Veggie Bean Burgers

Before starting the veggie burgers I made some yummy buns with this recipe from Holy Cow Vegan... Whole Wheat Burger Buns

Buns in a basket...

Up close...

After I'd found a great bun recipe, I searched high and low for the best veggie burger recipe. Since most of them had such high reviews I decided to combine a few to make my own.

Here's my new recipe...

Bean Burgers
1 can black beans
1 can red kidney beans

1 small onion

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1/2 red pepper

3 baby carrots, finely grated

1 tbsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 cups quick oats (I just used whole oats and processed them a little in my vitamix)
salt

Mash beans with a potato masher. Chop onion and red pepper. Add to the beans. Mix everything else in. Shape patties on wax paper.

(at this point you can cook them or freeze them for another day)

Heat a skillet on Med-high. Spray with oil. Cook patties 4 minutes on each side. They will get some black spots but are super tasty that way.

Pile on a bun with all your favorite toppings...mmmm!!!

Plum Syrup Canning Recipe

So you may remember this picture...

From this post Banana Stuffed French Toast with Plum Syrup

Yes, I'm drooling just looking at it! I have had a whole lot of requests for the syrup recipe, but couldn't find it anywhere. Distressing? I know!! Well, my food storage shelf is now empty right where the plum syrup should be so I felt extra motivated to find the recipe. Yippee!

Plum Syrup

10 cups plum juice (I use a steam juicer, but you can get the juice whatever way works for you)
14 cups sugar
1 pouch *Certo liquid pectin

Bring juice and sugar to a rolling boil (one that doesn't stop when you stir). Add pectin and bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute (this activates the pectin).

Makes 4 quarts + 1 cup

**This is the recipe doubled. I find it too tedious to split a liquid pectin into two parts. But you can make it that way if you want smaller portions.

* You will get different thicknesses of syrup depending on the pectin you use, but this is the one I like.

To can this recipe you can process your jars of syrup in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes. This is my favorite site for canning instructions:

Pick Your Own- Plum Jelly

Eat to Live- Food Pyramid

I have been doing "Eat to Live" by Dr. Furhman in hopes of getting rid of these migraines. I am feeling pretty good but sometimes forget what the best food choices are. So I thought I'd post this for easy reference...

If you haven't read Dr. Furhman's book I highly recommend it. Here are just a few things discussed in the book:

1) the importance of getting nutrients through our food versus through a supplement
2) health= nutrients/calories (our foods should be nutrient rich)
3) the impact of animal foods and processed foods on our health (no need to go vegan)
4) the China Project, the Mediterranean diet and other cultures' diets

Very interesting read!

Mexican Quinoa Salad

Just thought I'd share one of my favorite summer salads...

Mexican Quinoa Salad 

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup quinoa

Heat water to boiling. Add quinoa and cover with lid. Lower heat to medium-low and allow to simmer until the liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Cool.

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
1/2 small jalapeño, finely chopped (I leave this out if using spicy salsa)
2 green onions, chopped
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained and rinsed (optional)

1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 handful chopped cilantro
1/2 cup salsa (if I have pico I use that)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
salt to taste 

Add remaining ingredients to the cooled quinoa. Lightly toss together until well coated by the salsa and oil. 

Refrigerate for an hour before serving.

Just to wet you palate I am adding this picture from recipegirl.com:

Camper for sale *Sold

We are selling our 1978 Rancho El Rae 23' camp trailer. It has been wonderful and I love the layout with nice open spaces.

*We are asking $1500 for this camp trailer, but the price is negotiable.

Two years ago Jesse replaced the tires and the toilet. He also built shelves into several of the closets/cupboards. Great working fridge, stove, oven and heater. Tons of storage space. Linoleum floor makes for super easy clean up.

Here are some pics for those of you interested (don't try to orient yourself because I took them with my computer so they are all backwards):

Table that turns into bed- cushions are newly re-done:

Sink & fridge:

Kitchen & bedroom:

Kitchen & closet:

Kitchen & table:

Bunk bed over table:

Bedroom:

Sink & toilet:

Sink & tub:

 Stove & oven:

Outside: