Home fries and black bean burgers

I was craving a big juicy burger and greasy, salty fries - definitely not allowed on our current 6-week no-red-meat-no-sugar-no-flour-no-fun-no-nothing diet.  Lately I've been trying to make some interesting new meals to make this healthy diet extra enjoyable for my husband.  Because I love him.  And I want him to like things like black bean burgers so he'll live a long, healthy, bean-loving life. 

Black bean burgers

I found the recipe for these black bean burgers on Pinterest.  I pretty much followed her recipe, with a few tweaks.  

Funny story... in the recipe she calls for 6 T of oats, which any English speaking person would know means 6 tablespoons.  In my Franco-tired-from-baby brain I wrote it down as 6 tasses (French word for cup).  As I was adding the 3rd cup to my bowl, I was thinking to myself, "this seems like way too many oats... maybe I should double-check the recipe..."  I managed to scoop out most of it, but I think there was more than twice the required amount in there.  I added an egg white to compensate, and the flavour didn't suffer thankfully.  Be ye not deceived! It is 6 tablespoons of oats, NOT 6 cups. 

They were pretty easy to make, squashed black beans, quinoa, mashed sweet potato, oats and some spices.  You just form into patties and bake in the oven.  

                       

Topped with spicy homemade mayo (recipe to come), avocado slices, tomato and roasted red pepper, it was a hit!  Hubby even exclaimed, "It's like a real burger!"  I've got leftover mixture in the freezer and three extra patties in the fridge for later this week.  (He also said "they look like big chocolate chip cookies" while they were still on the pan...)

Home fries

Who doesn't like a pile of crispy, salty fries?  Fries are a comfort food for me.  They complement any meal, barbecue, soup, sandwich, whatever.  I make them all the time.  With just a drizzle of olive oil, some spices and baked in the oven, they come out crispy on the outside and smooth as mashed potatoes on the inside.  Honestly, they are healthy! 

Ingredients:

Potatoes (2 good-sized per person)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400°.

Chop up your potatoes into lengths.  I leave the skin on, but peel them if you want. 

Place in a bowl that has a lid.  Drizzle on the olive oil and sprinkle on the spices.

Put the lid on and shake it around until well coated.  Do a little dance if you like.

Spread onto a cookie sheet.  Give them some room, those fries like their personal space.  After 30 mins, flip them over and toss them around a little then pop back in for another 20-30 mins.  

Enjoy with a black bean burger and spinach salad, or other delicious meal of your choice!

Delish.