Simple Black Bean Cilantro Burgers

So here's the thing. We've gone VEGAN here in Chez Watje. Well mostly. It's kind of complicated, but that's an explanation for another post. The main thing to know here is that we've been looking for simple vegan meals that don't break the bank, don't take 3 hours to cook, aren't spicy, and don't feature vegetables prominently due to the boys in the house and their veggie-hating gag reflexes. In case you were wondering, that "simple" criteria rules out pretty much every vegan meal featured on Pinterest...

In desperation, and lack of groceries, I decided to make some black bean burgers using some leftovers ingredients from other meals this week. The verdict? Quick, easy to make, and nobody gagged. In this house we call that a win!  Even though this doesn't have the texture or taste of a regular burger (or even a store bought veggie burger!) this will have a permanent spot on our dinner rotation!  Even if your family hasn't taken the crazy train to vegan town, this is a great healthy meal that even the carnivores will (might) enjoy. 

Ingredients

1/2c onion

1/4c corn

1/8c cilantro
1 can black beans, drained

Egg Replacer - 1T flax meal + 3T water (whisk and rest 5min)

1/4c salsa, mild

3/4c bread crumbs

1 tsp garlic salt

2 tsp lime juice

Add onion, corn, and cilantro to a food processor and chop to desired texture.  Add black beans and repeat.  Add mixture and remaining ingredients to a bowl and combine.  Form patties, remembering that these will not shrink like meat patties.  Cook 5 minutes each side and enjoy!

Serves: 4-5

September Saints and Feast Days

Month of September

September Saints and Feast Days Word Search @ Real Life at Home

September Catholic Family Calendar @ Real Life at Home

September 1^st – St. Giles

We don’t know much about St. Giles, other than that he was a popular medieval saint and is the patron of disabled and beggars.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Giles @ Catholic Playground

Activities:

St. Giles prayer for Disable People @ Today with the Saints

Food:

Soupe Basque @ Catholic Culture

September 3^rd – St. Gregory the Great

Pope and Doctor of the church.  He developed the idea of chants for liturgical music.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Pope St. Gregory the Great @ Catholic Playground

St. Gregory the Great @ Waltzing Matilda

Activities:

Read the Story about St. Gregory and the Cherries @ Catholic Culture

Food:

St. Gregory’s Cherry Crisp @ Catholic Cuisine

Cherries and Pecorino Cheese @ Catholic Culture

September 5^th – Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Founded the Missionaries of Charity and devoted her life to helping the poorest and sickest of the world.  Read more about her at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (2 to choose from) @ Waltzing Matilda

T is for Blessed Mother Teresa @ Saints to Color

Activities:

Mother Teresa Copywork @ Catholic Inspired

Mother Teresa Beacon of Light Votive @ Family at the Foot of the Cross

Mother Teresa Paper Plate Craft @ Family at the Foot of the Cross

Mother Teresa Unit Study @ This Sweet Life of Me

Mother Teresa Copywork @ Real Life at Home

Food:

Crockpot Pineapple Curry Chicken @ Catholic Cuisine

Blessed Teresa Jello Pie @ Catholic Cuisine

Indian Fried Bread and Chai Tea Smoothies @ Catholic Cuisine

September 8^th: Nativity of Mary

Birthday of the mother of our Savior.  Read more at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary @ Catholic Playground

Activities:

Birthday Cake and Card Craft @ Catholic Icing

Fine Art for the Nativity of Mary @ Joy of 9

Food:

Mary Birthday Cakes @ Catholic Cuisine

September 9^th: St. Peter Claver

Spanish Jesuit who dedicated his life to the service of black slaves.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Peter Claver @ Catholic Playground

St. Peter Claver 2 @ Catholic Playground

Activities:

Pray/Donate to Stop Human Trafficking @ Today with the Saints

Food:

Tortilla Espanola @ Catholic Cuisine

September 10^th: St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Augustinian Friar who was a great preacher.  Read more at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Nicholas of Tolentino @ Catholic Playground

Food:

Chicken Cacciatore @ Catholic Culture

September 12^th: Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary

According to Jewish custom, Mary’s parents would have named her 8 days after her birth.  Read more at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Holy Name of Mary (2 to choose from) @ Waltzing Matilda

Activities:

Holy Name of Mary Copywork @ Catholic Inspired

Food:

Mary’s Holy Name Breakfast Bagels @ Catholic Cuisine

Holy Name of Mary Cookies @ Catholic Cuisine

September 13^th: St. John Chrysostom

Archbishop of Constantinople and Doctor of the Church.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Coloring/Activity Page @ Catholic Kids Bulletin

