Taking time in the kitchen...

Don't forget to enter the NuNaturals giveaway!

How did it turn into Thursday already? This week has been a crazy mess. I'm not complaining though, since great things are happening for me, but it's going to take me a bit of time to get settled. I am now on double time to get my Personal Training Certification, so writing here may be a little on the scarce side for the next couple of months. I have to stay focused and on task. This is not always easy for me, so I am officially practicing the arts of being focused and staying on task. Suggestions are always welcome. I am not on pinterest at this point due to the fact that I know it will be a time suck, but I swear I've considered getting on it just to see new ways to get organized (read pretty ways to motivate me to get organized).

I was lucky enough to spend some time in the kitchen on Monday. People always assume that I eat healthy because it's easy for me. Well, I have a ritual day too of getting myself organized for healthy eating throughout the week. I finally had some time and made some lentil quinoa burgers to load up the freezer! I am so bad at making a batch and then just eating that for the rest of the week as my protein. Not this time, I made a huge batch and have restrained myself from bean burger burnout. I also sadly have a huge batch of chickpeas in the fridge waiting to be made into this and this, but I have not had time to make either. Also, I've been eating them on my salads like crazy this week. Oh well, at least I've been prepared. I will get around to making these treats soon! Luckily I have another bag of chickpeas in the pantry just in case I eat this whole bag. Good thing I stock up on my beans.

The great thing about bean burgers is that you can use them to clean out the fridge, which is exactly what I did! I got a little excited with my new membership to Costco and purchased a 5lb bag of spinach (I think it was anyway-it may have been more-, Tony calls it the "big ass" bag). People, we ate that in a week! I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed? I'm going with proud since my boys are now eating spinach salads! Their dad is a genius since he was the one to convince them to do so. I love all the veggie eating these guys are doing here these days even when I'm not here to cook!

Anyway, the burgers were really good. The original version is my favorite bean burger or bean ball, but I rarely take the time to make them. I added spinach and simplified the process a bit so these were easier and more veggie loaded. Oh and the side of home fries and ketchup definitely made this meal complete for me!

Quinoa Lentil Balls or Burgers

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (make sure you rinse quinoa really well!)
1 cup uncooked lentils (rinsed and drained)
4 cups water or vegetable broth

Put all of this in a pot and boil for an hour or until the lentils are done.  The quinoa will officially be over cooked, but that helps the mixture come together.  There should be no more liquid in the pot.  If there is, drain it off.

1/2 cup salsa
3 cups fresh spinach
2 cups chopped mushrooms

Put all of this in a food processor and process until small, but still chunky.

1 TBSP salt
2 TBSP  flax meal
fresh ground pepper

Add all of this and half of the hot quinoa lentil mixture to the food processor.  Process until the mixture comes together.  Still a little chunky.  Make sure the quinoa lentil mixture is still hot so it will activate the flax.

2 cups quick oats (or whole oats slightly processed)

Next, add the oats and the processed mixture to the remaining quinoa lentil mixture in the pot.  Stir it all together and put in the fridge 4 hours to over night.

When completely cooled, line two sheet pans with parchment paper.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

With wet hands scoop out a tablespoon worth of quinoa lentil mixture.  (Wet hands keep the mixture from sticking to your hands) I used a small cookie scoop.  Line them up on the sheet pans.  I used 5 scoops for the burgers.  I got 27 balls and 8 burgers.  Bake the balls for 30 minutes. Bake the burgers 20 minutes on each side (flipping half way between).