Birthday Cake

The
options for an I can't wait to eat you burger seem endless and delicious. 
This is my favorite burger (at least it is right now).  Roasted garlic
mayo, brown sugar bacon, gruyere cheese and arugula make this a perfect Fall burger. 

A Perfect Fall Burger

Burgers

1 1/2
pounds ground chuck (80 percent lean)

Kosher
salt and freshly ground black pepper

4
slices Gruyere cheese

4
hamburger buns, split; buttered and toasted

Roasted
garlic mayonnaise (recipe follows)

Brown
sugar bacon (recipe follows)

Baby
arugula, very lightly dressed with olive oil and a sprinkle of kosher salt

Divide
the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each).  Form each portion
loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center
with your thumb.  Season both sides of each burger with salt and
pepper.  Cook the burgers on the grill.  In the last minute of
cooking top each burger with a slice of Gruyere cheese and close the
grill to allow the cheese to melt.

Generously
spread roasted garlic mayo on the bun bottoms.  Place burgers on the bun
bottoms and top each one with a couple of slices of the brown sugar bacon
followed by a handful of baby arugula.  Cover with bun tops and serve
immediately. 

Roasted
Garlic Mayo

1
whole head of garlic

1
tablespoon olive oil

1/2
cup mayonnaise

Kosher
salt

Preheat
oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut
off the top of the garlic head, exposing the cloves; discard top.  Place
garlic head on a piece of foil.  Pour olive oil on top of garlic and
season with a sprinkle of kosher salt.  Wrap garlic in foil and bake
for 45 minutes.  Let cool.

Take
the garlic out of its shell and add to a food processor along with
mayonnaise.  Pulse until smooth (I left mine a little chunky). 
Transfer to a bowl and season with kosher salt.

Brown
Sugar Bacon

8
slices thick-cut bacon (more if you want more than 2 piece of bacon per burger)

Brown
sugar

Preheat
oven to 400 degrees F.  Line a large baking sheet with foil.  Place a
large cooling rack on lined baking sheet.  Arrange bacon in a single layer
on the cooling rack.  Sprinkle bacon evenly with brown sugar.  Bake
until bacon is crisp and glazed, 15-20 minutes.