I love them in burgers, and I love black bean soup! Unfortunately, my family doesn’t share my love of the bean, so I don’t get to make this very often. But when I do, lookout! I’ll make this recipe, doubled so I can munch on leftovers for a couple days.
Beans are easy to grow in the garden.
They require little once they are started, other than weeding and watering, which makes them a great garden addition. They are full of protein and fiber with little to no fat, which makes them a perfect addition to your diet. There’s no much this amazing little bean can’t do! Try this soup and see what I mean!
You can freeze the leftovers, or if you are like me, munch them up for lunch the next day. This is also great to cook in a crockpot, just peel the sweet potatoes and cut into cubes. Add them to the crockpot with the black beans to cook all day on low, drain and proceed with adding the broth and seasonings. Enjoy!
Have you tried black bean soup yet? Be sure to pin this for later!
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
Full of 15 grams of protein, 15 grams of fiber with few calories and fat. Who knew this little bean had so many wonderful attributes? [source] Yet, in my home, it has magical powers as well. It can make my kids disappear faster than you can say, “Dinner’s ready”. They are not fond of the beans at all. They will eat them, when faced with the only other choice being utter starvation. Unfortunately, they have to think about that a while in order to make that decision, but I digress.
We have been searching for ways to incorporate other proteins into our diets and beans are a good source for us.
We can buy them in bulk rather cheaply, store them for longer periods of time, and we can even grow them in our garden. This makes it an easy choice to add them to our diet. Varying HOW we eat them is important, as I don’t want the kids to really get tired of them and balk even more at the thought of ingesting them. I have made them into delicious black bean brownies, beans and rice, hummus, black bean soup, and chili, but I needed something else to vary the bean intake.
So, I bring you the black bean burger.
I used my new WonderMix to make these and it was a snap! I loved the 900 watts of power that ground the beans up to the right texture in a flash. First, you start by soaking the beans overnight, just like any other bean. I used 4 cups of black beans and covered them with 10 cups of water. You’ll notice the water turning black as the beans soak. That’s what I get every time and I consider that normal. In the morning, drain, rinse and fill the pot with fresh, clear water. Set on high heat and bring to a boil, then turn down heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 3-4 hours, or until done. You can also cook them in a crockpot on low for 6-8 hours if you wish. Making them that way can allow you to make huge batches at once and freeze them into portions you need later.
Place 3 cups of the cooked beans into the blender.
A food processor will work well for this, too. I added 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 Tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tsp chili powder and the juice of one lime. Blend in enough olive oil in order to make a thick, hummus type texture, about 1 cup. (At this point, you could put it into a bowl and serve with veggies to dip. Black bean hummus is wonderful as well.) Place in a bowl and then add 1/2 cup cornmeal (if you need gluten free) or flour. Blend together to form a thick paste.
Grab about a baseball sized amount and form into a patty.
This is the sticky part of the whole deal, but easy to do. Heat 2 tsp oil of choice (I used coconut) in a skillet. Place the formed patties in the hot oil and fry 4-5 minutes, flip, then fry 4-5 minutes on the other side. Top with cheese if desired when you flip it, to allow the cheese to melt.
Add your favorite toppings, like you would any burger.
My kids love ketchup and mustard, but relish, sauerkraut, pickles, onions, mushrooms, anything you would like. Serve on buns or on a bed of fresh garden greens. Delicious! Although, my kids still would rather have beef burgers, they do enjoy these from time to time.
Need some help getting back into the kitchen and cooking from scratch? Try this delicious collection of easy to make recipes to get you started!
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
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Original article and pictures take dmb3ount55sfc.cloudfront.net site
It’s that time of year, leaves are starting to fall and the days are getting shorter and a little more crisp. Yep, it’s time for the kiddos to head back to school with the billions of germ that seem to congregate there. Thankfully, there’s lots you can do and here are my Tips forKeeping Kids Healthy!
These Tips Work!
