A Taste of Missouri

So I like spicy things...and using black beans. That's a problem because I don't know how much of the family is in the camp of "not spicy" preferences and because black beans just absorb nearly every other flavor you add to them and cover it up so all you can taste are just black beans. Here's three recipes though that I enjoy making!

Black Bean Patties

This one's a little bland as the recipe stands: personally I've had luck adding garlic, paprika, or some chili powder, but that's probably not really everyone else's taste. Guacamole on top has been the best solution so far. Boiling and dicing sweet potatoes was a good choice, and another time I added sweet corn to pretty good success. They're good with pasta (either red or white sauce), or with the guacamole on top they're basically a vegetarian hamburger.

Time: 20m
Ingredients:
15-16oz Black Beans (get a can, cooking them raw is complicated)
15-16oz Diced white potatoes (I also recommend getting these or "sliced white potatoes" in a can to make things easier)
1/4c sauteed onion (this can be left out—in which case I'd really recommend adding something else you'll think will give the patties some more flavor).
1/2t parsley
1/2c oatmeal
olive oil

Instructions:
Mash the beans and potatoes together.
Add the onion, parsley, oatmeal, salt, and pepper (and anything else you've chosen to add)
Mix well
Shape 6 patties
Heat the oil
Cook patties about 5min per side or until done to taste

Carrot Falafel

I hesitated to include this one because I didn't want everyone thinking I only eat things that are round and shaped like discs...but it's a good one as well. The cumin is definitely a flavor we didn't eat a lot of growing up, and I don't know if that's just a Givan thing or if that's a pretty common experience for us all!

Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas (15oz)
2 cloves garlic (I'm not sure how substituting this one would work if you're not a garlic person)
1c chopped red onion (I leave this out all the time though, not on purpose, and it turns out fine)
2 carrots (finely grated)
A handful of fresh parsley
A handful of fresh mint
1/2t cumin
1/2t coriander
1/4t chili powder
1t tahini (this stuff is super hard to find...if you have seasame seeds you can grind them to a powder and use that. Other substitutions include very plain tasting nut butters apparently. I think you can just skip it...I know I haven't had enough falafel to tell the difference)
2 lemons (organic/unwaxed usually work best)
1 egg
1/2c plain vanilla yogurt
Pita

Instructions:
Mash the chickpeas.
Finely chop the garlic and all the herbs.
Finely grate the carrots.
Coarsely grate the zest of from the lemons
Add the egg
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Makes between 6-12 patties depending on  size.

Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, and tahini to make a dressing.
Serve on plain pita

Easy Bake Banana and Oatmeal Cookies
1/2c oatmeal
2 bananas
Whatever you'd like to add

Mash the bananas up and add the oatmeal. Add nuts, honey, dried fruit, etc, and bake for 15 minutes at 350.