Homemade Black Bean Burgers

 I at least try to prepare one or two meatless meals throughout the week for my family.  I am not a big fan of store bought bean burgers that are on the market so I decided to create my own.  With a few simple ingredients from my "Grandma's Pantry" and some added fresh veggies I was able to whip up this meatless meal for my family.

This black bean burger is flavorful and is a great replacement for a traditional burger.  Just add your traditional burger condiments to these burgers and be amazed at how good they taste!! 

Homemade Spicy Black Bean Burger

Black Beans (in a can or cooked dry black beans)
½ of each green, red, yellow and orange peppers diced
½ diced onion
2 cloves fresh garlic diced

Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Garlic powder to taste (not garlic salt)
Onion powder to taste
Cumin to taste
Chili powder to taste
Essence Spice (to taste) *link to recipe included below
1 medium egg
1 cup corn meal or so (just enough to thicken and make it dry)
1 cup flour or so (just enough to thicken and make it dry)
Olive Oil

Follow directions on the package of dry beans plus add a half onion. If using can beans rinse the beans. Once the beans are cooked, mash them into they turn into a thick paste.

Saute veggies in olive oil into they are translucent then add it to mashed beans, season it and add egg and mix then add corn meal, flour (make sure the mixture is a little thick and dry but not too much) To make the patties take a spoonful of mixture and roll into a ball and place on a oiled baking sheet and then press down with your palm (you may need to wet your hands in between rolling the mixture into balls) and oil a baking dish and bake in oven (turn periodically so that they don’t stick or burn to the pan)

You can fry these if you choose in olive oil.

You can get the recipe for the Essence Seasoning Here
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/emerils-essence-creole-seasoning-recipe2/index.html

Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper

Even though I am not personally fond of the the taste of the boxed Hamburger Helper...this Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper recipe tastes great and is a time saver  for when you want to fix a quick convenient meal but without the added additives and other ingredients that make you say..HUH?  This recipe is easy on the budget and tasty!

 
 Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper:
1 pound ground turkey or beef
1 cup hot water
2 cups milk (dry milk, half and half or whipping cream is okay)
1 ½  cups elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon corn starch or flour
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½  teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon of cumin (you can omit it if you don’t have it)
1 tablespoon of dried onion (you can omit it if you don’t have it)
1 ½ onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (or Velveeta Cheese)

Brown ground beef or turkey in a large skillet; drain (if it is ground beef). Add hot water, milk and stir then add macaroni, and spices and stir, then cover and let simmer. (Be sure to stir to make sure it does not stick). The last few minutes of cook time add cheese and stir, cover the pot again for the final few minutes of cook time (make sure macaroni is tender). Serve when done.

You can easily make this a quick convenient food by preparing this in advance. Put all spices into a ziplock bag (including the cornstarch or flour) then label and in a separate bag put in your 1 ½ cups of macaroni.  When ready brown meat and follow the recipe directions.