So the husband says to me while watching TV, “Wow. That guy is eating a burger and fries. I could really go for that.”

Living far away from the conveniences of life has forced me to hone my skills in the kitchen. We can’t just run out to the local drive-thru, or pick up some ready-made patties at the market. If you saw our butcher, you’d think it was pretty sketchy, and that’s as close as we get to ready-made. Hey, at least it’s ground! Fresh. From that big carcass hanging from the ceiling.

One downside of being able to make nearly everything we are craving (I haven’t figured out how to make bacon without a pig), we eat nearly everything we are craving. I’ve also been known to hmph my way through a meal in a restaurant – “I could have made this better and cheaper at home.”  It takes a lot to impress me in those sorts of establishments. 

When my husband expressed his latest craving, I was a bit nervous because burgers have been a bit of a nemesis for me.  They have the tendency to fall apart on the grill, and I’ve never known what I’m doing wrong.  This time, I decided to keep it simple, and guess what?  They were FABULOUS!  I took a few “extra miles” in the prep – toasting the buns in butter and sauteing the onions – which really made a difference in the total first-bite experience.  There are times when I fall in love with myself, and this was one of them.