Black Bean Burgers

Recipe source: ablogaboutfood2.blogspot.com

Please don't be scared away from the title.  These burgers really are so delicious.  And beans are so great for you!  Give them a try, I promise you won't be sorry you did.

One recipe will yield about 5 burgers, so I usually double it for our family.

1 can Black beans, drained and rinsed, a 1/4 cup of them set aside
1/2 cup green onion
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used a colby/monterey jack blend that was delicious, but you can use whatever you have on hand.)
1 egg beaten
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 Tbsp ketchup
2 Tbsp barbecue sauce
1/2 teaspoon Chile powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Lettuce
Sliced tomato
Sour cream
Salsa
Red onion
Buns (We used these new sandwich thins.  I sprayed them with the no-cal spray butter and toasted them in my grill pan. You could toast them in any skillet.   They were delicious!  They're only 100 calories each!)

Use a potato masher to smash black beans. In a large bowl combine mashed beans with remaining ingredients, including whole beans. Mix well. Form into five patties on a parchment or wax paper covered cookie sheet, cover in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Cook patties in a large skillet at med/high heat for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side or until outsides are crisp and cheese is melted.  In another skillet or grill pan, toast buns while the burgers are cooking.

Serve on bun with whatever fixings you like. We topped our buns with sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes.  So good!

Nacho Beef Bake

Recipe source: Healthy Cooking magazine

This is seriously one of my favorite dinners to make.  We LOVE this one.  It's fast and easy, it's yummy, and the kids don't complain!  They like it, too. :-)   One other thing is it is great if you are watching what you eat.  You can eat this, feel good about what you're eating and still feel good in your tummy, too.

*1 lb ground beef (I use ground turkey.  Better for calories, and you can't tell the diff.)
*1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
*1/2 cup water
*1 envelope taco seasoning
*2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls (I only used one here, and it was still great.  Also, you can now get the Pillsbury crescent creations that are a sheet of crescent dough that does not have the perforations for the rolls.)
*1 cup (8 ounces) reduced-fat sour cream
*1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar
*4 ounces baked nacho cheese Doritos (about 2 cups), crushed
*Shredded lettuce
*Chopped tomatoes
*Sliced olives
*Chopped green onion
*Chopped red or yellow bell pepper
*Whatever else you like on tacos/burritos :-)

1. In a large skillet, cook beef or turkey.  Drain, if necessary.  Add beans, water, and taco seasoning; mash slightly.  Cook and stir for a few minutes.  Set aside.
2. Unroll crescent dough and press onto bottom and up sides of a 13x9 dish coated with cooking spray; seal seams and perforations if necessary.  Spoon beef/turkey mixture over dough.  Spread sour cream over beef mixture; sprinkle with cheese and chips. 
3. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Top with lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Serve immediately.