The other day, I was sitting in a room full of moms, when a lady came in with a screaming toddler. He had cut his big toe something awful and needed a band-aid. In that room full of moms, I was able to open my purse and pull out a first aid kit with band-aids. He had his choice…flexible band-aids, round band-aids, liquid band-aids, invisible band-aids…I had an arsenal of band-aid choices. 10 minutes later, a little girl came over crying her eyes out. She had a splinter and her mom was looking for tweezers. Guess who had tweezers? Moi. I was feeling so proud of myself because I was prepared. I looked, for a brief few minutes, like that mom who really had her stuff together. Head held high, I was feeling pretty good about myself. This mom of 4 has it together, people!
Fast forward 6 hours later and I was at the ballpark watching my 6 year old play ball. My 3 year old climbs up onto the bleachers, loses her balance and lands in a huge puddle of spilled nacho cheese sauce. With nacho cheese sauce from head to toe, she was absolutely filthy. I dig in my purse, knowing that since I am now “Mrs. Has It Together”, I would have something to remedy this situation. I pull out my wipes container, open it up and it is empty. Empty! “Mrs Has It Together” would never leave the house with an empty wipes container. Kicked down on the togetherness pole several notches, I had to sheepishly look around and ask some other moms if I could have some wipes to clean up my cheese covered child. So much for that little pipe dream I had about being the mom who has it all together.
One little secret weapon I have in my life that makes me feel like I can inch up on the togetherness ladder a bit each day is black beans. They are healthy, delicious and so versatile. If there is one thing I keep in my pantry in abundance, it is cans of black beans. Why do they make me feel like I have it together? Because… you can heat up a can of black beans, sprinkle some cheese on it and call it a side dish. Mix black beans, corn, taco meat and cheese and put over tortilla chips – you’ve got nachos. Mash ’em up some, mix with cream cheese, some chili seasoning and cheese and you’ve got a dip. Black beans are so easy and versatile. The one problem with black beans is, they don’t ever seem to last around here long enough to make it into an actual recipe. They are my go to food when I need to feed people in a pinch. Black beans are what allow me one step closer to that esteemed title of “Mrs. Has it Together” and for that, I bow to the bean, forever grateful. We all know, I need all the help I can get.
Turkey Black Bean Burgers (from Simple & Delicious Magazine)
- 3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
- 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 pound ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 hamburger buns, split
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 4 romaine leaves
In a small bowl coarsely mash beans. Add the egg white, zucchini, red pepper, chili powder, onion powder, pepper and salt. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties.
In a large skillet, cook burgers in oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear. Serve on buns with onion and lettuce. Yield: 4 servings.
I’m still laughing at the fact that there was a puddle of nacho cheese sauce for her to fall in. Mud, sure. Dirty water, totally. But nacho cheese sauce? This sounds like the best playground ever! I’m going to go there… with a bag of tortilla chips in my hand.
.-= camille´s last blog ..Chocolate-Peanut Butter Marble Cake =-.
Ooo haha, well at least you DO have everything together most of the time! I am impressed, really! Happy mothers day!
.-= Simone (junglefrog)´s last blog ..Happy mother’s day! =-.
Isn’t it horrible when that feeling of being on top of it is horribly taken away the same day? I firmly believe we should be able to enjoy it for at least a day!
Happy Mother’s Day!
.-= Crystal’s Cozy Kitchen´s last blog ..Foodless Friday: Happy Mother’s Day =-.
Sounds like you’re pretty prepared, most of the time 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day!!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Happy Mother’s Day – Orange Blueberry Muffins – SMS =-.
A perfect recipe. So had to .. Thank you.
Meanwhile,
Happy Mother’s Day ! 🙂
.-= Turkey´s last blog ..History of Limyra =-.
Ohhhhh yummy!!! I too LOVE blackbeans (unfortunately, I’m about the only one in my family but I’m out to change that! : ) I will have to try this recipe, thanks so much for sharing this!! Happy mothers day!
.-= Robyn´s last blog ..Just oh so much. =-.
I wish I had more black bean recipes, because you’re right — they’re so versatile! You can make a healthy meal without much fuss… that’s something to feel good about 🙂
.-= Bethany´s last blog ..Shakshuka (Eggs in a spicy tomato sauce) =-.
oooh… These sound awesome! We LOVE black beans.
Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
.-= Jessica @ How Sweet´s last blog ..Happy Mother’s Day. =-.
Aww I think it sounds like you are pretty prepared…wipes or no wipes!
Black beans are an awesome thing to have in your cabinet and these burgers look delicious and so good for you!
Happy mother’s day!
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..Mac and Cheese with Roasted Pork, Goat Cheese, Rosemary, and Fiddleheads – Symon Sundays =-.
You know I love beans and black beans are up there at the top of the list! This looks like something that should be tried real soon and do I dare tell that it’s not a traditional burger? Hmmm…I may or I may not.
Thanks!
.-= Amy from She Wears Many Hats´s last blog ..Layered Black Bean Dip =-.
