Vegetable Burgers ~ Using Pinto Beans

I'm sharing another healthy recipe.  Once again, from a library book. 

I think the fact that this recipe includes sunflower seeds, which we do not eat enough of, is what interested me.  We didn't get to grow them last year, but did the previous year.

As you know, I cook many recipes using lentils and beans.  I did use pre-cooked pinto beans for this recipe, and they are a softer than canned beans.  I did add an egg to this recipe to "bind" the burgers a bit better.   Either way, you could also add more organic brown rice too.

 (Just as they went into the pan)

These had excellent flavor, and the family once again, devoured them.  These would be perfect with another vegetable side such as sweet potato fries.  Yum!  However, I kind of think the recipe title is funny - they really don't have a lot of "vegetables" in them.  Maybe they should be called Bean Patties?

These are crispy on the outside, but somewhat soft on the inside.  We did not serve these on buns, like a "burger" but ate them on a plate with a fork.

Hubby topped his with home canned ketchup, but you could top it with anything really - relish, salsa, or pickles etc. 

Veggie Burger
(Source:  Are you Tired and Wired? by Marcelle Pick)
 
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 - 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1 tsp. chopped basil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice

In large skillet, saute onion and garlic in 1/2 tsp. olive oil until onions are translucent.  Remove from pan.

In large bowl, mash pinto beans with back of fork.  Add cooked onions and garlic and remaining ingredients, except olive oil and mix well.  Form mixture into 4 patties.

Back in the skillet, heat remaining olive oil over medium heat.  Cook patties 4-6 minutes per side, or until evenly browned on both sides.

Servings:  4
      
   

  

Up Early ~ Frozen Pipes ~ Handmade Hay Net ~ A Prescripton for Myself

Cell phones were ringing early this morning.  Both between 4am and 5:30am.  Hubby was called in to work, and the school called.  With temperatures at -12°F, the school is currently delayed for 2 hours.  I am praying all the outside animals stayed warm enough last night.  The barn cats did not come to the door, so I am sure they found a warm corner in the barn.

Our water pipes froze last night, which was to be expected, so last night I warned the kids to fill all the water jugs for the animals, and of course flushing toilets.  At 7am, we got cold water, but hot water pipes were still frozen.
 

Yesterday I made a hay net for Blondie.  The drawstring is a bit too short, but she ate all the hay in it.  I'll be posting a photo on my S.C.R.A.P. blog later.

...this is what I prescribed to myself today, along with a hot up of tea.

I love Leslie Meier mystery novels.   Lucy Stone, married with two kids, is a newspaper reporter in Tinker's Cove.  My kind of book.  If you haven't read the Lucy Stone series, you should.  

Bringing Her Horse Home

If our life isn't interesting enough, it just got even more.  We don't make this stuff up....

Meet Bombshell Blondie.  She's my daughter's horse.  We suddenly needed a place for her.

The people that were leasing her just up and disappeared, and stopped paying her boarding.  My daughter has been unable to reach these people also.  We are told that both the woman and her husband had lost their jobs.  However, I am upset that they handled it this way, by simply leaving and cutting off all communication.  Once I was told, hubby and I scrambled to figure out how to get her here.  It was our only solution, as we could not pay her boarding as well.
  

With a make-shift stall in one of the barns (a barn that is in the best condition), and a temporary fencing area, a free trailer trip to bring her, a free bag of horse feed, we succeeded.

Unfortunately, she is up for sale.  My daughter had not been able to find a job and is attending college.   I hate to see her have to sell her, but that is her choice.  The horse came to us very underweight, and is very happy to have grass.  By nightfall, she appeared to be much happier.  If she doesn't sell, and we are able to keep her, Blondie will get a new lean-to and a larger pasture.

Just say a prayer that she loves her stall and fencing area enough, to not try and leave it.  I don't want to be chasing a Thoroughbred around.  And I don't need her crossing the 2-lane highway we live on either.  

My daughter, and a good friend of hers, put together a very quick blanket - one fleece blanket underneath, and leftover fleece from one of my sewing projects on top, and twine.  It worked out perfect until we can get her a good blanket.    Thankfully, we are not having snow and rain.  Yesterday it was very cold - wind chill at 11°F. 

As a child living in the city, my parents owned two horses.  Since then, I've been on one or two, but I do not have the good knowledge of caring for a horse.  Thankfully, my daughter does.  I already learned a lot in one day.
 

Surprise Delivery ~ Busy Saturday

In my hustle and bustle of daily duties, including the terrible habit I have of worrying, a delivery arrived to my door.

A very special delivery.

A beautiful bouquet of  flowers, that were arranged in a beautiful vase.  

Smelling and seeing them is just the prescription I needed for stress. 

They came from my sister-in-law, who sent me a very inspiring note, regarding her enjoyment of reading my blog.

Saturday was a busy day around here too.  

The girls started their day by working on the horse fencing and building a make-shift stall with what ever they could reuse.  I had to make a trip to town for horse feed, wood pellets and pick up something at my brother's.  Then it was back home to unload the second truck load of wood.  I still haven't been feeling good, but the elderberry is definitely helping.

While unloading the second load of wood, I ran inside to fetch my camera.  We've been having some beautiful sunsets here recently.  

It was then, that I saw all my laundry on the line, and had to run out and get it all down in the dark.  It was nice to come inside and find the turkey in the roaster ready to eat.   Boy were we all hungry. 

