My Hubby’s Bucket List Plus…My Boys Bleed Orange

Happy Monday, everyone!  Hope you all have a Marvelous Monday!!

As always, I thank Katie for this wonderfully positive link-up that I am glad to be a part of!

Although I’ve been spending most of my time locked away in my study, a.k.a my cave, I enjoyed stepping out of the house on Saturday for some fresh air with the hubby.  We went to another local burger joint.  So if you’ve been reading my blog, you may have noticed that we’ve been eating a lot of burgers lately.  Well, it’s because my “health-conscious” hubby created a bucket list of burgers, which includes at least 50(!!), and it’s growing all too quickly.  Yes, my friends, that’s right.  I mean, I’ve seen people make one of these lists for fitness, travel, etc but for burgers?!?

However, we made a deal.  He agreed to eat all of my “scary foods” (as he calls them) during the week if I accompany him to fulfill his mission on the weekends.  “Yipee!  Burgers…,”  I think to myself unenthusiastically.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love burgers!  But there are a lot of other foods I want to be trying too!  Since we only go out to eat once a week, we’re going to have to work something out here.  However, I figure it’s the least I can do for the hubby who’s willing to try whatever I put in front of him.  I’m excited to get working on changing his food preferences!  Muhaha.  A day shall come when he begins to crave sweet potatoes, kale, quinoa, beets…basically all the foods I can’t live without.

Anyway, last Saturday we went to one of our favorite burger joints, Hopdoddy.  Yes, we’ve already been there.  However, Tim heard about the Hatcheroni that was available for a limited time only.  Of course, he HAD to try it!  So we went…I’m seriously the best wife ever!  Wouldn’t you agree? 😉

So without further ado, I introduce you to…the beast…

Yup..all joking aside, I was seriously terrified when I saw this…if the thick beef patty wasn’t enough, there was a thick fried mac & cheese patty with hatch chiles AND slices of apple-smoked bacon!  And it all went into his belly.  As for Tim, he was in dreamland.

This is what I had..Janis Joplin: hemp seed veggie patty, avocado, sprouts, Tillamook cheddar, horseradish honey mustard..a lot friendlier on the figure..and healthier.  I didn’t miss the meat at all while digging into this one, and that’s the biggest compliment I can give to a veggie burger.  I can’t eat a beef burger everytime we go, and I happen to love a good veggie burger.  Perhaps I’ll start a bucket list for non-traditional burgers ;).  Ooh..now that’s an idea!

This Saturday, we went to All Star Burger.  It’s pretty far from where we live, but I didn’t mind since it’s located in one of the most beautiful, hilly, and scenic parts of Austin called Lakeway.  We used to live near the area so I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic as I looked out the window.

All Star Burger is a gourmet-style burger joint with an emphasis on using better ingredients and in typical Austin fashion, supporting the local farmers.

Look at that smile!  How could I not want to join him on his burger-eating adventure?

Tim ordered “The West” burger which had angus beef, cheddar, bibb lettuce, roasted jalapenos, and garlic-cilantro cream cheese.

Although he thought it had the potential to be a great burger (yes, it’s the expert speaking here), he felt that there was a lil’ something missing.  Perhaps an element of tanginess?  Pickled rather than roasted jalapenos?  Yes…he’s very critical when it comes to his burgers…as for the average Joe here, I liked it!

So now, you must be wondering what I had..well, let me tell you!  I tried the “ML Kaiser” burger which had VENISON meat stuffed with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, and spicy mustard.  I kept going back and forth about ordering this one.  Tim kept calling it the “Bambi burger” …umm… very disturbing.  However, I know that it’s a lot leaner than regular beef, and honestly, I just wanted to tell my dear friend, Michelle, that I’ve tried venison meat also!

So how was the venison?  Honestly, I don’t know.  I found the pepper jack cheese to be WAY too overpowering.  I mean just look at the picture.  All you see is cheese.  This was exactly what I was afraid of.  When I read that the cheese was stuffed, I asked if I could just get it on top of the meat instead.  The cashier said the patties were already pre-formed :(.  I think this is a bad idea bc I couldn’t taste the meat.  As far as I could tell, it tasted like beef.  I liked the caramelized onions though!  Overall, I say, “it was too salty.”  But remember, this is just the average Joe talking here ;).

Afterwards, we went to a doggie boutique to see if we could find a lil’ something to spoil the Kones buddy with, as he was waiting eagerly for us at home.

Yes, yes…we found the perfect treat for him – a longhorn-shaped biscuit with pb and carrot icing.  Score!  It was game day.  Kona needed to recognize.

Oh and guess what else we found…virgin booze for doggies!!

Have you ever seen this?  In case you can’t read the description (copied directly from the sign) – it’s made with 100% USA beef or chicken in a broth base, malt barley for shiny coats, and glucosamine for healthy joints!  I swear, the doggie world’s getting better and better each day ;).  As we don’t want to completely spoil Kona, we just got him the biscuit.  Maybe next time…

The owner of the store is a vizsla owner, and her love for her 4-legged buddie was unmistakeable!  The 7-year-old beauty was such a sweet-tempered lady with great wisdom.  I could tell from her mannerisms ;).

We came home, and it was game time!  UT vs. New Mexico!

To entice Kona into watching the game with us..

He didn’t like it when we put the shirt on him.  Initially…he froze.  Then he saw the orange biscuit…

May I?  Ok!  I’m going for it!

My boys bleed orange…burnt orange that is!  Hook’em horns!

I hope the burger pictures or Kona brought a smile to your face today!  Wishing you a Marvelous Monday!  Go and make it a great one!