Guacamole Hamburger

Dinner tonight was just too good. I had to share. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this is not for you, because tonight I was craving a nice, juicy, flavorful hamburger. And since drinking those Avocado Milkshakes, I still have avocados on my mind. And though this was a bit of an experiment, the Guacamole Hamburger turned out wonderfully. The guacamole itself is heavy on the lime and garlic, as that's how I like it best. The burger is so juicy and flavorful. The cool guacamole and hot burger are made for each other.

Disclaimer: I never said this was a healthy dinner!

Hamburger Recipe:
Serves 4

• 1 pound of ground beef (ground chuck makes the best burgers, but you can use something leaner if you like!)
• 2 tablespoons of ketchup
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt (I like Lowry's Seasoned Salt. You could just add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt.)

If you're working quickly you can let the pan heat up on medium heat while you combine your ingredients!

1. Combine the ingredients gently. Don't squash the meat too much.
2. Make wide, thin patties that will cook quickly, again, not compressing the meat too much while you form the patties.
3. Drop your patties in the pan and LEAVE THEM ALONE for at least a couple of minutes. DON'T use your spatula to press the patty down onto the pan.
4. When you see that the edges are a bit cooked or check underneath and see that the patties are browning a little bit, flip them and LEAVE THEM ALONE.
5. You can check for done-ness by gently pressing the top of the patty. If it's super soft to the touch, it's still rare inside. As it gets closer to done, it will spring back a little more. With a thin (1 inch thick) patty, it should be done in about 7 minutes. Feel free to cook it a little longer, but don't cook it too long. An overcooked burger is NOT good.
6. Place your hamburger on a bun and top it with guacamole (recipe below).

Guacamole
Tops 4 burgers generously... or serves one person who really likes guacamole.

• 2 ripe Hass avocados
• 1 very juicy lime (or 2-3 not so juicy limes)
• 2 cloves of garlic, mashed into a paste or finely minced
• 1 small onion, chopped finely
• 1 small ripe tomato (If you can't get a good tomato, leave it out. Flavorless tomato does nothing for the guacamole.)
• 1/4 cup of chopped parsley (If you like cilantro, use some.)
• salt to taste (My taste is about 1/4 teaspoon.)
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper (optional)

Don't bother chopping your avocados if they're ripe, which they really should be. Put your knife into the avocado until it touches the pit. Run it around the pit carefully, cutting the avocado in half the long way. Take half in each of your hands, twist to separate. Use a spoon to scoop the flesh out of the avocado skin or just squeeze until it's all out!

1. Mix all of the ingredients together with a fork or your hands. I like to leave my avocado a little chunky.
2. Add salt to taste and mix a little more.

Now you can top your burgers or grab some tortilla chips and enjoy!

Creamy Avocado Goodness

Aseer avocat. Avocado juice. Didn't sound appetizing to me either, until I tasted the creamy, sweet concoction made from avocado, milk and sugar. I know, I know. In the US, most of us add avocados to salad or make guacamole with it. Milkshakes usually aren't green. But around the world, people who live where avocados grow eat them sweet as much as savory. In Brazil, you might find an avocado custard or ice cream. In the Philipines, you can try avocado mashed and mixed with sugar, milk, and ice. The aseer avocat I tried was Moroccan, and absolutely delicious.

Here's a recipe for an Avocado Milkshake:

• 1/2 ripe Hass avocado
• 1 cup of milk (I use skim, but you can use whole, evaporated, soy, rice, almond... you get the idea.)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (You can substitute honey, agave, etc. or leave it out completely.)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (optional)
• 1-2 ice cubes (optional)

1. Scoop avocado meat out of the skin and into the blender.
2. Add other ingredients.
3. Blend until smooth. Add a little more milk to thin to desired consistency and blend again.
4. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Some notes:

• Choose a ripe avocado. Make sure it's dark and a little soft. If it's too ripe, it may be a little rotten and it won't taste good, so don't choose a very mushy avocado either.
• You can make this already delicious avocado shake super rich and sweet by adding some sweetened condensed milk or cream.
• Try adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder to make this a Chocolate Avocado Shake.
• On a diet? Think avocados are too caloric? Check out this link to read about the health benefits of this creamy superfruit.
• Don't know what to do with the pit? Grow it into a tree!