Ingredients

1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/3 cup milk
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 large sesame-seed buns
lettuce leaves
ketchup and pickles
thin slices of tomato and red onion (optional)

Directions

Equipment needed: measuring cups and spoons, medium mixing bowl, fork, ruler, plate, large frying pan or grill, metal spatula, pot holder, small knife for testing doneness.

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs and milk. Stir with a fork until blended. Add the ketchup, egg, salt and pepper and thyme leaves. Stir until well blended. Add the ground turkey. Using the fork, gently mix the ingredients together until just blended. Don't overwork the mixture or your burgers will be tough.

2. Divide the mixture into 4 equal mounds. Lightly wet your hands with water and shape each mound into a flat circle about 4 inches in diameter. Place the burgers on the plate. Refrigerate until ready to cook.

3. Add the vegetable oil to the frying pan and set over medium-low heat. Heat 1 minute and then tilt the pan to coat the bottom evenly with the oil. Using the metal spatula, place the burgers in the pan. Cook the burgers until the bottoms are browned, about 5 minutes. Holding the pan steady with the pot holder, use the spatula to flip the burgers (or ask an adult to flip the burgers). Continue cooking until the burgers are cooked through (no longer pink in the center), 5 to 7 minutes longer. To test, use the small knife and cut into the center of the burger. Using the pot holder, carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the burgers rest for 5-7 minutes.

4. Lift the burgers from the pan with the spatula. Serve immediately on sesame-seed buns with lettuce leaves, ketchup, and pickles and with slices of tomato and red onion, if you want.