You read that title right. Taco burgers.

These are a few of my favorite things: juicy beef patties, chips and salsa, avocado on anything, rice and beans. I asked myself the other evening: why not combined these things? It could be… healthy. Okay, hamburgers can be pretty unhealthy, but if you use the right ground beef, the right toppings, and the right hamburger bun, you can have yourself a reasonably healthy meal.

I also wanted to include a recipe that wasn’t good for just one or two people, but something that you could make when you invite your friends over to your summer apartment.

When making hamburgers, I like to start with high-quality, lean ground beef… not the burgers that come in the freezer section pre-shaped. You can always talk to the butcher in the grocery store about the best kind of ground beef to use; they’ll be able to point you towards something leaner and higher quality.

When it comes to burger toppings, I used to be a traditionalist. Cheese, lettuce, ketchup and mustard, maybe pickles… Plain and simple. But in the past year, as I’ve tried to eat healthier, I’ve found that I love a lot more toppings than I thought I did. For these burgers, the two stars are avocado, beans and homemade salsa.

Avocado is one of the healthiest foods out there. It’s high in vitamins K, C, and E, folates, potassium and fiber. Perfect? Yes. However, avocados are pretty high in fat, even if it’s a good fat, so you don’t necessarily want to sit down and eat four avocados by yourself. Probably not a good plan. I’ve written about beans before, but they are a great source of protein and fiber, and a great way to add an extra something-something to a dish. Salsa is, of course, a great way to include fresh tomatoes into your diet and making it yourself isn’t just easy, it’s a great way to cut out unnecessary sodium and preservatives.

Ready to cook!? As a warning, this recipe is a little more involved than other ones I written… but if you try it, you’re in for a definite treat!

Taco Burgers

Serves 6-8 people

You’ll need…

⦁       1 lb of lean ground beef

⦁       Pepper

⦁       About 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning

⦁       6-8 hamburger buns (if you can buy these handmade from a local market, do so!)

⦁       1-2 avocados

⦁       1 onion

⦁       4-5 tomatoes

⦁       1 jalapeño

⦁       2 limes

⦁       1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

⦁       1 can of corn, drain and rinsed

⦁       6-8 slices of pepperjack cheese

How to make it…

In a bowl, mix ground beef with a pinch of pepper and your tablespoon of taco seasoning. Mix with a spoon or your hands. Divide the meat into 6-8 equal servings and form into patties. You can cook these on a grill outside or a grill pan inside. Either way, you’ll want to use medium heat and a nonstick cooking spray before you start. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until well done in the center.

Halve avocados on a cutting board and twist apart. Use a spoon to scoop out the pit. Use the same spoon to gently remove the avocado flesh from the skin. Slice into about ½ inch thick slices. Set aside.

Halve and squeeze the tomatoes to get rid of the excess water. Chop up tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno (be careful of the seeds!). Combine in a large bowl with the juice of 1-2 limes. Set aside.

Rinse and drain your cans of black beans and corn. Combine in a bowl and set aside.

When the meat is done, assemble the burgers. On the bottom bun, add some corn and bean mixture and the cheese, then the burger, followed by avocado, salsa, and the top bun. Enjoy!

Summertime is for tan shoulders, beachy hair, and big, icy umbrella drinks.  And after a day of fun in the sun, who doesn’t want to come home to a backyard barbecue?  We’ve got you covered with all the essentials to blow the guys away as you DIY your way to hamburger heaven.

Roll up those sleeves, girls; here’s everything you need to cook like Giada…or at least look as good as she does while you guess your way through marinades and spices. Read More »

The first time I ever grilled my own burgers was for a boy that I loved. I wanted so badly to impress him, that when I realized we were the only two people on campus for summer term I invited him over for dinner and Sangria on the porch. I spent all day shopping and preparing.

And that was just for my outfit.

Then, just before he was set to arrive I started pulling together whatever I could find for dinner. I had quite the menu planned: turkey burgers, salad and corn on the cob made on the grill. Mmmm. I had seen my mom make the meal a thousand times before, so I really felt confident that I could pull it off.

Of course, I didn’t. While my outfit was sexy and super saucy, my meat was flavorless and sorta over-done. Who knew I had to season the meat before I threw it on the grill? Clearly, I missed that part of my mom’s meal prep. Thank God the boy was oh so cute and polite (not to mention sorta drunk, thank you, Sangria!); he ate every last bite and offered to take me out for ice cream. Then he let me invite him over for a re-do the following week.

This time I did my work and found the perfect recipe to woo him. The dinner was actually edible and turned out perfectly from our first glass of wine to our serious make out session on the couch. I could say it was the wine that did it again, but I have made these burgers many times since and they always produce the same tremendous results. Try ‘em out for yourself:

Read More »

Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, and saddest things he hears on his college campus. And we know he’s not the only one who hears this stuff. Join the Overheard revolution! Leave your own overheard convos in the comments or send ‘em over!

(Girl, raising hand in class.)

Girl: Wait, so … some languages don’t have vowels? That’s IMPOSSIBLE! How are you supposed to pronounce them? Do you have to guess? I can’t believe that! That’s so stupid! *scribbles furiously in notebook*

(Professor, teaching a class.)

Prof: Heaven is hard to describe. I’ve seen plenty of evocative depictions of Hell, but I’ve never seen a truly compelling vision of Heaven.

