What happens when you pair a health-conscious, vegan mother of two who has her own diet business with a husband and children who sometimes have other ideas? This blog is a chronicle of my journey to eat and live in a life-affirming way!

Showing posts with label Veggie Burgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veggie Burgers. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Veggie Beauty Burger


Yesterday was a sunny and glorious day and I thought that the weather had truly turned warmer for good. But, the good luck was not to be! Today it is cold and damp and, after sitting on a lacrosse field for 2 hours, I wanted to prepare something warm and comforting for dinner tonight- brrrrr! Since I had alot of vegetables left over from the past week that were almost past their prime and a lot of pulp from my juicer (yes, I save the pulp!), I decided to make these delicious beauty burgers!
Veggie Beauty Burgers
1 cup ground flax seeds
1 cup brazil nuts (you can use walnuts or pecans if you don't have brazil nuts)
1-2 cups veggie pulp (you can use 2-3 stalks diced celery, 1/2 diced cucumber, 6 small carrots, a few handfuls of diced lettuce such as romaine, spinach and/or kale if you don't have pulp)
1/2 large tomato (I only had cherry tomatos so I threw in 5 of them)
1/2 large red pepper
4 tbsp dulse
1-2 cloves of garlic (diced)
1-2 stalks of broccoli
Juice from 1 lemon
4 tbsp nama soyu (or soy sauce)
Dash of sea salt
2 tsp rosemary
2 tsp tarragon
Oh, and I also threw in the Crunchy Sprouts that I made a few days ago!

Put all of the above ingredients in a food processor and process until relatively smooth. Shape into patties and place either in your dehydrator (if you are going raw) for approximately 4-6 hours turning over half-way, or cook on the stove top. If you are going to be cooking your burgers then wrap in seran wrap and let burgers set in refrigerator approximately 1-2 hours before you are cooking them.

When they are done, place them on a sprouted bread such as the ooey gooey Manna Bread, the grainy Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Buns, a healthy collard green or your favorite bread. I slathered the Raw Cheddar Cheese on them from the Kale Chips I made a few days ago but Vegenaise would be great too!
And, don't forget the sliced tomato and lettuce to give it some crunch!

So, why do I call these my Beauty Burgers?
Well, they are bursting with live enzymes, antioxidants and nutrients that help us have healthy skin, radiant hair and beautiful nails as well as fight against that nasty aging!
 
Did you know?
 
Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium and, in fact, have 2500 times as much as any other nut! Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that protects us against aging by helping with cell qualtiy and elasticity, stimulates our immune system and can even help fight off heart disease and some forms of cancer. Brazil nuts are also high in iron, zinc, magnesium.
 
 
Cucumbers are very high in silicon, which is essential for building and maintaining strong nails, bones, teeth and promoting hair growth. Cucumbers are also a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, vitamin K, B- vitamins, folic acid and potassium! Cucumbers also help us hydrate our bodies therefore our skin!

 
Flax seeds are high in Omega 3's and fiber. Omega 3's have been known to hydrate and strenghten nails, skin and hair. Omega 3's also can help fight depression. But, when you are looking and feeling better, who is going to need that?
 
 

Red Peppers & Tomatoes are high in Vitamins A, C, K and the anitoxidant lycopene. Consuming foods high in the these antioxidants  have been proven to protect against free radical damage associated with aging as well as sun exposure.
 
Broccoli is high in vitamin C, which protects skin against free radical damage and aging, as well as vitamin A, E, iron and fiber.
 
 
Dulse is high in calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, chlorophyll, B-12, enzymes and fiber and is one of nature’s richest sources of proteins, having up to 48% of plant-based protein. Due to its high iodine and other nutritients, dules helps cells regenerate and repair.

The burger was delicious and look (almost) like the real thing- and definitely tasted better!!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Veggie Burgers for the Whole Family


So, you readers out there know that I am all about doubling efforts and not creating two dinners- one for me (who eats raw) and one for the rest of my family. This veggie burger recipe is one of my favorites because you can use anything under the kitchen sink and really clean out your fridge and also you can make one entree and serve it both cooked and raw, satisfying all elements in the family!

Today I had some broccoli, a tomato and some parsely I needed to get rid of so just threw that in. There really is not a veggie that wouldn't work so don't be scared to experiment a bit! I made mine on Manna bread and made my husband's cooked one on an Ezekiel sprouted bun.
Veggie Burgers Two Ways (Raw & Cooked)
1 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup flax seeds (ground)
1/2 cup brazil nuts (ground) *you can also use walnuts, almonds, or pecans
1 tomato
4-6 sundried tomatos (soaked to soften, use the water too!)
1/4 cup grated carrots
Handful of parsely
1/2 large red pepper (or 1 whole small one)
3-4 stalks of broccoli (I just used head)
Dash of Nama Shoyu (or other soy sauce variety)
1/2 squeezed lemon
1-2 cloves of garlic (I prefer just one but go for it if you like garlic!)

For toppings (optional): sliced tomato, lettuce, Dayia vegan cheese, veganaise "mayonaise" or mustard Raw "Cheddar Cheese" (see below)

Mix all of the above into a food processor and process until smooth and well mixed together. Shape into patties... and, here comes the fun part!

Raw ones- shape into patties in the dehydrator and dehydrate at 110 degrees for 4-6 hours turning over to make sure both sides done. Serve on a raw bread such as Loveforce bread, a sprouted, organic bread such as Manna bread or Ezekiel or even a collard leaf. I use either the Manna or the Loveforce bread and love to pile mine with sliced tomato and lettuce and my yummy raw cheddar cheese (see below) but accessorize yours as you wish!

Cooked ones- shape into patties and wrap with seran wrap and put in the fridge to "set". When you are ready to cook them, place them in a pan with olive oil and cook on both sides until done. Serve on Ezekiel burger buns. If you want a "cheeseburger," then put the Dayia cheddar cheese on top. These I serve with a slice of tomato, lettuce and a side or organic ketchup and mustard for the kids and my husband to doctor up as they wish!

Raw "Cheddar Cheese"
1 cups raw macadamian nuts (pre-soaked for 4 hours)
Olive oil (add slowly until achieve desired consistency)
Dash of sea salt
Squeeze of 1/2 a lemon
2-4 slices red pepper
Healthy dash of Nama Shoyu soy sauce
Optional: Add Rawmesan (includes Nutritional Yeast)

Add all in the processor adding olive oil slowly until achieve desired consistency. This cheese is delicious and can be used on your burger or even as a topping for broccoli or cauliflower or any other yummy veggie!