Instructions: Pre-Prepare your Condiments: Mix 1 tablespoon ketchup with 1/2 tablespoon relish, set aside. Chop the lettuce; youll need a handful per burger. Thinly slice the tomato and onion. Youll need 1 to 2 tomato slices, and 3 to 4 rings of fresh onion. (These amounts are for each Famous Star )

Preparing the beef: On waxed paper, hamburg into 5 inch round pattiy. Freeze for at least an hour. Keep any spares frozen until needed. Obviously youll do this in advance.

Preparing the bun(s): When cooking time draws near, toast the faces of the bun (top and bottom) on a 375 degree electric griddle. They should be an even tan color.

Cooking your Famous Star : Preheat either an outdoor gas barbecue, or an indoor electric one. After it is pre-heated, place a still-frozen beef patty on the grill, pressing down firmly for 4 to 5 seconds (this will get you the grill marks). Salt liberally. Cook for 3 minutes (gas) or 5 to 6 minutes (electric). Eyeball it - if it looks ready to turn, turn it.

While the beef is cooking, dress your bun as follows.

Top Half: Your pre-mixed special sauce (ketchup and relish); 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise.

Bottom Half: 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise; 3 pickle slices; 1 handful of chopped iceberg lettuce; 1 to 2 tomato slices; 3 to 4 fresh rings of onion.

Turn the beef patty over, press down firmly with a spatula for 3 to 4 seconds, and salt liberally. (Dont be afraid to have a few flames "kiss" the burger...they are charbroiled)

Place the cooked beef patty on the dressed bottom bun, add the top, and BAM - a Carls Jr Famous Star !

This recipe yields 1 Carls Jr Famous Star !

Comments: This classic hamburger is truly the signature burger on the menu at Carls Jr , and has been since its introduction in 1945. THIS is a great, all-American hamburger!

Want to make a Carls Jr All-Star ? After placing the beef on the bottom bun, add a slice of real Amercian cheese on top of the patty, then 2 slices of cooked bacon before placing the top bun on (criss-cross the bacon in an X pattern).

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.