Black Bean Burgers

Hello everyone! Long time, no see, eh? I know I've been really absent from this little 'ole blog for a long time. For some of that time, I've had what I consider to be a good excuse. A certain little bean kept me sick for awhile! {Well, perhaps I shouldn't say it's our bean's fault because he didn't exactly make me sick but the hormones associated with said bean sure did.} This little bean is totally worth it but I have to admit that it's really nice to like food again. :)

And now I'm back. Hopefully. I have a bunch of recipes to share and post so I'm going to get on it and start them coming. It's a good thing you've had Tierra around to help give you some new ideas! I can't promise that all of my recipes will be health conscious like Tierra's have been. In fact, if eating sugary, delicious food were a sin, some of mine would be downright sinful. But I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Today's recipe is actually healthy and so delicious! We love this recipe and it's a really nice substitute for the full of fat hamburgers usually found on a bun. If you're looking for something a little different that tastes so great, give these a try. You won't be sorry. 

Black Bean Burgers
Recipe from Sarah Harwood
Makes 4-6 patties

2 slices stale or toasted whole wheat sandwich bread
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced, with membranes and seeds removed {I highly recommend wearing rubber gloves when you do this}
1 tsp cumin
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/4 cups cooked brown rice
2 tsp fresh lime juice {I admit to liking a little more than that in mine}
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro 
Additional breadcrumbs, if needed
1 Tbsp canola or olive oil for cooking


Directions:
In the bowl of a food processor or blender, pulse bread to form breadcrumbs {if you toast it, make sure it's been cooled before processing}. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
Saute onion until soft in a small amount of butter or oil. Add garlic, jalapenos, and cumin and saute for an additional 2 minutes.
Scrape the mixture into the food processor. Add black beans, brown rice, lime juice, salt and pepper. Pulse until the beans are chopped, but not pureed.
Scoop the black bean mixture into a large bowl. Add the breadcrumbs and the cilantro. Using a wooden spoon or your hands, stir the mixture until combined.
Divide the mixture into four or six {depending on the size you like - I usually get about 5} equal portions and form into patties. If the mixture is too moist to form patties, add more breadcrumbs. Place the patties on a baking sheet or plate lined with plastic wrap and cover with additional plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour. This recipe could also work well for making ahead of time. You could make it up in the morning and just refrigerate until you need to cook them up that evening.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Make sure your oil is hot before adding the burgers. Add the burgers and cook for 4 minutes per side.

Serve with avocado, tomato, lettuce, cilantro-lime mayo {see below} and on a bun.

Cilantro Lime Mayo
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp finally chopped cilantro
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir well.

Quick Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

Hello everyone!!! So i super apologize for not blogging last week. I was extremely busy and just spaced it! So i hope you have all had a great couple of weeks and a great mothers day!! My husband brought home flowers because i am a mom to our dogs! :) He is cute!
So on Saturday the 12th I was in a cooking competition called the Fud Fued and made Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I will give you all the recipe sometime. I entered in the appetizer category and received third place!!! A couple of the judges were The Food Nanny from BYUtv and Judge Jaxon who owns a cooking school in Park City. So it is kind of fun who they get. Last year I made chicken egg rolls and got third place as well. I received some fun prizes that i am excited to use :) All in all it was a fun experience that my husband. mom, step dad, aunt and a couple of friends were able to enjoy with me!
On the weight loss I have lost 6-7 pounds. I need to kick it in gear!!! Yesterday I started noticing where i might be losing weight...... ITS THE LAST PLACE I WANNA LOSE WEIGHT!!...... but oh well.

Anyway on to the recipe for today.... I have made a bunch of recipes in the past few weeks that i am so excited to share with you and some horrible ones i will share so you know not to try them!! But last nights dinner was sooooooo good I couldnt wait till today to blog about it......

Super Quick Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Serves Two (i always cook way to much pasta so i got enough for 3-4)
1 Large, ripe tomato (2 cups roughly chopped, 1 1/2 cups blended)
1/2 Cup Raw Cashews
1 Tbs Tomato Paste ( i did two TBSP)
1/4 Cup Water

2 Tbs Olive Oil
2-4 Cloves Garlic, minced, optional

6 Ounces (ish) Whole Wheat Spaghetti

1 tsp Salt
2-3 Tbs Wine or Water, optional
1-2 tsp Freshly Cracked, Coarse Black Pepper
1 Large Handful Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Once boiling add pasta.
Core the tomato, then roughly chop it. Add it to your blender, seeds, skin and all. Add cashews, tomato paste, and water. Blend until very smooth. (seriously blend for awhile)
Add olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.
Pour sauce from the blender into the saute pan and bring to a simmer.
Add salt and let cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If desired add wine/water to thin out the sauce. ( i did 3 Tbsp of wine, it cooks out)
Taste and season more if necessary.
Let simmer until pasta is finished cooking. (my pasta was done way before, so i drained it and let it sit)
Once pasta is cooked, drain.
Add pasta to the saute pan with black pepper and freshly chopped basil leaves. Toss to coat. Serve immediately, garnishing with more pepper and basil.
(i added a handful of parmesan cheese :/......)

