Black Bean Cakes

I was inspired to try a few recipes over the weekend. Friday evening I made black bean cakes that I found in the lastest issue of Better Homes and Gardens. These were good, and a refreshing change! I have already filed these in the mental recipe box for future making!

I even had a helper!


Ingredients ( I halfed this recipe. it made 2 servings, 2 cakes each)
1-1/2 cups prepared salsa
1 jalapeño pepper
2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 8.5-oz. pkg. corn muffin mix
1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. olive oil (I only used one)
1/2 cup dairy sour cream (I used fat free)
1/2 tsp. chili powder

Directions
1. In colander, drain 1/2 cup of the salsa. Seed and finely chop half of the jalapeño; thinly slice remaining half. In large bowl mash beans with vegetable masher or fork. Stir in muffin mix, drained salsa, 2-1/2 teaspoons chili powder, and chopped jalapeño.

2. In 12-inch skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add four 1/2-cup mounds bean mixture to skillet. Flatten mounds with spatula to 3-1/2-inch-round cakes. Cook 3 minutes each side until browned. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining oil and bean mixture.



3. In bowl combine sour cream and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder. Top cakes with remaining salsa, sliced jalapeño, and seasoned sour cream. Makes 4 (2-cake) servings.

I want to try some variations of this in the future, perhaps using a wheat flour instead of the corm muffin mix...and maybe incorporating a mango sauce!

What Kind Of A Blogger Am I?

I love surveys and questionnaires. I love filling them out and wondering what each of my answers means to the person on the other end, must be the marketer in me. This evening while reading the daily posts on one of the blogs I follow afterellen.com the post on Typealyzer had me eagerly clicking the link to their site. Typelizer will analyze the writing in ones blog or twitter and provide some insight on the bloggers personality, writing style ect. Imagine my excitment! It's as easy as 1.2.3 literally. Simply go to the site, enter your blog or any blog and there you have it, your analysis.

Here's what Typelyzer had to say about my blog:

ESFP - The Performers


The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.


Interesting huh! Even more interesting, I entered some of my fav blogs and several of them are also performers, hmmm, maybe we seek each other out!

At any rate, I don't know if this is how I am in the real world, but I like who I am in the blogosphere!

Our Big Buddy

Mike was able to capture Finn's nightly ritual on camera. I bought this bed for Dixie, but needless to say he's claimed it. He really underestimates his size!




O, and he had his bi-annual trip to the groomer yesterday where he got his spring shave. He looks so funny minus all the hair!

A few thoughts for the day

A blogger friend of mine posted these questions on her page. I figured I would post them on mine too, I love a quick survey!

Now you answer them!

1. Thought for the day: It's hump day!

2. Song of the moment: Everyone's At It - Lily Allen

3. Drink of the moment: Mint Green Tea with honey

4. Next thing you want to buy: Tickets to Vegas

5. Word of the week: Determined

6. Currently annoyed by: AIG

7. Currently reading? The New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

8. Last movie you watched? The Black Dahlia - and I feel asleep

Some Tasty New Treats

Yesterday while doing my regular grocery shopping I kept my eyes open for a special treat. When I got to the freezer section I stumbled upon a new line of light treats by Blue Bunny.

First to catch my eye were the Double Strawberry Aspen Frozen Yogurt Granola Bars

Creamy strawberry low fat frozen yogurt with a layer of strawberry fruit filling topped with crunchy granola crumbles covered in a vanilla yogurt coating.

Sounds good to me! They are fairly low in sugar, have a little bit of fiber and about 8 grams of fat, not bad! I almost went for these until I saw the Double Chocolate Sedona Frozen Yogurt Granola Sandwiches.



These are made with creamy chocolate low fat frozen yogurt with thick swirls of fudge sandwiched between two chewy honey oat granola wafers. These yummy treats are 5 grams of fat and 190 calories. A bonus, they also provide a little extra fiber(3 grams) and calcium.

Anything granola/graham cracker tasting with chocolate works for me! Mike and I both enjoyed these last night, and will be again shortly!!

