Though we rarely eat at McDonald’s restaurants, sometimes we skip entire years actually, there’s one item on their menu that my hubby absolutely craves and adores. And that’s their “Big Macs”! 😉
So here’s what happened. We had won a $50.00 McDonald’s grift card, so my hubby one evening over the weekend thought it would be a nice treat, especially after doing yard work all day long, to just pick something up and bring it home!
Our minds thought alike and we decided to use that gift card. My hubby instantly decided on his longtime childhood favorite, a Big Mac, and he about *gasped in utter shock* when I said that I had never had one before and didn’t know what all the fuss was about them.
Sooooo, after talking me into this, I was finally in for one. Sort of. He convinced me and actually had me try one for the first time in my life!
It was way too big, not their fault, and I ate almost the whole thing, MY fault, even skipping my fries completely as I was overly full and now felt totally gross and was in misery and felt slightly ill for several HOURS.
And honestly, I was not impressed at all with the flavor to begin with. I know, I know, not very “Mickey D” festive of me, but I couldn’t help it. It just plain wasn’t for me. Though, I kept thinking, what’s not to love, I mean really??
We all know the jingle…“Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun!” Right? Right!
I don’t have a fuss with anything on it. I like every condiment, actually.
So, I guess maybe, like everything else in this world now, that they must’ve been a whole lot better back in the ’70’s before all of the additives and changes that have slowly lessened them obviously greatly.
Because, this just didn’t do it for me. Not by a LONG shot.
So, not to be a soggy-bottom-bun-partypooper, I decided I’d just try and make them homemade and see if maybe that would do it for me and I’d finally “get it”. The whole “Big Mac experience” thing.
So that’s what I did.
And oh yeah. I get it now loud and clear! Though I CANNOT even eat HALF of one, it was truly a great burger!! I mean REALLY good! And I imagined that McDonald’s used to make them just that good many years ago, too.
I remember going to the first one that opened in our town when I was a little girl, and it was a very special treat to go there!
My mom took us there once when we were kids, and it was such fun to get to “eat out”! Their food was awesome, and their FRIES. OMG, do you remember, too, how good they used to be?! Theirs were THE BEST hands down.
Just a little bit greasy, just a little bit wobbly, lots of salt and no one could resist! Just the SMELL of them made your mouth instantly water!
I so wish things could be like they used to, but I guess we’ll just have to accept that it’s just not possible anymore. And if we don’t like it, then make it ourselves and not complain.
And don’t get me wrong, like the hubs said, he still enjoys them now and then, and it’s a nice convenient treat once in awhile when you’re just plain dog-tired and feel like you can’t even lift your arms! And your muscles are so sore, that even the thought of dragging out a pan and all of the ingredients makes you want to put a CLOSED sign and CRIME TAPE up surrounding the kitchen and just block it off!
Know that feeling, too, now and then? 😉
So enjoy those times out and have fun! And if ever you’d like to try making one yourself homemade, these came out awesome! Not kidding. Absolutely delicious!
But make sure you have the one you love next to your side or invite a friend, because these are just what they say they are…two quarter pound burgers, (before frying), the traditional condiments, plus a semi-homemade toasted sesame seed bun to boot!
They’re BIG and only the heartiest of appetites can handle a whole one! Or when you’re just plain about starved after not eating all day. Oops. 😉 (You can always make yours a single, too!)
I do hope you enjoy and maybe surprise the one you know who has a serious “Big Mac Attack” craving with this homemade version.
Have a great day and I’ll see ya later! 😉 😀
HOMEMADE “BIG MAC”!
Makes 4 Double Cheeseburgers (*Plus directions for 16 “Mini Macs” for a party)
For Sesame Seed Buns:
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed in the fridge overnight
1-2 Tbl. toasted sesame seeds
butter-flavored no-stick spray
1 extra-large egg beaten with 1 Tbl. cold water
For Big Macs:
2 lbs. hamburger, make into 8 thin patties
fresh cracked salt and coarse ground black pepper
4 cups chopped lettuce
1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion
4-8 slices American cheese, 4 for traditional / 8 for extra cheese
12 dill pickle slices
“Special Sauce”:
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/4 cup Hellmann’s mayo
2 1/2 Tbl. Wishbone Deluxe French Salad Dressing (the orange stuff)
1/2 Tbl. Heinz Sweet Pickle Relish
1 Tbl. Vlasic or Heinz Dill Pickle Relish
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. dried onion flakes
1 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp. ketchup
1/8 tsp. salt
DIRECTIONS:
For buns:
The night before, wrap a frozen loaf with plastic wrap and place into fridge to thaw over night. The next morning, evenly cut the loaf into 8 pieces. Pinch and roll into balls and place onto 2 sprayed baking sheets. Spray balls well and cover loosely with plastic wrap pressing edges to baking sheets. Place into oven with light on and let rise until doubled. About 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Remove from oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap, gently brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle heavily with toasted sesame seeds. Bake until deep golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Then place into airtight container or ziplock baggies. *Place 4 of the buns into freezer bags and freeze for later if not going to be used within 3-5 days.
For “Special Sauce”:
Mix everything very well in a small container. (No streaks!)
Microwave 25 seconds, and stir well again. Cover, and refrigerate at LEAST 1 hour before using (to allow all of the flavors to meld).
Makes about 1 cup — enough for about 4 Big Macs. *Can use less if desired, but we like extra sauce.
For Burgers:
Line 2 baking sheets with waxed paper. Shape and press burgers into large thin circles onto waxed paper. Sprinkle tops with salt and pepper. With a box cutter (or scissors), cut waxed paper so each patty is now on a separate piece. Get a frying pan hot, turn down to medium heat, invert burger from waxed paper into pan, sprinkle tops with salt and pepper and fry several patties at a time until done on both sides and throughout, about 6-7 minutes per side depending on how hot your pan is and how thin your patties are. (My patties were about 5″ in diameter before frying.) Remove patties to a clean baking sheet as you go along. Repeat until all are cooked.
To assemble:
Slice buns into three equal pieces and place bottom buns onto a baking sheet or large cutting board. Spread each bottom with a sparse amount of sauce. Top with chopped lettuce, a slice of cheese, one patty, finely chopped onion, the middle bun with sauce spread on the bottom, spread top of middle bun with a sparse amount of sauce, top with more lettuce, 3 pickle slices, another patty, onions, *a second slice of cheese if desired, and top bun slathered with sauce! Pop into microwave or low oven and just warm through. And there you have it! A Big Mac, with or without extra cheese! 😉
*If wanting to make 16 “Mini Macs” (sliders) for a party, use 4 lbs. hamburger and make 32 small thin patties. Make 16 buns out of 1 loaf of frozen bread dough slicing loaf down center first, then into 16 equal pieces, lessening baking time.
Renee's Kitchen Adventures
Thursday 18th of September 2014
Your photo just made my day! haha Love big macs. Never eat them. Yours looks amazingly good...and tbh, not sure I'd be able to eat a whole one either! YUM!