Vegan Bean Burgers

I was watching The Ellen Show yesterday afternoon and watched a clip on a vegan chef. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian but I have been thinking about what I eat more and what is healthy. I have started to make a switch to organic foods and incorporating more fruits, veggies, whole grains and water into my daily diet. I always thought non-meat burgers were so disgusting but I decided to give them another try. I found out, after trying them for the second time, that I love bean burgers! They are so good, a lot healthier, and are a fraction of the calories in a real burger.
I thought I would share this bean burger recipe that I used and maybe you will discover you enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked black beans
• 1 Tbsp cooking oil
• 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped fine
• 1 large stalk celery, chopped fine
• 2 - 4 cloves garlic minced (depends how much you like garlic)
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup hummus
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce or Braggs Liquid Aminos
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 2 slices dry whole wheat bread crumbled into tiny pieces (hint: blender or food processor works great

Directions:

     

1. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium low
2. Sauté garlic & onion in oil until soft
3. Add the celery & pepper, fry until softened
4. Mix in the herbs & spices and heat through
5. Mash or puree half the beans
6. Add reserved beans and all other ingredients EXCEPT hummus and liquid seasoning
7. Mix well by hand
8. Food Processor: process 1/2 the beans with all other ingredients except hummus and liquid seasoning, then mix in the remaining whole beans
9. Add enough of the hummus or liquid seasoning to moisten mixture fairly well
10. Mixture may seem a little sticky, but it's better than a bit dry, because they WILL dry out while cooking
11. Form 10 flat patties and cook on medium until brown, approx. 10 min per side
12. Fantastic with a little brown mustard, horseradish and sweet pickl

Strawberry Shortsnake

My Mom is a Kindergarten teacher always looking for fun cute ideas to do with her kids. Since I am always par-oozing the internet I told her I would tell her about kid ideas that catch my eye. She brought up that her kids this year really love/enjoy cooking, baking and playing with their "play" kitchen. I found a cute recipe at FamilyFun.com that is relatively easy and best of all really healthy!

If you aren't a teacher don't worry! Do this at home with your kids they will love it!

Ingrediants: 

• SHORTCAKE BISCUITS:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup margarine (1 stick)
• 1 cup milk
• STRAWBERRY FILLING:
• 1 quart strawberries

• 4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING:
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• GARNISHES:
• 4 whole strawberries
• Green fruit leather
• Mini chocolate chips or M&M

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Cut in the margarine with a pastry cutter. Or use a vegetable grater to grate the stick into the mixing bowl and let your kids take turns blending the margarine into the dry ingredients with their fingertips. Once the dough is crumbly, slowly stir in the milk.
2. Turn out the dough onto a floured working surface and gently roll or pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick rectangle (it should measure about 6 x 8 inches). For the best results, handle the dough as little as possible.
3. Slice the rectangle into four 1-1/2- x 8-inch strips. Place the strips on an ungreased baking sheet, then let your child mold and curve them into S shapes that resemble snakes. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Transfer the baked shortcakes to a wire rack (a parent's job) and let cool. Carefully slice the cooled shortcakes in half lengthwise or split them with a fork and then set aside.
4. Wash the strawberries and let your kids select four to use for the snakes' heads. Slice the rest of the berries lengthwise into a mixing bowl. Toss with the confectioners' sugar and let stand while you prepare the whipped cream.
5. Combine the whipping cream and confectioners' sugar in a chilled bowl and beat with an electric or hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
6. Just before serving, arrange berries on the bottom half of each shortcake, then cover with the shortcake top. Spread on whipped cream and add a layer of sliced strawberry "scales."
7. For the snakes' heads, cut mouth openings in the tips of the whole berries and place one at the end of each shortcake. Press a pair of mini chocolate chip or M&M's eyes into the sides of each head and add a forked tongue cut from green fruit leather. Serves 4.

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