Quick Fall Cook-out

A piece of living a balanced, zen lifestyle is embracing inspiration when it finds you- and inside the kitchen is no exception! Today was a cloudy, dull day in Autumn- but the temperature dropped enough to keep us outside for most of the day. After stacking wood for the winter and turning over the remains of the garden- a quick impromptu cook-out was required. 

It is important to share these moments of simplicity that may soon be forgotten the next time I am in the kitchen working overtime to impress dinner guests with a fancy dish or craft the perfect dessert to wow at the bake sale! 

So, here is the quick fall cook-out: frozen salmon fillets broiling over hot coals and drenched in barbecue sauce. I served it with a side of rice pilaf I whipped up in the rice steamer, and we were good to go! 

It was a wonderful treat to have that grill working again and smell the aroma of sauces cooking over coals. Even our dog, Baxter, seemed to understand the sacredness of the moment- as he for the first time in history just sat in the swing waiting patiently for his portion of the fish to finish cooking!

Living here in New Hampshire, we know the winter is not too far off- and we most likely will not be seeing our grill again until April, possibly May. This is why New Englanders appreciate the moments of Fall for as precious as they are.

Reminding you to embrace the moment,

Michelle

Black Bean Burgers

I think we have finally perfected our black bean burger recipe enough to showcase it here on our website. This is a versatile veggie burger that is not lentil or rice-based and has an amazing texture! You can grill it (put on foil and spray with oil), bake it, or fry it!

Ingredients

• 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 pinch of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 cup bread crumbs

Process

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly oil a baking sheet. Cut up vegetables in chunks and put in food processor. Chop (pulse) a few times, then add black beans. Chop (pulse) until finely chopped.

In a small bowl stir together the egg, spices and chili sauce.

Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in the bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. It should have the consistency of ground beef- if not, add more bread crumbs. Form 4 patties and place on baking sheet.

Bake for about 10 minutes on each side.

Top with your favorite burger toppings and serve and enjoy! Even your meat-lover friends will enjoy this burger!

What to Grill Part II: Veggie Burgers

I was asked to recommend a veggie burger that is meant for grilling. I tried a few different brands from my local markets, and I have a favorite on the grill:

Franklin Farms Fresh Veggie Burger is available in the refrigerated produce section of most grocery stores. I purchased mine at Hannaford's. It is reasonably priced at about $4 and comes with 4 patties. 

It doesn't fall apart on the grill, or just blister and burn like some patties will. 

I did learn a few tricks to grilling veggie burgers:

First, when choosing a veggie burger for the grill- do not go frozen. In this case, Fresh is Best!

Second, read the packaging. If there are no directions for grilling- then it does not belong on the grill.

Most important, generously spray cooking oil on both sides of the patty. This is a great trick for cooking veggie dogs or "sausages" on the grill as well. I would say the oil is the secret ingredient to grilling soy protein products. 

What to Grill: Pineapple rings

This is part I of a series entitled What to Grill? This is a common question most vegetarians face. Sure, you can go the veggie burger route, but what about if you are hosting the cook out? Do you really want to cook meat for your friends, or is this a way to satisfy everyone?

The answer is... you can satisfy and wow in a cost-effective, easy manner. So my husband and I have set out on this journey to find out ways to impress on the grill.

Part I: Pineapple Rings


You will need:

a fresh pineapple
sugar
apple pie spice (or just plain cinnamon)


Process:

Cut the pineapple into rings.
Put the rings in a bowl, and coat with sugar and spice.
Be sure to coat entire ring.
Then place on grill- flip halfway through.
Grill for a few minutes- when it smells delicious- it is done!
Serve with vanilla ice cream or by itself!