This past Saturday I went up to visit my parents and when I arrived at their house Dad was in the kitchen in his signature navy blue suspenders, getting ready to fry up a giant batch of his famous Duane Burgers.

Dad has been making these burgers since the beginning of time and they are his variation on the traditional German Burger. Typically served with morel mushroom gravy which is made in the same pan that the burgers were fried in to ensure that every delicious bit is used up. With the savory, comforting flavor of a perfect meatloaf, these burgers bring back fond memories of dinners around the kitchen table and the German traditions that influenced my entire life.

For all of you out there here is the essence of the Duane Burger. The basic ingredients with guesstimations on the amounts because us Germans cook by taste and not by measurements.

Duane Burgers

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground pork or pork sausage

2 eggs

1/3 cup ketchup

1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers crushed

1 onion minced or run through a good processor

1 teaspoon Pleasoning Seasoning

1/3 cup minced fresh mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or fresh minced garlic

Dash of salt and a pinch of black pepper

Combine all ingredients well. Refrigerate 1 full day to flavor through. The fry into patties.