Student, interrupting: May I suggest one?

Prof: No. I want to talk about something else.

(Two guys, getting into their car.)

Guy: You ever notice that every time we go to make candles, one of us cheats on his girlfriend? Read More »

I’ve always tried to be a good American. I’ve lived each and every day by the words of the good book: the Declaration of Independence. It guides the deeds I do, the words I write, the kicks I wear.

But every Fourth of July, I get stuck. I got parties to plan! Barbecues, decorations, fine beers, crap beers, fireworks, big cars, big cars full of beer. So much to think about! What do I do? The Declaration never mentioned how we should celebrate its own damn self.

But this year, things are different. Because this year, I found something really special. That’s right: The Declaration of Independence, Part Two. Read it and weep, beleaguered patriot partiers, and may tiny American flags spring up where your tears touch the soil. Read More »

I’m not a vegetarian, but I like to eat like one. I’m very picky with meats (I don’t eat seafood, beef, or pork); I try to eat healthy (even though I typically consume the calories I cut throughout the week in weekend drinking binges); and, most importantly, I’m a horrible cook, so I’d rather microwave a faux-chicken cutlet than get salmonella from undercooking a juicy piece of pollo.

A recent issue of Shape magazine suggested eating vegetarian once a week, and I was like, “Heyyy I already do that! I rock!” They also featured a mouthwatering recipe for vegetarian paella. That’s not going to happen. So, whether you’re a carnivore or a herbivore, trying to shave some calories from your diet, or too busy to slave over a hot stove, I give you vegetarian meals in five minutes or less. All you need is a microwave.

1. Boca Meatless Chili

You need:

–Boca Meatless Chili, from the freezer section of your grocery store.

–2 slices of whole wheat bread

*Zap the chili for three minutes, stir, and nuke for one more minute.

*While the chili is in the microwave, pop the whole wheat bread in the toaster.

*Cut the whole wheat toast in quarters, top with tasty chili, and enjoy! Read More »

The first date… those three words alone are enough to fill my soul with terror. The person likes you enough to go out with you, but did they just agree to be nice, or do they really like you? Do they mean to be friends? Have you just completely misjudged their advances? What if they act really overzealous? What if they act really uninterested?

It’s clear that there’s a lot to worry about when you meet up with somebody for the first time, so try to cross at least one thing off of the Worry List by having a low-stress meal. These five things are not the way to go for first date fare:

1. Mexican.

Refried beans are soooo delicious, yes, but the effects are musical, and you really don’t want that to happen at an inopportune time.

2. Sandwiches/burgers more than three inches thick.

Honestly, these are the most annoying things ever, and they will embarrass you when you least expect it. When you finally maneuver the thing so that it’s possible to put it in your mouth, everything inside it will inevitably spill out onto either your hands or your lap. (Editor’s Note: Sounds familiar to the bedroom festivities later. Ayoooo!) You can’t eat them with a knife and fork, either, for fear of looking like an extreme neatnik. Read More »

You know all those times when you’re like “Damn, I would love to get some burgers for the whole family, but I don’t want to order them individually,” so, you order a pizza instead? Yeah, me neither. But apparently, Burger King thinks we’re all having a whole lot of these moments as they’re going to start offering a six-pack of burgers in an attempt to compete with the pizza market.

How does a six-pack of burgers differ from six individual burgers? Glad you asked.

The rolls of the six burgers will be stuck together, so to grab a burger, you’ll have to tear one off. Just like when you grab a piece of pizza. And just like you can order a pizza half cheese/half pepperoni (or whatever your tastes enjoy), one pair of these burgers will be topped with ketchup, another with cheese, and another with bacon and cheese.

Unfortunately, these burgers are only launching in the UK, Germany, and Spain. Let’s hope and pray that they do well over there so that they come here soon. Until then, I guess we’re just going to be stuck ordering pizza when we’re craving a shared meal. Or drinking a six-pack of beer. That could work too.

At least once a week, I find myself with less than a half-hour window to make and eat dinner. I guess I could just grab a sandwich or some Chinese takeout or something, but I have this annoying insistence that most of what I eat taste delicious and have recognizable ingredients. Yeah, I know, I’m a tough customer.

Since there’s no way I’d have time on those days to do more than punch a few buttons on the microwave or set the dial on the oven, I rely on three staple dinners that I can freeze and pop out of the freezer whenever I want. I usually make giant batches of each and then separate them into single portions that I can easily grab from the icicles. Read More »

I am not one of those girls that just “isn’t hungry” on a date. I am always hungry. And I love good food. Especially when it is medium rare and comes in a bun.

You already know I eat meat. And I certainly sleep with people who eat meat too. So, it’s good to know my new red meat eating habits are totally in.

I always knew salads were so passé.

If you’re one of those girls that don’t eat on a date because of “nerves,” give it up. Apparently, if you want to make a statement, order a steak. I mean even the New York Times thinks so, so it MUST be true.

According to a woman interviewed by the Times, steaks sent the message that she is “unpretentious and down to earth and unneurotic,” while burgers said she was a “cheap date and low maintenance.”

And I agree. Since I started eating red meat about 9 months ago, I’ve felt less like the fussy girl who picks off the pepperoni and more like the awesome foodie girl you’ve always wanted to date.

So put down the lettuce, ladies. Leave the salads for a lunch with the girls. If you really want to impress, order a steak. Read More »