Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Guacamole and Fried Plantains

                                         There are a couple companies out there that make some really tasty Black Bean Burgers. One that I really like comes from a famous fast food chain, and another from a company specializing in Vegetarian/Vegan products. Both of then have chunks of black beans in them that makes for an interesting burger texture. I decided to make my own black bean burgers, not so much because I did not want a fast food day, but mostly because I am sure that both burgers that I like contain ingredients that are probably not that good for me. One being high amounts of sodium. 

                                         The good thing about re-creating a dish at home that you like, is that you are able to control what goes into it, and how much of a specific ingredient you use. Of course, there is the added bonus that probably for the price of one of the burgers, you can make more product, having leftovers for another day. I love this version so much, that I plan to make some extra, wrap them individually in parchment paper and then foil, and freeze them. That way, when I need one, I or my husband can just grab, cook and eat! Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed making and eating them!

P.S. This is another Semi-Homemade Dish...so it won't take long to make :)

Ingredients
2      cans of Black Beans (does not matter the brand)
4      pieces of Whole Wheat Bread (for bread crumbs, or you can buy them)
1/2   yellow onion
1/2   green pepper
3-4  cloves garlic
2 tsp cumin (I simply adore this spice)
1 tsp paprika
1      pack of guacamole, spicy (or you can make your own as shown here)
cilantro (I just used what is shown in the pic, sorry I did not measure, just wanted the taste of it)
1      pack of whole wheat hamburger buns
Vegetable Oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Method

1. Gather all ingredients as shown in the picture below. Be sure to rinse the black beans before using them.
2. Using a food processor/Vita Mix, made bread crumbs with the bread (if not you can always use store bought bread crumbs)

                       

3. Add the onion, garlic, sweet pepper and cilantro to the food processor/Vita Mix and chop. If you prefer you can chop them by hand into small bits. You want to leave whatever liquid this process makes with the mix as this helps bind your burger together. This is a good point to add some salt and pepper to the mix.

4. Next using the same mixer, you can mash the beans, or if you prefer you an use a potato masher or a fork. You don't want to completely cream them. (See pic below).

                 

5. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients together. Make sure to add the spices listed above, as well as any other spices you may like (remember good chefs only use recipe's as a guideline, but use their taste buds and heart to help them make masterpieces!) It would be slightly wet to the touch, but that's how you want it. 

6. Using a little vegetable oil on your hands, pick up some of the mixture and form a burger in your hands. Lay it out on a baking sheet covered in foil.I made mine about1 inch thick and a little smaller than the burger bun.  Continue making the burgers until completed. The should look like the picture below.

                      

7.Place them in the refrigerator or freezer for about 10 minutes so that they have some time to set up a bit.
8.Then bake them covered (use foil) at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
9. Let them cool and assemble your burger as shown below. Feel free to add whatever you want to your burgers. My husband and I enjoy them with guacamole. However you can put ketchup, mustard, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce etc. Its your burger! :) If you are making the fried plantains with it, now is a good time to make them.

                   

Semi-Homemade Veggie Bean Tortillas with Guacamole and Fresh Pineapple Lime Juice

                                       Sometimes I get tired of cooking elaborate meals. Especially because I spend my entire day cooking at work, only to have to come home to cook again. When these days occur, and I do not feel like getting a fast food option, I cook semi-homemade meals. They are quick, convenient, still taste yummy and can also be healthy. When I cook semi-homemade, I try to add elements that I have to make from "scratch" to make it seem more "home-like". (In this instance I did guacamole and a fruit juice)

                                      Since my days have been really busy lately, not only have I not had time to blog, but I have not had that much time to devote to cooking either. Hence the blog will have its moments of semi-homemade food. So don't judge, just cause I like to cook, does not mean I like to cook ALL the time :) (i.e my career and home). However, thank God for a hubby who can cook and picks up the slack when I have these moments. 

Ingredients

1    onion (cut in half. Use 1/2 for taco filling, 1/2 for guacamole)

1    green pepper

1    can of kidney beans (washed and drained)

1/2 pack of taco seasoning mix

1    pack of flour tortillas (or you can make your own if you have time)

1    bottle of salsa (your favorite kind)

2    tomatoes

2    avocados

2    limes. (use 1/2 for guacamole and the rest for juice)

1/2 cup cilantro

1/2 fresh pineapple

  2  cloves garlic diced (you can use depending on your like or dislike of garlic)

      oil

salt to taste (I used this only in the guacamole, the taco seasoning has MORE than enough salt)

pepper to taste

sugar to taste

Method:

1. Gather you ingredients like the picture below. To save time I gather all my ingredients and dice or cut them and place them together. In the industry its call mise en place or everything in its place. This makes it easy to just grab things and add to the pot/dish instead of going back to the cutting board each time. 

