Starker'S Bacon And Cheese-Curd Burger

• 4 slices bacon (thick slices)
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 lbs ground beef (85% lean or 90 % lean)
• 3/4 cup cheese curds (preferably Shatto Dairy) or 3/4 cup mozzarella string cheese, chopped
• salt & fresh ground pepper
• 4 good quality hamburger buns
• 4 1/4 inches thick slices ripe tomatoes (optional)
• 4 thin slices white onions (optional)
• 4 iceberg lettuce leaves (optional)

1. 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.
2. Divide beef into eight equal portions. Pat beef portions into patties approximately 4 inches in diameter and about 3/4-inch thick.
3. Equally divide and place the 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 4 patties. Pinch edges of top and bottom patties together to form one large burger patty. Chill, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
4. 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.)
5. To serve, place a cooked burger on bottom half of each bun. If you like, top each with tomato, onion, and lettuce.

bacon, brown sugar, ground beef, cheese curds, salt, buns, tomatoes, thin slices white onions

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/starkers-bacon-and-cheese-curd-burger-382889 (may not work)