Happy Fourth of July!

Why yes, it has been almost a month since my last post.... Yikes!

I admit it, I've been lazy. And by lazy, I mean that I've been working non-stop and when I'm not working I'm usually doing laundry and picking up the apartment and when Nick is also not working we are watching countless movies on our projector screen, usually accompanied by our good friend, Andrew, who is off from teaching for the summer. We also like to get together at each other's places and cook delicious dinners, such as eggplant parmesan (2 nights ago) or steak and asparagus (last night). Pretty much always accompanied by wine. Or beer. Or both.

I finally had 2 days off in a row this past Sunday and Monday, and Nick was also off Sunday, so I jumped at the chance to prepare a great dinner that we could both enjoy together, especially since I actually had time to shop for it and make it. Since my future mother-in-law's post on my facebook wall the other day, requesting another post, I thought posting about this meal would be a good one to get my blogging butt back in gear, because I really do enjoy it and miss it! Also, she made me realize that, though there are probably not a million people that read my blog, there are a few, and they actually do care to read about my life, so I'd better follow through! So thanks, Mamala, for reminding me of that :)

So, without further ado, the delicious meal from Sunday night: Sweet potato black bean veggie burgers!!!

I know, right? Don't they sound delicious??? Well, you would be correct in thinking that, because they ARE.

I've been wanting to make my own veggie burgers for awhile. I am not a vegetarian, though I have toyed with the idea in the past. I decided there are a few meat dishes that I just can't live without every so often, aka stuffed grape leaves with lamb (sorry, Lambchops! :/), polish dogs, bratwurst, and pretty much any cured meat of the Italian persuasion, more specifically, prosciutto and salami. Actually, after I went to Italy and tasted legit prosciutto, I realized there was no way I could turn that down for the rest of my life. Especially since I plan on going to Italy again and as many times after that as I can in my lifetime, and you bet your bottom dollar I will be consuming copious amounts of prosciutto while I'm there. And while I'm not there, I'll be buying it and enjoying it in the states, occasionally.

(Sidenote: I realized all of the meats/dishes I truly enjoy didn't originate in the States... ironic for the 4th, eh?? I'm so patriotic....haha, woops)

Long story short (sorry, I digress), I like meat and don't feel the need to become a veggie, but I try not to eat a lot of meat. I prefer to keep it to maybe 2-3 times a week if possible. Now, I do enjoy a good 'ole traditional hamburger from the grill, which is perfect for celebrating the Fourth, but I think that these veggie burgers would be a great alternative for a celebration BBQ. These specific burgers can also be the saving grace of health on the Fourth, when most are consuming lots of high-cholesterol hamburgers and hot dogs, fatty chips, and drinking a lot. With these, you can have a great, healthy main course, and not feel guilty about all the drinking! Now that is a good day.

I found this recipe from Pinterest a while back, and finally put it to use. I made the version with ground rolled oats instead of millet flour, but I'm sure either would be good! I loved the spices in this, and I actually probably could have added a little more cayenne for an extra kick. Here's how mine turned out!

They were a little crumbly, so you just have to be careful when you flip them over halfway through their bake time and when you put them on your buns!

We enjoyed them with a side of sautéed asparagus. I bought sandwich thins for the buns so as not to fill up on bread and used mustard, avocado slices, tomatoes, and goat cheese for the toppings. So. Good. I love this recipe because it makes about 8 patties, so we still have some leftover, perfect for taking to work for lunches and dinners!

I highly recommend these "burgers" for your 4th of July BBQ, or just as any other summer meal! They are super healthy and really easy to make, and a nice change from the norm, even if you aren't a vegetarian :)

Enjoy your day and go light some sparklers!