Black Bean Burgers

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
4 medium cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1-1/2 cups cooked or canned black beans, drained
1 cup cooked brown rice*
2 cups fresh whole wheat bread crumbs**
hot pepper sauce to taste (such as Tabasco)
1 Tablespoon ketchup
1-1/2 teaspoons sea salt

*Original recipe called for basmati rice, but use whatever you have on hand. I made mine with short-grain brown rice, and they were very tasty.
**Use gluten-free bread crumbs if desired.

1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is soft and translucent.
2. Stir in cumin and turmeric and cook for one more minute.
3. In a food processor fitted with the chopping blade, combine beans, rice, and vegetable mixture until smooth.
4. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in bread crumbs. Season with salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce and mix well.
5. Flatten 1/4-cup portions into patties and then grill or pan fry for 3-5 minutes per side.

Makes 8 burgers.

Western Beans

2 cans red beans
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans Great Northern beans
2 cans kidney beans
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chilies (mild)
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Do not drain liquid from cans.
2. Cook on high until bubbly--about two hours--then on low until ready to serve. Total cook time should be three hours or longer.
   
3. Serve over tortilla chips or corn chips. Top with avocado and sour cream if desired.

This recipe doesn't sound like much, but it is incredibly good and so easy to make. It's enough to feed twelve or so, (as long as they are bean lovers).

Calico Bean Casserole/Picnic Bean Casserole

1 (15 OZ) can kidney beans, undrained
1 (16 OZ) can baked beans with pork
1 (15 OZ) can butter beans, undrained
1 (15 OZ) can lima beans, undrained
½ cup ketchup
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 pound ground beef
4 ounces bacon, chopped – I use the thick slice bacon
½ cup chopped onion
Salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (unless using a crock pot).
   
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, fry ground beef and onion together until beef is no longer pink. Drain fat. (After draining, add to crock pot, if using.)
   
3. Fry bacon and set aside until all the other ingredients are in pot.
   
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the kidney beans, baked beans, butter beans, and lima beans. *
5. Stir in the ketchup, white vinegar, dry mustard, brown sugar, and browned beef mixture. *
   
6. Mix thoroughly, adding salt and pepper to taste.
7. Crumble the cooked bacon, add to mixture, and mix in. Pour the bean and meat mixture into a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. (If using a crock pot, turn it to high until beans are very hot, then turn to low for about 1 hour.)
   

*I just empty all ingredients into the crockpot with the cooked beef/onion.

This recipe serves about 6. If you double make sure you double the ground meat and bacon as well.

This is good as a main dish; just cook up some cornbread and you have a nice hearty meal. It's also a great side dish for barbecues.

Fran Crawford