This looks yummy! Gotta love those moments… Hey at least you had all the other stuff. 2 out of 3!!! 🙂
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Major Awesomeness =-.
I think I had it more together and was very prepared when my boys were younger, but the older they get the less stuff I carry with me! I’m impressed you had such a great first aid kit in your purse!
.-= patsy´s last blog ..Crazy Busy Week and a Quick Italian Spinach Pie =-.
Oooh! Ain’t it the truth! The minute you start thinking you’ve really got it goin’, Life hands you a mudpie in the face! But you know what? In the animal world, if you keep your children alive and healthy until they are able to survive on their own, and after that they go away and want to have nothing more to do with you; you’re considered a success. If you do better than that, do you know what you are? A GOOD MOTHER! Happy Mother’s Day! I keep cans of black beans in my cupboard, too, along with good canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add some rice or tortillas or pasta plus maybe some ground beef, spices, and cheese; and you’ve got a satisfying quick meal. Gotta love it!
I think if you are prepared 98% of the time you are doing good. You are also doing good by posting this delicious bean burger Kristen.
I’m intrigued. My turkey burger recipe is very similar except that I put chopped chives in mine, but I’ve never thought of adding black beans to it. And the burgers, they look delicious. And since I love black beans and I always have them in my pantry, I’m giving this a go for my next burger grill.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Never made a Turkey burger, would definitely be a good idea with the lifestyle changes that I’d like to enforce for my family! TY
.-= Amber @ Pampered Recipes´s last blog ..Mexican Burger Bar Recipe =-.
Too funny. I posted about the same recipe today!
Black beans are my favorite too! We have saved ourselves from bad take out many nights because we’ve had them on hand. I wish my Costco had them becaus it seems like I am buying them every time I go grocery shopping
.-= Katie @ goodLife {eats}´s last blog ..GrowCookEat: Gardening with Children =-.
Sounds like your much more prepared than I. When mine gets gross, I just strip him down and leave wherever we’re at, but I only have 1 right now.
Great recipe too,, I love black beans
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Garden Tuna Salad with Olives =-.
You have some great black bean ideas that I never even thought of. I throw beans in salads most of the time but that’s about as inventive as I get!
.-= Maris (In Good Taste)´s last blog ..Five Great Recipes for Date Night =-.
Love this recipe! Lower fat option than beef, extra fiber from the beans, and even sneaks a few veggies into the mix. Wow. Gotta try this one soon.
.-= Lana @ Never Enough Thyme´s last blog ..Caramel Layer Cake =-.
Turkey bugers are alwaya good. Adding black beans is new to me. Black beans are healthy food. Eating with turkey mean is great combination.
…and you have time to create and post interesting work! I like that this includes some meat so it’s a combo veggie/meat burger.
.-= Joan Nova´s last blog ..Meatless Monday: Pasta w/ Zucchini, Tomatoes, Olives + Bocconcini =-.
Canned beans are one of my favorite convenience ingredients. The fact that beans count as a “vegetable” and that they’re packed with fiber and antioxidants, always makes me happy. Great looking recipe!
.-= Liz´s last blog ..Cookbook Review: Joy Bauer’s Slim & Scrumptious =-.
I would have never thought of putting black beans in a burger, but these look scrumptious!
You must have a big purse!! I usually carry bandaids and several kinds of pills like aspirin, tylenol sinus…things like that. Always carry wipes when I travel, but not day to day. Everyone always needs kleenix, so I imagine you carry that too.
Love the idea of black beans in a turkeyburger!
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..I scream, you scream….. for Blueberry Ice Cream! =-.
This is a great recipe. I don’t make turkey burgers very often. Maybe it’s because I didn’t really like it. But I will try this one.
I love turkey burgers and I love bean burgers. Never thought of combining the two, but it sounds wonderful now!
.-= Esi´s last blog ..Halibut Piccata with Artichokes on Farro =-.
You are a fabulous mom! NEVER forget that there is NO ONE who has it all together!
Cheers!
Donna
Ooh, that looks like a fabulous way to dress up my boring burgers!
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..TDF Brownies =-.
I’m with you there! I LOVE black beans, they are a staple in my cupboards! I always try to be “that mom” who has everything but often comes up short too!
.-= Debbi Does Dinner Healthy´s last blog ..Sloppy Buffalo Joes =-.
I made these and they were phenomenal! I’m going to post them on my blog tonight, thanks!
I’m embarking on a quest to make black bean burgers and this looks like a delicious start! Love your writing, too. It certainly paints quite the picture. I’m looking forward to making these this week! Yum for black beans!!
Made these earlier for my family, and they were great! I added some shredded carrot to the mixture, grilled them, and melted feta on top before serving. I LOVE how colorful they turned out, almost like a fiesta :). Wonderful recipe, thank you!
So I wasn’t paying enough attention to your directions and “accidentally” shred about a 1/4 cup of onion into the recipe. It turns out (as many recipe whoopsies do) that it was a fantastic mistake! We are big onion eaters in my house and they were OUTSTANDING! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Made these tonight and we loved them! Thanks!