Everyone keeps talking about how summer is ending and they’re ready for fall — I mean there’s pumpkin flavored coffee out already. Um HELLO — it’s still August. While I love the fall (it is my favorite season after all), there is a time and a place.

August is not the time nor the place.

You know whats good in the summer? In August? Burgers.

With Labor Day weekend approaching and picnics and cookouts on the brain, I thought it would be perfect to post about a delicious cheese stuffed burger with a side of carrot “fries” that I recently made for dinner!

Yes, that’s right. Carrot fries.

What’s up with carrots? Why do people make that face when they’re expected to eat carrots as a side vegetable? Carrots are better than a base ingredient in soup and tomato sauce or part of a medley of veggies!

Eat more carrots people. Turn them into “fries” if you have to, you’ll be happy you did.

As for the burger, I thought it would be fun to stuff the cheese inside the burger and create an ooey gooey melty center that would keep the burger from drying out while cooking. It’s fairly easy, all you have to do is take what would be your regular burger patty, split it in two, add cheese to the center, then form the two patties back together. Easy peasy.

The grated onion in the burger adds a subtle onion flavor, but more than that, it’s another great way to keep the ground beef moist, especially if you’re cooking your burgers well done.

Mmmmm yea. Cheesy flavorful goodness. Pop that burger on a toasted bun with some thousand island dressing, a fresh summer tomato and some greens and you’ve got yourself a winner! The burger had a great balance of flavors and the pepper jack cheese that stuffed the burger added a nice level of heat that wasn’t overwhelming.

The carrot fries turned out perfectly as well, crisped on the outside, but soft and velvety on the inside. The carrots have such a great sweetness to them, but the char from baking them and the salt and spice make it a perfect compliment to the burgers. I’m serious — try them. If you can get down with sweet potato fries, you can give these a whirl.

OH and remember, summer doesn’t end until September 21 okay? Just because school is back in session does not mean summer is over — so hold off on the pumpkin and enjoy more burgers on the grill and beers by the water.

Here’s my recipe for stuffed cheeseburgers & carrot fries, enjoy!!