Family Favorite Friday!

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I returned from my “mini-vacation” with my parents on Friday, and decided to whip up a family favorite around here.

Cilantro(!) Black Bean Burgers

• 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 poblano pepper, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• Cumin (to taste)
• Chili powder (to taste)

Sweet Potato Fries

• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into fries
• Few sprays olive oil
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cinnamon

I prepped the fries first, because I hate peeling things and wanted to get it out of the way.

Plop (a legitimate word) the sweet potato in a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.

Spread on a baking sheet, and really give these babies some room to get crisp.

Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes, flip, repeat.

On to the burgers.

Sauté the pepper and garlic in a pan with the oil.

Throw in a food processor with the cilantro and process until blended.  Add the beans and pulse a few times.

Get annoyed because the camera is low on battery. Make husband charge it quick, and then take a picture of you mixing in the remaining burger ingredients.

Fry two minutes on each side.

See: fill tiny apartment with smoke.  Again.

Serve with cheese and fries, but no ketchup.  Matthew doesn’t like ketchup. I’m pretty sure he is an alien.

My Bad! Monday

News Flash: you can check out my work in progress website at www.itty-bittykitchen.com! You will still be able to read all my posts here for awhile, so never fear.


On to your regularly scheduled programming.

A lovely March snowstorm kept me in Minnesota this week, so I’ve just been relaxing away my spring break so far!

After Sunday evening’s pad thai meal, it appeared I purchased too much cilantro. Surprise, surprise. My bad.

So I decided to whip up some Chipolte style burrito bowls.

1/3 cup brown rice
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
Lime juice, to taste ( I like mine limey)
Pinch of salt

15 oz black beans
Chili powder
Cumin

Fixin’s (Peppers, sour cream, cheese, and the like)

I lined up my produce to chop

I’m big on lining things up.  I like order.

Simply cook your rice according to your desired method (we love our rice cooker!), and stir in cilantro, lime, and salt.

Put the black beans in the microwave if your lazy like me, and then mix in the cumin and chili powder.

Make sure to line up all your fixin’s in cute little bowls for the sake of the food photography.

Add just the right amount of your favorite stuff and consume.

Supplication Sunday

Matthew has been feeling a little school stress lately, and perhaps a tiny bit bummed that I am venturing to California without him later this week.

So I told him I would make whatever he wanted for dinner.  I think I might be crazy.

His request (or supplication because it goes well with Sunday) was Pad Thai. New territory for me, so I gladly obliged.

Vegetarian Pad Thai

• 1/3 cup chili sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 pounds WIDE rice stick noodles
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp oil
• 2 egg whites
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 2 cups bean sprouts

We first ventured out to buy two unknown ingredients

Fish sauce smells just like it sounds.  Gross.  But it adds a nice flavor.

First I brought a pot of water to a boil and then turned off the heat and added the noodles to the pot to soak.

In the meantime I combined the first 6 ingredients in a bowl to make a sauce.

I also whisked the eggs in a bowl, but didn’t take a picture because that’s boring.

I drained the noodles (we didn’t buy the wide kind, because they didn’t have any).

The oil and garlic went into a pan for about 1 minute, and then I added the eggs to scramble.

Finally I tossed in the noodles, sauce, cilantro, and bean sprouts for about 1 minute.

Serve with lime and peanuts.

We are headed to visit my parents tomorrow, and my mother has promised to cook whatever Matthew likes for dinner.

Someone is a little spoiled, and this time it really isn’t me!

Things They Are A-Changin' Thursday

The weather is changing.

The snow is changing (melting).

Wardrobes are changing.

This blog is changing!

Don't worry folks it's for the better.  I've purchased my very own domain, and am in the process of making it look real pretty and professional.  Be prepared for the big domain name announcement in the future.  In the mean time, sit tight while I make it look real nice for y'all.

And enjoy this tofu recipe.

Tofu "Steak"

2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp lemon juice

1 block tofu, pressed and cut into 4 "steaks"

I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and brushed these steaks with the sauce.

These steaks baked for about 30 minutes.

In the meantime I took some green beans and tossed them in the leftover sauce.

Best idea I ever had.

Finders, Takers Tuesday

It is my firm belief that all recipes are stolen.

Or at least the inspiration for a recipe comes from another recipe, or food you have tried.

Unless you cook with a lot of foams and things like on "Top Chef".

Or if you invented an olive oil lollipop.

I had planned on cooking something with tofu tonight, but was completely inspired by this recipe.  Which was in fact inspired by another recipe.  I know you are disappointed at the lack of tofu in your Tuesday blog-fix.

Get over it.

As with all things I played with the spices, omitted things I didn't like, and I added what I do like!

Sweet Potato Frittata

1 sweet potato, peeled, cubed, and boiled (or steamed)
1 cup baby spinach
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 egg whites
2 eggs
2 tbsp water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1/4 cup shredded cheese

While the sweet potato was boiling, I whisked the eggs and water and spices together.  It always takes me a few screw-ups to get the egg white out.  I'm no pro.

I greased my cast iron skillet (have I mentioned I love that thing), and sautéed the garlic and spinach for about a minute, and then threw in the potato for about another minute.

I poured in the egg mixture and made sure it was all distributed evenly.

I (and by I mean Matthew, that puppy is heavy) lifted the pan into a 400 degree oven where it sat for about 8 minutes.

The cheese went on top and into the broiler it went for another minute or so.

I'm not one to toot my own horn (well maybe I am), especially because this recipe is "stolen".  But...yum.

I done good.

Question of the day:  What's your philosophy on breakfast for dinner, or "brinner"?

Yay, nay, or all the stinkin' time?