Sorry for my long absence. Being in education keeps me very busy during the school year. School has finally ended, but I am still finishing up in my library.

However, I still have time to make home-cooked meals. With the summer heat finally here, one of my favorite foods to make–for my husband–is sliders. Sure they’re readily available at most restaurants or the frozen dinners section of the grocery store, but I enjoy making them myself. This gives me the opportunity to play with ingredients and add or remove any I may not be in the mood for.

These mini burgers, originating from the 1940s and gaining popularity through the food chain White Castle, are great if you’re not up for grilling burgers outdoors. My recipe allows you to cook the long sheet of patty in the oven, where most of the work is done.

Here’s how to make these delicious and fulfilling Pork and Beef Sliders:

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb. ground pork
2. 1 lb. ground beef
3. ½ onion or 3 stalks green opinion, chopped 
4. 3-5 cloves garlic, minced
5. 1 tsp. Salt
6. ½ tsp. Black pepper
7. ½ tsp. Paprika
8. ½ tsp. Mustard powder
9. Chili powder (optional)
10. 1 jalapeno, chopped finely (optional)

Other:

1. 3-5 slices bacon (optional)
2. 4-5 mushrooms, sliced thinly (optional)
3. 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Rolls, cut in half horizontally
4. Cheese
5. Lettuce
6. Condiments of your choice
7. Butter
8. 1 more garlic clove, minced
9. Parsley, chopped
10. Parmesan cheese
11. Aluminum foil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Cover and allow the mix to sit and marinade for at least 10 minutes. (The longer it sits, the better the flavors will come through.)
3. Next, line a baking tray with 2 layers of aluminum foil and grease lightly. Then place your pork and beef mixture on the sheet and shape roughly into a 10×14 square-inch patty.
4. Bake the patty for 20 minutes, then flip it over and bake for another 20 minutes.
5. If you choose to have bacon, lay them on another baking sheet and cook alongside the patty for the last 20 minutes; If you choose to have mushrooms, cook them on the stovetop until most of the juices has evaporated. Then set aside. 
6. Next, melt 1 tablespoon of butter, and add minced garlic, chopped parsley, and parmesan cheese. Then set aside.
7. Once the patty has browned all around, remove from the oven. Drain off the juices by tilting the pan slightly into a heat-proof bowl. The remove the patty and allow to rest.
8. With the baking sheet, remove the greasy foil and lay on the bottom half of the Hawaiian bread. Place the cooked patty on top, followed by cheese, bacon, and mushrooms, if you choose. Then place the upper half of the bread on top, and brush with the butter mixture.
9. Place the sliders back in the oven for 5 more minutes. Then remove from the oven and cut into individual sliders. Enjoy with lettuce and other condiments of your choice^-^