Bomb Turkey Burgers and My BFF

This weekend my BFF Julie is in the QC visiting her family. She was able to clear her schedule this evening and come over for dinner, pina coladas and a screening of Twilight.

Mike and I knew we were going to make Turkey Burgers but wanted to spice them up a bit. I found this recipe online and it was awesome!! I omitted the onion powder and next time I would half the season salt but overall the burgers were fresh tasting with just the right kick!!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices mozzarella cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

** Edited 3.24.09 - We made these again tonight. This time I omitted the onion powder again, just put a few pinches of season salt and garlic powder, and a little pepper. I enjoyed them even more this time. A little less seasoning brought out the other fresh ingrediants more.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate. Place the ground turkey, onion, cilantro, chipotle chile pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl; mix well. Form into 4 patties.
Cook the hamburgers on the preheated grill until the turkey is no longer pink in the center, about 4 minutes per side. Place the mozzarella slices on the patties 2 minutes before they are ready. Serve on the toasted buns.

We had fries and a yummy twist on coleslaw that I, again, found in the Kraft food and amily mag.

The coleslaw was light and crispy with the apples. Also, the honey provides just the right amount of sweetness, much better than sugar in my opinion, and super easy to make!

What You Need!
3/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing (I used Hellmann's Light)
1 Tbsp. honey
1 bag (16 oz.) coleslaw blend
2 medium apples (preferably 1 red and 1 green), chopped.

MIX dressing and honey in large bowl.
ADD remaining ingredients; mix lightly.
REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour.



After dinner we indulged, and actually, I am still indulging as we speak, on yummy pina colodas. Mike and I brought some ingredients back from Mexico to recreate the fantastic drink we had while vacationing. We have been waiting for the right opportunity to make them! Tomorrow I will definitely be running this night off!

You can thank me later for sharing this recipe!!

2oz Calahua Creme de Coco

4 oz pineapple juice
3 oz rum
2 cups of ice

Blend and serve!!

Flexitarianism and easy pleasing meatloaf

I'm not sure why I found the Spring Kraft Food and Family magazine so inspiring this round, but tonight I made not one, but two dishes featured in the mag.

Entree:
Easy, Pleasing Meatloaf..what kind of a quasi vegetarian am I? I guess I need to re-classify myself. I think this means I am now a flexitarian or a vegetarian who sometimes eats meat. hahahah The recipe was super easy and as a new flexitarian I was excited to try a new twist on a dish I have not had since I was a kid.

easy pleasing meatloaf - i halfed this recipe and have plenty of leftovers

2lb lean ground beef (i used 96%)
1 pkg (6 oz.) Stove Top Stuffing for Chicken
1 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Kraft original BBQ sauce

Heat Oven to 375
Mix all ingrediants except 1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Shape meat mixture into a loaf in a 13x9 baking dish, top with remaining BBQ sauce
(I did not shape, too much meat touching, i cooked my loaf in a baking dish since I halfed the recipe I used what I would guess to be a 9x5" dish and cooked uncovered.)

Bake one hour until done.


Side Dish:
I planned on making red potatoes as a side but while flipping through the mag again, I realized I had the ingrediants to make Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes. I figured what the hell, I ran a mile, did the stair-stepper for 30 minutes, lifted some weights AND walked the dog today... I'll give it a shot.

creamy parmesan mashed potatoes - again, i halfed this receipe

2lbs red potatoes cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 cup fat-free reduced sodium chicken broth
4 oz cream cheese ( i used light)
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream (i used fat free)
3 tbsp Kraft grated parmesan cheese (i used fresh)
I added in some garlic powder

Place potatoes in large saucepan. Add broth;cover. Bring to a boil on high heat.
Simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes stirring after 8.
Uncover potatoes, simmer 5-6 minutes or until potatoes are tender and most of the broth is absorbed.

Add cream cheese, reduce heat to low. Mash potatoes slightly until cream cheese is melted. Add sour cream and parmesan, mash until potatoes are smooth or desired consistency and heated thoroughly.


I had seconds, and was pleasantly full afterwards which felt really good since I have not felt full in over a week. Mike is still under the weather. I'm hoping this meal will give him some energy, we are now on Day 6 of the plague.