Whether it’s in the classroom sharing supplies or on the bus home from school, germs are everywhere. Kids come in contact with millions of the little buggers everyday. The good news is that you can do some simple things to keep your kids from getting every little bug they’re exposed to.
While friends are missing school, my kids rarely get sick so I know these tips really work! This is saying a lot since I have four kids at four different schools, so there are a lot of germs waiting to come home with them ��
How to Keep Kids Healthy
WASHING HANDS
I know, I know we hear this one all the time, but I’m certain my kids forget and still need to hear it…even the middle schoolers who should know better! So, remind your child to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom, blowing their nose, or playing outside. We have a rule that everyone has to wash their hands as soon as they get home from school. No exceptions!
COVER THEIR NOSE AND FACE WHEN SNEEZING AND COUGHING
While out doing your shopping, grab some little packs of tissue. Give your child a package to keep in their desk, backpack or locker. Encourage them to cough or sneeze into the tissue, then put the tissue in the trash…and wash their hands. (See pervious item �� If it isn’t possible to reach a tissue in time, remind your kiddo to cough or sneeze into the crook of their elbow, not their hands. This will definitely keep kids healthy.
DON’T SHARE WATER BOTTLES, FOOD OR PERSONAL ITEMS WITH FRIENDS
If your child is little then offer them this simple rule — if you put the item in your mouth, keep it to yourself. You don’t want them sharing hats and coats either. That’s how other little creepy crawlies like lice can be spread.
EAT A HEALTHY DIETAND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Boost their immune system naturally. Offer your child a variety of healthy foods, and skip the junk food, so they get the nutrients they need to be healthy and strong. Superfoods like blueberries make a great lunchtime treat or after school snack. And make sure they drink plenty of water. We have water bottles that go to school with the kiddos everyday so they can drink as much as they want.
LIMIT SUGAR INTAKE
This one is getting harder and harder. Everyone is trying to hand kids sugar these days. Every kid event or celebration has some sort of treat involved. And not just any treat, super sized ones! Classroom parties. Sporting events. Even school. Or the one that really gets me, the substitute teacher handing out candy so the kids will “do their work”.
Sugar really is everywhere. Do do what you can at home and help your kids make good choices when they’re out. One thing I do is make PB&Js with this Strawberry Chia Seed Jam, which has no refined sugar – the kids love it!
GET PLENTY OF SLEEP
Getting enough sleep can be a problem for children of any age. With our busy, packed schedules, naps can sometimes be missed or bedtimes pushed back. Making sleep a priority for kids can keep them healthy, both physically and emotionally. This article outlines how much sleep kids really need at every age.
Other Useful Tips for Keeping Kids Healthy
Another great tip that can help keep your family healthy during cold and flu season is to help your child avoid anyone who has a cold or infection. Close contact with a buddy who’s contagious, such as at play dates or sleepovers, could lead to your child getting sick. Or worse, the whole family being ill! When one of us gets sick we say they’re “hot lava” and can’t be touched.
We use essential oils a lot during the winter months. Diffusing blends that help fight airborne germs is a great way to avoid sickness and get rid of those winter blues!
Tips for Staying Organized
Like being a prepared mom like me? Then read my Ultimate Back To School Guide! It shares tons of back to school tips and tricks for making things run smoothly around the house. It also shares easy recipes, clever organization hacks and cool school supply DIYs.
Also, if you’re a busy family like ours, then you have to read my Secrets To An Organized House. These tips have made life so much easier and less stressful. Or, if time is always an issue…needing more of it that is…then read Time Savers for Busy Families. Simple things you can do to get more time in your day.
Want more information about staying healthy? Try these:
A taste so unbelievable, you’ll think you’re eating the real thing! America’s Favorite Protein Bar:Quest Nutrition Protein Bar.
