Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 7/1/2008

(Family Features) Here's a burger you can really sink your teeth into. This tender, chargrilled twist on the cheeseburger puts the cheese inside, not on top and it's perfect for Fourth of July celebrations.

Seasoned with sea salt, pepper, finely minced red onion and parsley and a few splashes of Worcestershire, the burger oozes a mouthwatering center of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, melted to gooey perfection.

Hungry yet? But wait. Before you get too far into this burger fantasy, you might find yourself cut short by a host of concerns that stop many Americans from fully savoring hamburgers these days. With headlines warning consumers about antibiotics, hormones, genetically modified organisms, factory farms, pesticides and more, it can be hard to know where to turn if you want beef you can eat with a clear mind ... and a clean conscience.

"Organic beef gives many people the peace of mind they need to really savor their food," says Terese Allen, cookbook author, food columnist and Organic Valley food editor.

"People choose organic with an eye toward what's left out of the meat, not what's put in it."

Allen explains that USDA-certified organic beef is produced without hormones, antibiotics, chemical pesticides, fertilizers, rendered animal by-products, irradiation, dyes or preservatives. Animals must have access to sunlight and outdoor pasture. And organic beef not only has to be produced by certified organic farms, but also processed at plants that are inspected and certified by the USDA's organic program. "It's a very rigorous process, and rightly so," she explains.

Furthermore, many suppliers of organic beef work with small, family-owned farms that pride themselves on their sustainable farming practices, grazing their cows on pasture.

So indulge in that burger -- an organic one. Cheese on the inside or placed on top, dressed with all your favorite toppings and sitting atop a fresh bun, enjoy! You've found food that's pleasing to the palate and easy on the conscience.

Sharp Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers

1 pound Organic Prairie Ground Beef

1/3 cup red onion (finely chopped)

1/4 cup fresh parsley (washed and minced)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup Organic Valley Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine meat, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in medium bowl; blend well.

Divide meat mixture into four equal portions. Shape each into ball. Poke deep hole in each ball and fill with cheese.

Mold meat around cheese to enclose. Flatten each filled burger to 3/4-inch-thick patty.

Grill burgers to desired doneness, about five minutes per side for medium and seven minutes per side for well-done burgers. Makes: 4 servings.

Serving suggestions: Serve open-faced on sourdough bread with chopped lettuce, sliced tomato and your favorite condiments.

Nutrients per serving: 410 calories, 34g fat (71.3% calories from fat), 33g protein, 2g carbohydrate, trace dietary fiber, 139mg cholesterol, 419mg sodium.

For more delicious organic recipes, visit www.organicvalley.coop.

Courtesy of Family Features and Organic Valley