Eating like it's Fall...

Yesterday's high was 86° and the leaves on the trees are all still green....and yet my stomach seems to thinks it's Fall.  


Last night I was on my own.  No hubs and no Kai.  That meant I could eat ANYTHING I wanted.  And I wanted Chili???  What is wrong with me?


Seriously, I could have had the biggest salad in the world and there was no one to comment on all that green.  But I wanted Chili...and pumpkin.  Is there anything more Fall-Themed than chili and pumpkin?  Add a little Apple Cider, a football game and some costumes and we might as well call it October.  Actually, now that I think about it there was a Colt's game last night.  Hummmm


Now since I'm not one to deny myself, I made some chili.  And it hit the spot perfectly! :)

BUT FIRST...

Breakfast:  Once again Kai wanted cereal and I wanted oatmeal...

Cheerios + Kix + Wheat Berries + milk

Oatmeal (1/4C oats, 1/4C water, 1/4C Almond Milk) + Cinnamon + Raisins

AND THEN THERE WAS LUNCH...

We had decided to go to the zoo and wanted to eat first so lunch needed to come together quickly.  Sadly we didn't have any left overs so it was a little random...

Raw Veggies & Humus, Apple, Cottage Cheese & Quinoa with Parm. Cheese on top

Random, but tasty. :)

THE MAIN EVENT

Dinner was what I was craving:

Chili

1/4 Onion - chopped

1/4 Bell Pepper - chopped

BIG Handful of Spinach

1 Roma Tomato - chopped

1 Can Diced Tomatoes with Chili

3/4 C cooked Black Beans

3/4 C cooked Wheat Berries

1/2 T Chili Powder (more or less to taste)

1/2 T Paprika

1/2 T carob or cocoa powder

1 t cumin powder

Saute the onion in a little EVOO until clear. 

Add the Bell Pepper, Spinach & Roma Tomato then cook until spinach is wilted.

Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer.

When you just can't wait any longer put it in your bowl and top with some lime juice and avocado.

But that wasn't enough to quench my Fall craving.

No, I needed pumpkin!

That's right, for dessert I had a Big Ol' Bowl of Libby's Pumpkin Puree.

Topped with a drizzle of maple syrup & molasses,

pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg & ginger), chia seeds & pumpkin seeds.

And with that, my craving was satisfied...

For the night anyway. :)

Black Bean Corn Burgers

Some things just go together...

Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Chocolate & Bananas

Cucumber & Humus

Black Berries & Lime

Tomato & Basil

and...

Black Beans & Corn

If I have corn I automatically think black beans.  Maybe it's because I eat too much of the BB&C Salsa.  Or more likely it's because they taste too darn good together. :)

So today I looked in the fridge and saw some corn and thought,  "Yes, I want to use that for lunch".  Then I thought, "and Black Beans".  Then I thought, "I want burgers.  I bet a black bean & corn burger would be delicious!"  And you know what?

I Was Right!

Black Bean & Corn Burgers

3/4 C Black Beans

1/2 C Corn

1/2 C Bread Crumbs (add more if needed)

1/3 C Spinach

1/8 C Parmesan Cheese

1/8 C Milled Flax Seed

2 T EVOO

1 Egg

dollop of Dijon Mustard

1/2 Lemon Juice

Pre-heat oven to 375°

Pulse everything EXCEPT the corn so that it's nice & mixed.

Stir in corn and let it all sit for a few minutes so that it all absorbs nicely.

I know, not so pretty...yet

In the mean time, Heat some coconut oil in an oven safe skillet over med heat so that it's good and hot. (You want the oil to be good & hot so that you hear that sizzle when you put your patties in it.)

Now wet your hands.  This is a trick I learned a few years ago.  By forming your patties with wet hands it won't stick to you.  Brilliant!

Form about 5 patties and put in your skillet.  Cook on one side then flip so that both sides are nice and golden.

Once they're golden you want to put the whole thing into the oven for about 15-20 minutes so that the center firms up.

And then you're done. 

Of course you'll want to actually build your burger now.

And if your anything like me you'll go to grab the buns and realize you don't have any.

Fortunately, missing an ingredient has NEVER stopped me.  My first thought was to use an English Muffin, but I'm still wanting personal pizzas and I need them for that (see, I CAN plan ahead!). 

"So long story short - too late" *

I ate it bun-less...

...and topped with some Sun Dried Tomato & Avocado.

I think the bread would have just gotten in the way anyway!

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* I realize this is probably said in a lot of movies but in my head the cast of "Clue" is saying this.  Unfortunately that doesn't really come across in a blog.  "Clue" is one of my favorite movies!  I think I have more quotes from that movie than any other.  If you haven't seen it then you need to whip up a batch of these burgers and stay in tonight to watch it.  :)

Black Bean Corn Salsa

If I'm worn out then nachos tend to be my go to dinner.  There's not much to it - just pile everything onto a plate.


Of course if I'm having nachos then I also NEED to have salsa and I was out.   Fortunately I noticed BEFORE dinner time so I was able to whip up a batch.  Score! :)

Black Bean & Corn Salsa:


Equal amounts of  Black Beans & Corn
EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Cilantro leaves


Mix it all together and let sit in the fridge for an hour+ so all the flavors meld together.


That's it.


And it adds so much to a plate of nachos....

Corn Tortilla chips, lettuce, spinach, left over taco-lentils, tomatoes, avocado, black bean & corn salsa & bell pepper.

And then garden grown cucumber, peppers & humus.