(UPDATED 10/5/07---see below **)
Serves: 4

1 cup whole grain cereal or cornflakes -- *
1/2 tablespoon dried chopped onions -- *
3/4 cup milk (enough to cover cereal)
1 pound lean ground beef -- *
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce -- *
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper
Vegetable shortening -- *

Place cereal flakes and dried onions into a large measuring cup. Use your hands to crush as finely as possible. Add milk and let stand until all milk is absorbed, stirring occasionally (mixture should be mushy but not runny), about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil (preferably "Release").

To the reserved cereal mixture, add the egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and mix very well to break up the egg yolk. In a large bowl, combine meat and ceereal mixture, and mix well with your hands. Turn mixture out onto prepared baking sheet and shape into large round pattie about 2 inches thick. *

Bake 45 minutes or until browned and cooked through and reaches 165 degrees F. on an instant read thermometer. Cover with foil and let sit about 12-15 minutes before slicing to serve.

* If using shortening, spread top of pattie thinly and transfer pattie to prepared baking sheet with shortening-side down. Spread other side thinly with shortening (if using); broil 8" from heat 20-25 minutes, turning once, until browned and cooked through (165 degrees on a instant thermometer)

** UPDATE: Cornflakes changed to Total or Special K cereal flakes; 1/2 cup chopped fresh onions replaced by the dried onions; extra lean replaced the old fatty 75/25 hamburger; Worcestershire sauce added for flavor; Application of Crisco shortening to the surfaces of the pattie eliminated.