The horse fencing and stable were completed and her horse is to arrive Sunday. 

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

Front cover (sorry for the tablecloth behind it, it is too much of a busy background to really see the journal cover)

 Back Cover

Remember these fun watercolor journal pages?  From way back in July of 2012?  

...I decoupaged recycled cardboard, using magazine pictures, and made a front and back cover.  I punched holes and tied on aqua organza ribbon.  I just need to fill in the pages.

...knitted a few more dishcloths.

...remember this project?  It is my second knitted shawl.  I can't even remember when I started it.  It's finally done, but I am disappointed in the size.  In the book, the shawl goes way past her waist line, and well over her shoulders.  She must have been pretty petite, because the fringe on this barely goes to my waist line.  This pattern is cleary not for 6 foot amazon women.  Needless to say, it went to one of the girls.  I love this style too (sighing sadly). 

Soap Making Day ~ Beautiful Sunset

Just a regular day for me.  Make a 5 gallon bucket of laundry detergent, and a container of dishwasher detergent. I now make it with grated goat's milk soap (unscented) that my daughter makes here.

Had to drive to the vet for Jesse again.  That infection is back in his paw again.  We are pretty sure it never completely healed.  We have no idea what happened to it, and the vet recommended another prescription.  Thankfully, it was only $7.20, and we didn't need a vet visit this time.

Nursed a day of the sniffles, and downed some elderberry extract.  Jesse and I spent some time on the couch together.

I'm sharing a snapshot of a recent sunset here the other day. 

And one of the moon, on the same night.

 

Thrift Store Find

1 (Morgan Jones) double bed sheet and 2 pillow cases - $3.69 total.  1 cotton blanket - $1.00

Lentil Casserole ~ Delicious!

I'll be honest when I tell you that I had my doubts trying this recipe.  Once again, I found it in a library book.

It's a win-win recipe.  My kids devoured this and wanted more.  I'm not exaggerating either.  It's inexpensive, healthy, and delicious.  They were even asking for it the next day.  No kidding.

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

...canned two batches of Holiday CranberryJam. I was quite pleased with it.  Thank you Candy at Lazy J Bar C Farm for your post on this.


...mixed up more dry, homemade taco mix.

Grandma ~ Her Creative and Frugal Living

Both of my grandmothers had their own talents and special ways, in which they enjoyed living life.  I am lucky to have one container of crafting supplies that belonged to one of them.  She made jewelry from beads, crafted with empty styrofoam egg cartons, and made so many usable things from other people's trash.

During the Great Depression, my grandfather, repaired vehicles for extra cash.  My grandmother (both on my Dad's side of the family), made everything and anything.  She grew everything, canned everything, sewed everything she wore, and was very resourceful.

My Dad used to tell me stories on how Grandma would get lamp poles from people's garbage and re-build them into useable lamps.  She would then sell these.  She was good with carpentry also.

In memory of her frugality, perseverance and love for creativeness, I posted a re-creation of her Egg Carton Jewelry on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  Enjoy! 

 

Frugal and Healthy Soup/Stew

It's the still-needing-a-name-soup/stew.

It turned out more of a stew than a soup.

I did not use any broth or stock either.  

A Peek At My Key Chain Collection

Keep in mind, that I have over 400 of them (the last time I counted)....also, some of these were gifted to me by family when they traveled, others are from my own traveling days.  And of course, some just caught my eye and I bought them. I started this collection when I was a young teenager.

Collections....Pens and Keychains

I can't say I really "collect" antiques, because I use all the antiques I do buy.  Except for my coffee pot collection.  I do use two of them when we go camping, so I am still considering options for the remainder of them (maybe turning them into plant pots).

Here is another pen in my "collection" of pens.  They kids bought me this one year.  It is a bit challenging to write with, and I tend to play with it more than write, but it's definitely different.  

I remember playing the game "Trouble" many times as a child.

P.S. I know a few followers asked to see more of my keychain collection, so I hope to get that posted soon. 

It's pouring down rain this morning, and the weather is to be up to the 60's tomorrow.

Downsizing Our Vehicles ~ Smaller Paychecks

"Old Faithful" is finally repaired.   She needed a new water pump and heater core, among other small repairs.  

My son's car is at it's end.  His plan is to junk the entire car for cash.  He can put that cash towards a new one when he gets a job and can purchase one.

But in the meantime, he needs a way to get to work.  We are in the boonies, and a bicycle is in no way, an option.

So, he and and plan to share old "Eunice" until he can do that.

As we put our truck "Old Faithful" up for sale, we are sending the van back over for more repairs (again).  It's not been driven for a year now, and still needs a new battery (the plan is to keep the battery from my son's junked car).

Once those repairs are completed, it will be up for sale too.  We both agreed.

The sale of the truck and van, and eventually the Buick my son and will share, will buy us one new vehicle that I can drive, and be used for all the farm hauling - a truck.  

Or, we sell the van and car, and keep the truck for farm hauling - plan B.

Those are the plans anyway.   I still have another 16 year-old in training, and will need a car, but that will have to be put on the "wish" list for now.  

First things first....

Ordinary Day and Fun Mail

My day was an ordinary day - feed/water animals, can jelly,  housework, laundry etc.  Until the mail arrived.

Carolyn at Krazo Acres surprised me with a jar of home canned Cider Jelly.  Thank you Carolyn!  That was a sweet surprise!

I've been "Notered"