Even though I had to eat practically nothing all day to fit this hamburger into my diet regimen, it was worth it. Every once in a while I just crave eating like a normal (American) person. You know, a hamburger on an actual bun that has a top and a bottom. Normally I only eat open-faced sandwiches, bread on the bottom and a lettuce leaf on top so I can hold my “sandwich” in my hand. So the hamburger with its bun is a real luxury. John cooked them perfectly even though it was too dark outside for him to see what he was doing.

I made a bean salad which had black beans, black eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, onion, scallions, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and a Serrano chile for a little zing. I dressed it with an almost fat-free Italian dressing comprised of Good Seasons mix, cider vinegar, water, and one teaspoon of olive oil. To emulsify the mixture and thicken it since it is mostly water, I use 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum. The salad is seasoned with plenty of salt, cumin, and 5 shakes of Tabasco. We ate the entire bowlful!