A vegetarian turned meat-eater turned vegetarian

We rarely eat meat, if we do we eat chicken. Yes you could say this is very healthy of us and bravo! Except.. I never even ate chicken growing up. I really don't like meat and, as far as I can remember, I have never had a hamburger. I've never craved one. I just don't like the texture of meat at all. Sure sure the animals- its horrific- but honestly that is not my reasoning behind living pretty much a vegetarian life for 18 years. All the while putting up with four older brothers and their teasing and peer pressure to eat meat. I know, its a hard life. 
Once I came to America I talked myself into eating chicken. I knew that I basically wouldn't survive if i didn't. (They don't sell Quorn any where but the sunflower market and it costs about the equivalent of half a kidney per bag)


So, being the wife, I get to choose what we eat because most of the time i'm the one cooking. It started out with us having no chicken, then Derek started to cook more so that we COULD have chicken and cut it into very small pieces so I wouldn't freak out, then I would cook but make him cut the meat and then now I'm pretty much ok with cutting it myself. Its been slow but I've got better. 
Derek, on the other hand, loves meat. All of it. And it really is a treat when we go out for dinner because he actually gets to eat a steak, something i will probably never cook at home.


We both agree that this is annoying but good for us (both health wise and money wise) and we have turned into some right old foodies. We love our couscous, quinoa, smoked cheeses and kale. 


We try lots of new recipes, especially vegetarian ones. I have yet to find a better one than the recipe below. It's delicious. Not only is it meat free and filling but it also rivals the bean burgers that cost $6 for four in the frozen aisle. 
Its easy, cheap and rather forgiving. Feel free to try whatever substitutions or toppings you feel like and let me know how they turn out.


Quinoa Black Bean Burgers


Ingredients:


1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup quinoa
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced yellow bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 egg
3 tablespoons olive oil

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Roughly mash the black beans with a fork leaving some whole black beans in a paste-like mixture.

Mix the quinoa, bread crumbs, bell pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, hot pepper sauce, and egg into the black beans using your hands.

• Form the black bean mixture into 5 patties.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.

• Brown both sides and top with cheese, letting it melt as the second side cooks (optional).

• Serve in pita bread or bun. Top with spinach, avocado, onion chips, hot sauce..etc.

 Enjoy!