Carmelized Onion and Bleu Cheese Crostini

Ingredients:
2 large onions
1 garlic clove
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 loaf of italian or french bread
1/2 cup diced pancetta
1/2 slivered almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt
pepper
4 ounces bleu cheese

Directions:
Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Put the slivered almonds in for about 3 minutes or until they are toasted.  Then remove them and set them aside. 

Cook the pancetta for about 7-8 minutes or until it browns up.  Take the pancetta out with a slotted spoon, leaving the grease in the pan. 

Sprinkle in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.  Then add a chopped garlic clove.  Thinnly slice the two large onions and put into the pan.  Cook for 20-25 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally until the onions turn golden colored.

While the onions carmelize, get the other ingredients ready.  Slice the bread thinnly on an angle and toast in a 350 degree for about 6 minutes.  Keep checking it in intervals of 2 minutes because ovens may vary. 

Now add the balsamic vinegar to the pan and stir.  Add back the pancetta.  Then stir in the chopped parsley. 

Once the bread it toasted, put the bread on a platter.  Then sprinkle with a few bleu cheese crumbles or a very thin slice of bleu cheese.  Top with a little of the onion and pancetta mixture.  Then sprinkle the top with a few toasted almonds.  Enjoy!

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Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (I used 80% lean to 20% fat)
1 cup bleu cheese
8 slices of bacon
4 hamburger rolls or buns
1 large onion
salt
pepper

Directions:
Slice the onion into very thin strips.  Put in a large skillet with the temperature on low.  In order to carmelize the onions the temperature needs to be low.  Putting it too high won't allow the sugars in the onions to fully carmelize.  Saute the onions in the pan for 20-25 minutes or until they become a golden color. 

Now form your ground beef into four patties.  Heat a grill pan or skillet on high.  Place the burgers in the pan and cook 7 minutes before flipping to the other side.

While the burgers are cooking cook the bacon.  I like to cook my bacon in the oven for about 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Once burgers are flipped on the second side, top each burger with 2 slices of bacon each.  Then top with about 1/4 cup of bleu cheese on each one.  Allow to continue cooking for another 7 minutes with the bacon and cheese on top with a lid over the pan. 

Place each burger on top of the bun and top with the carmelized onions.  Enjoy!

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