   

2. To a saute pan, add a little vegetable oil and heat. Then add the onions, pepper and garlic. Saute until soft, but not browned. Add the red beans and HALF the packet of taco seasoning. Continue to cook until beans are heated through and flavors are meshed together. You can set this aside while you work on the guacamole.

3. This is the fun part cause I have a Vita-Mix (which is a really top notch blender. We use this in the industry as well.) I make my guacamole using this. Of course you don't want to pulse it till its terribly smooth, I like mine kinda chunky. So in the blender/food processor, place avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, salt, lime juice and onion. See pic below for what it looked like before making. Taste and adjust salt before putting in serving bowl. (If you are doing this by hand, you would need to cut ingredients smaller and mash the avocados by hand). 

4. I did not take any pics of this, but making the juice was very simple. I placed some water, the pineapple which I cut into chunks and the remainder of limes which I peeled and cut in half. I blended it and then added sugar. I only had to add 2 tbsp of sugar because the pineapple was already sweet. 

5. The next step is getting ready to assemble your tacos to get ready to EAT!. Firstly I take the tortilla shells and heat them up in a skillet (without any oil). This makes them a little more pliable (and it would stay in the way I want them).

6. Then I assemble them like the pictures shown below. First I place salsa on the heated tortilla, add the filling on top, add some cheese, and then wrap them. I continue this until completing my dish and then sprinkle it with chopped cilantro. 

 



I hope you enjoy my semi-homemade meal :)

Chocolate Peanut Punch-Natural and Yummy Energy Drink

                   

                        My husband was working on a friends' car recently and it was a relatively nice day here in Orlando. I figured it would be nice to surprise him with a nice cold glass of something. I decided, since I had so much peanut butter (from couponing) that I would whip up some peanut punch with a twist. 

                        For vegetarians, you get protein and vitamins from having a glass of peanut punch. It contains about 25 % protein, calcium, niacin, folate, fiber and vitamin E just to name a few. It is great for energy instead of caffeine filled energy drinks. To my recipe, you can add a banana and even top it with granola!

Ingredients. 

3 cups  Cold Vanilla Almond Milk (love the dept of using the Almond flavors)

1/2 cup Favorite Peanut Butter. (I used Honey Roasted)

5 tsp     Cocoa Powder (please the unsweetened cocoa, not cocoa mix for hot chocolates)

4 tbsp   Sugar (I used granulated cane sugar)

1/4 tsp  Vanilla Essence

pinch     Cinnamon

5 oz      Ice (optional)

Method

1. Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Taste for sugar and adjust if you think its necessary. (I did not make it a sweet dish, just enough to make the cocoa powder taste good).

2. Optional: You can add ice and continue to blend for an icy treat!

                                                             

Wholly Guacamole

                             A New Year has begun, and traditionally, (if I were at home in Trinidad), my mother would cook up a pot of Black Eye Peas and rice. So I thought it would be perfect for me to make my own version of the dish......However, 2012 did not start off as I thought it would. I was sick in bed the night before. (I usually cook the dish I am blogging about the day before I write about it). So there was no cooking taking place at my house for the New Year (wait, expect my husband cooked for me last night :).
                            No I'm not superstitious or anything, but usually, cooking rice and black eye peas for January 1st supposedly sets you up to have a prosperous New Year. Since I was not able to have that traditional dish, I got the next best thing....CHIPOTLE!. Even before I began writing this blog, I wanted to talk about Chipotle, and I think for January 1st, it had the most suitable components. Peas (although not black eye) and rice.
                             Even though I love to cook, sometimes I don't (surprise....well not to my husband)! On the days that I want a day off, Chipotle is my GO TO fast food. I love it cause its vegetarian, healthy, FAST FOOD and a good value for your money. PLUS now they have brown rice as an option!

                            I love to have brown rice, black beans, the grilled peppers, mild and medium salsas, a little cheese, corn and guacamole on the side. How do you like your Chipotle? And what's your favorite vegetarian fast food option?