Homemade Black Bean Burgers

Homemade Black Bean Burgers 

      1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

·                                 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

·                                 1/2 onion, cut into wedges

·                                 3 cloves garlic, peeled

·                                 1 egg

·                                 1 tablespoon chili powder

·                                 1 tablespoon cumin

·                                 1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

·                                1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

You can freeze these for later!  Before cooking, form into patties and put between wax paper.  Freeze and cook when needed.

Whole Wheat Cornbread

by Lindsey Scarber

2  beaten eggs

1  c.  milk

1/ 4  c.  cooking oil, OR shortening, OR bacon grease

1  c.  whole wheat flour, OR half wheat flour + half white flour

3/4 c. cornmeal

1/4 c. white sugar, OR brown sugar

2  T.  baking powder

3/4  t. salt

1  T.  butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a med bowl, beat the eggs.  Add milk and oil.  
Without stirring, place flour and cornmeal on top.  Make a little bathtub in the flours for the sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Stir the bathtub ingredients into the flours without getting them wet.  Then mix the dry ingredients into the wet.  Stir just until moistened.

Add the 1 T. butter to a 10-inch cast iron skillet or a 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pan.  Place in a 400 oven about 3 minutes or until butter melts.  Remove pan from oven.  Swirl butter in pan to coat bottom and sides of pan. Pour batter into hot, buttered skillet or pan.  Bake for 15 or 18 min. or until a wooden toothpick or butter knife poked into the middle comes out clean.  Serve warm.

Dinner Variations:  Add 1/2 c. grated cheese before baking.  OR add 1/2 cup crisp bacon pieces before baking.

Breakfast Variation:  Serve cornbread with a bowl and spoon.  Spread jam on the top, then pour milk over it.

Cornbread Muffins Variation: Spoon batter into greased 12-muffin pan. Bake 350 for 8-11 min. To check for doneness, tap the top of a muffin, if it bounces back they are done. 

Behunin Family Honey Butter Variation:   In a microwave dish, combine 1/2 cup butter + 1/2 cup honey. Melt in microwave. When cornbread is out of the oven, poke the cornbread all over with a fork. Pour honey butter on cornbread. Heavenly delicious! 

Beef & Barley Soup

1 lb   stewing beef, stewing elk meat, or ground beef

1 T.   olive oil or vegetable oil

3 med   carrots, diced small

3 stalks   celery, diced small

1 med   onion diced small, or dehydrated onions

8 c.   beef broth,   OR water + beef bouillon powder

1 c.   dry soup mix (optional)

1/2 c.   barley

1/4 c.   dry brown lentils

2 c.   tomato juice, OR 1 c. tomato sauce + 1 c. water

1 T.   sugar

2 t.    parsley flakes

1 big   Bay leaf

1 T.   Worcestershire sauce

1/8 t.   garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Chop stew beef into little pieces.  Add to a large pot or Dutch oven with the olive oil. Add celery, carrots, and onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beef is browned and veggies are tender.

Add beef broth and dry soup mix.  Add barley, lentils, and tomato juice. Add all over ingredients. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Cover and simmer until vegetables, grains, and meat are tender.  

To make a creamy soup, you may add canned Cream of Mushroom soup
Serves 8 to 12

~ Lindsey Scarber, served at the Douglas Neighborhood Mar 1st Iron Chef Cook-off

Savory Butternut, Black Bean, & Wheat Berry Burritos

      By Rebecca Heale

 1 Tbsp  oil

½ medium onion, chopped

3 c peeled butternut squash or sweet potatoes cut into ½ inch cubes

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp cinnamon

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 cups black beans

1 cup wheat berries

Tortillas (I like corn, but wheat requires less prep)

A bit more oil

Toppings as desired: grated cheese, salsa, sour cream, fresh cilantro or parsley

 Preheat oven to 350 F.  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes.  Add squash cubes and cook (still on medium) until squash is just tender.  Add spices, beans, and wheat berries.  Stir carefully to distribute the spices.  Heat through. 