So i was really nervous with this because my mom and i tried making a tomato basil soup with chopped on almonds and it was just soo chunky we couldnt handle it. So this sauce being made with cashews i was nervous... because even after i blended awhile it was still slightly chunky. WELL, the cooking it 4-5 minutes makes it soft and it was DELICIOUS!! My husband and I both ate it so fast!! 

Just ate the leftovers for lunch and it was soooo delicious!! Im so excited about this recipe!!  

We had ours with chicken that was marinated in a Lawreys Tuscan Dried Tomato Herbs and some Asparagus :)

"Chicken" Fried Dinner Patties

I got this recipe from an old ward we were in. I really wish I remembered the name of the woman who gave it to me. Maybe I'll be able to find a note around here somewhere. Anyway, this is a pretty good recipe for using up food storage items. It's also pretty tasty. I will say that I didn't think it tasted much like chicken, but for oats, I imagine it's about as close as I could get!

I will also say that I liked this recipe a little different from the way outlined here, so I'll give the directions to make the patties and then I'll tell you the alternate directions to make a "chicken" fried dinner.

"Chicken Fried" Dinner Patties
Servings: Approx. six "chicken" patties

Ingredients:
Patties:
3/4 c. finely chopped onion
1 small clove garlic, mince
3/4 c. quick oats
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 tsp. ground sage

Sauce:
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. milk or yogurt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. garlic salt

For frying:
3 Tbsp. oil

Gravy:
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
1 packet chicken gravy mix or some other form of gravy mix.

Directions:
Mix finely chopped onions, garlic, quick oats, eggs, seasonings. In large fry-pan, heat oil on medium high. Using a large spoon place a large spoonful of mixture at a time into hot oil and smooth mixture with back of spoon to create a patty. You could also your hands to try to create a patty before putting the mixture into the pan. This is kind of messy and sometimes the patties won't hold together very well {this is where I found my alternate method helpful}.
Brown well on both sides, turning only once {the more often you turn them, the more likely they are to fall apart}. Patties will be lightweight at this point.
Turn heat to lowest simmer. Mix soup, milk or yogurt and garlic salt in a medium sized bowl; spoon over patties, turning to coat both sides. Cover and simmer 30 to 40 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. {Carefully turn patties a time or two while they are simmering/absorbing liquids.}
Serve with rice or pasta and gravy.

Gravy:
Combine the soup, milk, and chicken gravy mix together. Bring to a boil in a medium sauce pan then turn down heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until thickened. If the gravy doesn't thicken enough, add about a tablespoon of flour and mix until fully incorporated.

Alternate Cooking Method:
Place the entire oat mixture into the pan with hot oil. Cook as if browning ground beef, just not quite as long. It only takes a couple of minutes. Then add the sauce to it and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the oat/sauce mixture is simmering, make some rice. When both the rice and the "chicken" fried dinner are finished, combine them together and top with gravy. 
Enjoy!

Oatmeal Wafers

These oatmeal wafers are super yummy! They are a different kind of cookie. my Farmor {she's Swedish - I think I've mentioned her before} says these are authentic Swedish oatmeal cookies. They are crunchy with the perfect amount of spice. They are also easy to make. So if you want to try a different kind of cookie that's crunchy and uber yummy, these are for you. :D

Oatmeal Wafers

Known in Swedish as Havreflarn

Recipe from Grace Lindquist via my Farmor

Ingredients:

½ cup butter or margarine

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup oatmeal

2 Tbsp. sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 egg

Directions:

Melt butter; remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Mix until blended. Butter cookie sheet generously and dust with flour. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet, 3 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 1 minutes before removing quickly with sharp knife. Cool. For more decorative effect place cookie immediately on handle of wooden spoon. Make one pan at a time.

Granola

I love granola. More specifically, I love my mom’s granola. There is none like it. Sorry if you think your mom’s is better. I promise you won’t be disappointed with this simple and delicious recipe! It’s also nice because you can always add ingredients that fit your liking.

Granola
Ingredients:
12 cups rolled oats
1-1/2 – 2 cups wheat germ
1 – 1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1-1/2 cups coconut
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
1 cup oil
1 Tbsp vanilla
½ cup water

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.

Mix wet ingredients and pour over dry; mix well.

Spread on a cookie sheet; bake at 250 for 1-1/2 hours. Turn mixture after half of the time, then ever 15 minutes until oats are golden brown. Let cool and store in air tight container.