recipe and thought I would go for an upscale burger. We really liked the burgers and the dipping sauce. I didn't have provolone so I used Parmesan instead and it worked perfectly. I plan to save the salad recipes for future use. The addition of the roasted tomato and shallot added so much flavor and was so easy to do. I found the recipe for Garlic Fries on http://www.sweet-savory-southern.blogspot.com. I knew when I saw them it would be the perfect accompaniment for my burgers. We thought they were really good. The extra garlic on top does add a nice surprise.

Knife and Fork Burgers with Provolone Dipping Sauce and Roasted Tomato Salad
Recipe Courtesy of Rachael Ray

Ingredients 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes 2 large shallots, sliced or chopped 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper 2 lbs lean ground beef sirloin 2/3 cups finely chopped flat leaf parsley 2 cloves garlic, grated 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 cups shredded provolone cheese (I used Parmesan) 1 large bunch of arugula Juice of 1/2 lemon 1. Heat the oven to 400°. On a baking sheet, toss the tomatoes and shallots in 1 tablespoon EVOO; season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes; set aside. 2. Meanwhile, combine the ground beef, parsley and garlic and form into 4 patties, pressing your thumb into the center of each burger to prevent it from bulging when cooking. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon EVOO , 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat and cook the burgers for 7 to 8 minutes on each side for well-done. 3. While the burgers cook, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the provolone and, using a wooden spoon, stir in a figure-eight motion until combined; season with salt and pepper. 4. Toss the arugula with the lemon juice, remaining 1 tablespoon EVOO and salt and pepper to taste. Add the warm tomatoes and shallots and toss to combine. 5. Serve each burger with a pile of salad and a small bowl of cheese sauce for dipping. Garlic Fries Recipe Courtesy of Ellie Krieger 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons canola oil 3 large baking potatoes, 12 ounces each 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat the garlic and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2 minutes. Strain the garlic from the oil with a small mesh strainer. Set both garlic and oil aside. Cut the potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks. In a large bowl, toss the oil, potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the potatoes onto it in a single layer. Bake until golden and crisp, about 35 minutes. Remove potatoes from the tray with a metal spatula. Toss with parsley, reserved garlic, and additional salt, to taste. Serve immediately.