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Last Fall I went to Hawaii for a work-related conference and had an amazing time. The weather was beautiful. I loved how relaxed the people were. I was super grateful to have a hotel room with a refrigerator and microwave situated so close to a small grocery store. It made meal planning so much easier than I thought it would be at first. I was able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, some clean lunch meat, salad, hard-boiled eggs and kombucha to get me through the week. After the first day and I got the lay of the land, most of my breakfasts were hard-boiled eggs, lunch meat, fruit and vegetables with tea. Simple and satisfying.
I didn't have a whole lot of extra time while I was there, but I splurged on a tour of Pearl Harbor that included a helicopter tour of the island. I figured that I didn't have the extra time or money to go on a bunch of excursions so I would put it all on one that would allow me to see the most of the island. Plus, I am a WWII history buff and enjoy learning about that time period and hearing the amazing anecdotes from the locals. Friends and family were surprised about the helicopter tour as I am a bit afraid of heights, but I did it anyway. And I am so glad I did. It was a fabulous experience and worth the money spent. I highly recommend a helicopter tour if you get a chance to go to Hawaii. You will see things you will never get to see otherwise.
During my first day of the conference, I stumbled upon the loveliest burger place near the conference center. It became a regular haunt for me over the week. Cheeseburger Waikiki easily modified the burger I ordered for lunch and subbed in salad for the fries. I was in heaven.
Here is my attempt to recreate the bliss I experienced in Hawaii. Use your favorite seasoning mix. Primal Palate and Balanced Bites both have good blends worth trying.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
2 teaspoons steak seasoning
1 tablespoon coconut aminos
Pineapple rings
1 medium onion, sliced
Avocado slices
Bacon slices, cooked
Salt & pepper, to taste
Olive oil
Salad greens
Directions
Begin by placing the onions in a saute pan with a tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Allow the onions to cook on medium low for about 20-30 minutes until caramelized, stirring occasionally.
Mix ground beef, steak seasoning, and coconut aminos. Form into patties and set aside until the onions are cooked.
Remove the onions to a warm bowl once they are cooked.
Heat a grill pan to medium high. Brush with cooking fat, such as coconut oil or bacon fat.
Grill the pineapple quickly until warmed through and the pineapple has nice char marks on the outside. This will only take a few minutes. Remove the pineapple to a plate and keep warm until ready to serve.
Place the burger patties in the heated grill pan. Grill for 3-5 minutes a side or until desired doneness.
Serve the burger patty on top of a couple of bacon slices on a bed of salad greens. Top with the grilled onions, a slice of pineapple and garnish with some avocado.
