Zero-Hour Recipes- Caesar Salad with Sliders

As long as you've got your ground beef defrosted, this dinner can be whipped up in short order.  Buy Caesar dressing the next time it's on sale and you'll have yourself a bargain dinner, to boot!  I've included a fabulous homemade version in case you're so inclined.

Caesar Salad with Sliders

Serves 10

2 heads Romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and torn
1/2 c grated Parmesan Reggiano
2 lbs ground beef
salt and pepper to taste
bottled creamy Caesar Salad dressing, or fresh dressing (recipe below)

Form ground beef into small patties, about 2" in diameter. Salt and pepper to taste. Heat skillet to medium high and fry burgers until done, about 5 minutes per side. We like ours on the rare side, so watch your time and cook them to your specifications. They will cook quickly!

Toss lettuce, Parmesan, and dressing. Arrange on plates and serve slider patties next to the salad.

Homemade Caesar Dressing
Adapted from Cook's Illustrated
Our favorite recipe contains raw eggs, but because they're coddled, the chance for Salmonella poisoning is greatly reduced.

2 eggs
1/3 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 t Worcestershire
1/2 t salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 t anchovy paste
2/3 c olive oil

Bring water to boil in small saucepan over high heat. Carefully lower uncracked eggs into water; cook 45 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon. When cool enough to handle, crack eggs into small bowl with all other dressing ingredients except oil; whisk until smooth. Add oil slowly, whisking until smooth.  Dressing may be refrigerated for 1 day; cover and shake before using.

Serve Caesar Salad with Sliders with slices of fresh melon or crusty bread.

♥ Find more Zero-Hour Recipes here.