If you are serious about building muscle mass or sculpting your body you most likely supplement your diet with commercially available whey or soy protein powders (and possibly other supplements). No doubt within a short period of time you discovered that some protein powders may not be the best tasting drinks you’ve ever had. Despite this you try to stick with them because your goal is a better body and a supplement shake that doesn’t taste so great is simply a sacrifice you make. People find that the flavor of the protein shake powder they paid a good money for quickly gets boring. If you are taking your protein shakes two or even three times a day it can become a real chore. This is when people start to experiment a little by adding other ingredients to make their protein shakes taste a little better. You can soon turn your boring, often tasteless, protein shakes into mouth-watering bodybuilding or dieting delights! All you need to have to get started is a blender and a little imagination!
Choosing What to Put in Your Protein Shakes
Before rushing off to your refrigerator to blend everything in site, let’s go through some basic principles you will want to consider first. Not only do you want to create the best tasting shakes but you should also aim to make the most effective protein shakes for your dieting requirements. This is important because there is no point throwing full fat ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter and full fat milk all together to create a wonderful tasting fat gaining shake! You need to be a little wise when choosing your ingredients! So what kinds of ingredients make good choices for your shakes? I recommend using the following tips when getting your ingredients from the supermarket or refrigerator: Try to keep as many of your ingredients as natural as possible. A good example of this is using natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter. The natural version has better protein content and also natural fats that are important in your diet.
Fruit contains the carbohydrates that will fuel your workouts and your day. The complex sugars in fruit are important to any diet (unlike the simple sugars in sweets, sodas, etc). Think about ingredients that will boost your shake’s protein content. For example, you could throw a handful of nuts into the blender for a little extra protein without making the shake much thicker. You could add a few raw egg whites (if you are worried about eating raw eggs you may be able to find treated egg whites in cartons at your supermarket). You could always simply dump an extra scoop of whey powder in there as well.
If you get a little too carried away you may discover your shake is easier to eat with a spoon then drink from a glass. When you first start creating your shakes it is a good idea to add your liquids (water, fat-free milk, low sugar fruit juices, etc…) in stages so that you get your desired consistency. Examine the nutritional information for each ingredient and consider the impact it will have on your dieting goals. For example, you may be opting for fat free (skimmed) milk if you aren’t trying to gain weight. Always know what your goal is and make your protein shakes accordingly. If you are trying to shed the fat you will be skipping the types of ingredients that add too many carbohydrates and fats while trying to increase the protein content. Think of how you might create a unique flavor. You can try things like: cinnamon, vanilla, honey, coconut milk, etc… Once you get the hang of this you will see the possibilities are endless!
Making Your Protein Shake
Once you have decided on the ingredients for your shake you are ready to start. It couldn’t be simpler and if you can make toast, you won’t have a problem. It’s a good idea to think about the order in which you will add your ingredients into the blender. Always add your main liquid source first so that everything else you add afterwards is easily blended. Following this, add your protein powder and give your blender a quick ‘burst’. Now you are ready to add the rest of your ingredients and blend until you get the right consistency. At this point you may want to add a little more liquids to tweak your shake’s thickness. Throw in five or six ice cubes to make your shake more refreshing!
Conclusion
Now you can let your imagination invent all sorts of bodybuilding and dieting concoctions that make your supplement shakes a great deal tastier! Don’t forget to share your creations with friends at the gym and people you come across with. You will also discover many ideas other people come up with to inspire you further! Visit websites and online forums for recipes where you can find even more inspiring ideas for your protein shakes!
Best Kid Friendly Recipes & Healthy Kid Food Ideas
I started My Kids Lick The Bowl because kid friendly recipes, healthy kid food ideas and nutrition for children is my passion. Feeding kids is what I know best. I studied human nutrition for five years, worked as a Dietitian and Nutritionist for 10 years and then went on to have three children.
Looking for kid friendly recipes?
You are in the right place. There are more than 100 kid approved healthy recipe ideas on my site, and new kid friendly recipes and healthy food ideas are added every week. Below you will find a selection of some of the most popular healthy recipes for children on my site.
Healthy snacks for kids
Apple Oat No Bake Bites
New Kid Friendly Recipe Ideas
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Original article and pictures take mykidslickthebowl.com site
