Veggie Burger

Veggie burgers aren’t just for those wacky vegetarians anymore. Even carnivores can appreciate a vegetarian version, provided it doesn’t taste like cardboard. These burgers are kick ass and much healthier than their beefy counterpart. Serve it on a toasted egg bun with a slice of old cheddar and lots of crunchy lettuce.

Ingredients
1 small onion, diced finely
1 garlic clove
1 tsp. of canola oil
½ cup chopped mushrooms
¼ cup of salsa
1 tbsp. soya sauce
½ tsp. chilli powder
1 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed
½ cup cooked brown rice
¼ cup shredded sweet potatoes
2 tsp. mustard

Step 1

Drain and mash kidney beans, set aside.

Step 2

Add canola oil to hot frying pan. Once oil is hot, reduce heat to medium and add chopped onion and mushrooms. When onion is translucent, add garlic. Stir constantly for about a minute to prevent garlic from burning.

Step 3

Mix cooked veggies with salsa, soya sauce, mashed beans, brown rice, sweet potatoes, mustard, chili powder, salt and pepper. Form into patties.

Step 4

Fry each patty in canola oil under sides are browned.

Add oil to fry pan, add ingredients except beans and cooked rice. Cook until onions are softened. Mix

with beans and cooked rice. Let cool, form into patties, fry until browned.

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Even if you’re not planning to hike up a mountain, try these cookies for a delicious treat without the guilt. Our kids all love them, and that really says something considering all the healthy crap in them.

Ingredients

1 cup oats

2/3 cup slivered almonds

¼ cup canola oil

½ cup butter, softened

¼ cup molasses

¼ cup turbinado sugar

1 egg         

1 tsp baking soda

1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour

1 tbsp. ground flax seed

¼ cup coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375 F. Mix butter, oil, molassses, egg and sugar.

Step 2

Mix flour, flax, baking soda in a separate bowl. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until just mixed.

Step 3

Add oats, almonds, coconut and chocolate chips to the mixture, and stir until just mixed.

Step 4

Form the dough into cookies, big is okay. Place each flat cirlce on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake until done, about 15 minutes.

How to Cook Brown Rice Perfectly

There are two types of people in this world: those who can cook rice and those who can’t. I, unfortunately, fall into the second category. And, as anyone who is rice-challeged can tell you, the ones who can just can’t seem to understand this particular shortcoming. What’s the big deal? they say. Follow the directions on the packaging. They’ll never understand our struggles. Plus, brown rice takes twice as long, so in my estimation that means it’s twice as hard.

These directions are foolproof, so that even the two Geeks that are rice-challenged can compete with the best of them.

Step 1

Adjust your oven rack to the middle position, and preheat it to 375 F.

Step 2

Pour 1 1/2 cups of brown rice (any variety) in a shallow baking dish, like one you’d use for brownies, for example.

Step 3

Pour 2 1/3 cups of water or chicken broth and 2 tsp. of unsalted butter or canola oil in a sauce pan. Turn the burner onto high heat, cover and allow it to come to a boil. If you’re using water, not broth, add a pinch of salt. Broth tends to be salty enough. Immediately pour the water over the rice, and cover the baking dish tightly with foil.

Step 4

Bake the rice for about an hour, until tender.

Step 5

Remove from the over, uncover carefully, fluff with a fork, then cover with a clean dish towel. Let it sit for five minutes. Uncover and allow it to sit another few minutes. Serve and enjoy, and know you’re now one of the rice-cooking elite.