Growing up in New Jersey there were lots of great memories, many of them food related. Back then before my great expansion of the food world my favorite foods were my most commonly consumed foods falling into the categories of burgers, breakfast sandwiches, onion rings and the occasional trip to "Sam, The Hot Dog Mans" food truck back in the late 80's for a simple hot dog & root beer soda.
I lived for most of my childhood in a small town located in Central New Jersey called Warren Township. Only about 30 minutes away from New York City but the restaurants were very limited back then in such a rural town. We didn't have any fast food restaurants in our town, with the closest one being a 15 to 20 minute drive. So going out to eat in our town usually meant ordering at one of the only two pizza places or venturing to nearby towns for some of the dive bar foods around.
Back then I had no idea what a dive bar was or that there was even a name for a place that served locals crammed into small places serving classic comfort foods. All I knew was that Taylor Ham (Yes there is a difference between a pork roll sandwich, just ask anyone from New Jersey) sandwiches were my go to breakfast not just on the weekends at our favorite sandwich shops like Texas Weiners in Plainfield, NJ but they even offered them during the week at my high school for breakfast & lunch. I literally grew up eating burgers for dinner & Taylor Ham sandwiches for breakfast almost every day of my life it seemed.
So when I started to see places serving Taylor Ham aka pork roll on their burgers with a fried egg my search for the perfect last meal had ended. All I needed left was to wash it down with the perfect ice cold beer and a side of onion rings and there's nothing left in life that I desire. This recipe is dedicated to all of those dive bars my father took me into growing up. My tastes have seen that time taken me to a much broad, healthier and lighter diet lifestyle but there's nothing like a taste from your childhood that grows old.
Serving Size: 12 Burger Bites
Pairs With: La Fin Du Monde Beer
Ingredients
Fresh Chop meat ( I used Schweid & Sons Chuck Brisket burgers)
English Muffins, toasted
Hellmans Mayo
Ketchup
Taylor Ham, thinly sliced
Red Onion, thinly sliced (optional)
Fresh Jersey Tomatoes, thinly sliced (optional)
Bean Sprouts
Smoked Provolone Cheese, thinly sliced
Whiskey Pickles, see recipe link below
Directions:
Toast English muffins. Cut English muffins into 3" round circles using round cookie cutter
Form burgers into oz patties using the same 3' round cookie cutter mold
Slice Taylor Ham in this slices, then cut into 3" round circles using the same cookie cutter mold.
Grill burgers & Taylor Ham in cast iron pan on grill or stove top & set aside.
Using same pan, spray with cooking spray and place 4 eggs into pan, cover with lid and cook until top of eggs covers with a white film. Remove eggs aside to cool. Cut eggs using the same 3" cookie cutter. Repeat with renaming eggs for additional batches.
Layer in the following order:
English Muffin
Mayo & Ketchup
Bean Sprouts
Burger
Cheese
Taylor Ham
Fried Egg
Top with skewering a whiskey pickle as garnish. For recipe click here
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