 You are now ready to assemble the burritos.   If using corn tortillas, brush tortilla with oil (I put a Tbs oil in a cup and just dab it on the tortilla with a basting brush)  and heat in a pan until it is flexible. If using wheat, you can skip that step. Fill with some of the bean mixture and roll up.  Place in the pan. Continue to do this with the remaining ingredients, lining up the burritos in the pan as you go.  Bake uncovered for approx. 15-20 minutes, until heated through.

 Makes about 20 little burritos with corn tortillas, about 10 burritos with wheat tortillas. Enough for 8 polite adults, 6 hungry adults, or four teenage boys. 

 Adapted from a recipe my sister learned from a friend, Bethany Spicher, who learned it from farmers in Kansas.  
~Rebecca Heale, served at the Douglas Nighborhood Iron Chef Cook-off Mar 1

Potato Soup

This recipe is courtesy of my good friend, Jean Little.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C. butter
• 1/4 C. flour
• 1-2 cans evaporated milk
• 1% milk (as much or as little as you want to make the soup your desired thickness)
• 3-4 medium potatoes
• 1/4 C. sour cream
• 1/4 - 1/2 lb. bacon
• 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
• 2-3 green onions, chopped
• salt, pepper, and garlic to taste

Instructions:

• Cube potatoes.  Boil until soft.
• Cut bacon into small pieces and cook.
• In a large pot, melt butter and whisk in flour.
• When the mixture is bubbly, add the evaporated milk. 
• Slowly pour in the 1% milk until desired thickness is achieved.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic.

IT'S DELICIOUS!!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

by Lindsey Scarber

Makes 1 gallon.  

8 med   tomatoes, finely diced

4 cans   tomato sauce 8 oz, OR 1 quart jar

1 bunch   cilantro, finely chopped

2 cups   cold water

3-4 cans   mild diced green chilies 7 oz, OR 3 cups

1-3 med   onions, finely diced (I start with 1 onion, if it's really strong, it might be all I need)

1/4  - 1/2 cup   lime juice, lemon juice, or white vinegar (I like fresh lime juice)

2 Tbsp   garlic powder

2 Tbsp   salt

2 Tbsp   sugar

1-2 Tbsp   crushed red pepper, OR 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper (a little spice to keep the kids out)

1 can black beans 14.5 oz, drained and rinsed

1 can corn 14.5 oz, drained

Combine all ingredients in a large plastic or glass mixing bowl, not metal. Using a metal mixing bowl starts a chemical reaction with the acids, the citrus juices/vinegar.

When the salsa tastes good, transfer it to glass quart jars. You can use plastic containers if you don't mind your container smelling like salsa for months after.

Let it sit in the fridge to allow the flavors to blend.  Sometimes is tastes better the day after. Serve with corn chips.  Lasts 2-3 weeks refrigerated.

This recipe is yummy with or without the black beans and corn.  However, they do add healthy protein and make it last a longer in a happy tummy. 

Scarber Kettle Corn

Not too sweet, not too salty, but just right! 

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. sugar

3/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c. popcorn

1   "Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper 6qt"

In a small bowl, mix sugar and salt.  Set aside.

Plug in the "Stir Crazy 6 qt Popcorn Popper." Add 1/3 c. oil and 2 popcorn kernels. Once the 2 kernels pop, the popper is hot enough for the rest of the popcorn.  Add the 3/4 popcorn, then quickly add the sugar/salt mixture and close the lid. 

Stay close and listen carefully; it can burn easily.  When pops slow to 1 pop per second, pull the plug.  Grab hold of the unit and its lid, and quickly tip it upside-down.  Remove unit, being cautious of escaping steam. To prevent kettle corn from sticking to itself, transfer it to a different serving bowl.

While the popper is still somewhat hot, wipe out the oil/sugar stickiness with a slightly damp paper towel.  Enjoy! :)