Food:

Golden Mouthed Saint Food Ideas @ Catholic Cuisine

Greek Salad @ Catholic Culture

September 14^th: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This feast celebrates the recovery of the True Cross, which had fallen into the hands of the Persians.  Read more at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Exaltation of the Holy Cross @ Catholic Child

Activities:

Cross Crafts @ Catholic Icing

Fun Ideas @ Catholic Inspired

Cross Crafts @ Equipping Catholic Families

Cross Treasure Hunt @ Equipping Catholic Families

Food:

Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce @ Decrease to Increase

Triumph of the Cross Foccacia @ Domestic Church

Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad @ Catholic Cuisine

Pesto Pasta @ Catholic Cuisine

Monkey Bread Cross @ Catholic Cuisine

Triumph of the Cross Cookies @ Equipping Catholic Families

September 15^th: Our Lady of Sorrows

Devotion to the suffering of Mary and her unique role as co-redemptrix.  Read more about this feast at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Our Lady of Sorrows @ Waltzing Matilda

Sorrowful Mother @ Waltzing Matilda

Sorrows of Mary Coloring Pages @ Catholic Icing

7 Sorrows of Mary Coloring Page @ FC Peace

Activities:

Tears of Our Lady Snack w/ Reflections @ Catholic Cuisine

Seven Sorrows of Mary Mobile @ Catholic Icing

Sorrows of Our Lady Candle Craft @ Just Like Mary

Food:

Heart Pierced Cake @ Catholic Cuisine

Heart Pierced Cookies @ Catholic Cuisine

September 16^th: Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian

Cornelius was the 21^st pope and had to oppose the first anti-pope and criticism for what was thought to be too much mercy.  Cyprian, his friend, was a converted pagan who preached fervently against the various schismatic movements of the time.  They were both martyred by beheading at the hands of those who opposed them.  Read more about them at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian @ Homeschool is Where the Heart Is (Coming Soon!)

Food:

St. Peter’s Fish w/ Herbs @ Catholic Culture

September 17^th: St. Robert Bellarmine

Exemplary Italian Jesuit.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Robert Bellarmine @ Waltzing Matilda

September 17^th: St. Hildegard of Bingen

Famous German mystic.  Read more about her at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Hildegard of Bingen @ Homeschool is Where the Heart Is (Coming Soon!)

Food:

St. Hildegard Spice Cookies @ Catholic Cuisine

September 18^th: St. Joseph of Cupertino

Austere Italian Franciscan with a great devotion to Our Lady.  He would become so immersed in prayer that he would often appear to levitate off the ground!  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Joseph of Cupertino @ Catholic Playground

St. Joseph of Cupertino 2 @ Catholic Playground

Activities:

Levitating Science Project @ Today with the Saints

Food:

Levitating Cupcakes @ Homeschool is Where the Heart Is (Coming Soon!)

September 19^th: St. Januarius

Italian bishop martyred under the Diocletian persecution.  It is said that a relic of his blood miraculously liquefies several times a year.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Januarius @ Catholic Playground

Food:

Chicken San Genaro @ Catholic Cuisine

The Blood of St. Januarius Berry Drink @ Catholic Cuisine

Pizzette di San Gennaro @ Catholic Culture

September 19^th: Our Lady of La Salette

Read more about her at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Our Lady of La Salette @ Catholic Playground

September 20^th: St. Andrew Kim, Paul Chong, and the Korean Martyrs

St. Andrew Kim Taegon was the first native Korean priest and was tortured and beheaded for this.  This feast also honors 103 martyrs, mostly lay men and women, who died in the 17^th Century in an effort to bring the Christian faith to Korea.  Read more about these courageous martyrs at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Paul Chong Hasang @ Waltzing Matilda

St. Andrew Kim @ Homeschool is Where the Heart Is (Coming Soon!)

Food:

Bulgogi @ Catholic Cuisine

Korean Chicken and Poached Egg Soup @ Today with the Saints

Beef and Mushroom Kebab @ Catholic Cuisine

September 21^st: St. Matthew

Apostle and Evangelist who left his job as a tax collector to follow Christ.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Matthew the Tax Collector @ Prairie Bug (via Shower of Roses)

Activities:

Play Church Windows

Feast Day Ideas @ Two O’s+More

Food:

St. Matthew Silver Dollar Pancakes @ Catholic Cuisine

September 23^rd: St. Padre Pio

Italian Capuchin priest who received the stigmata.  He was reported to be able to bi-locate, levitate, and heal by touch, and was a fervent confessor.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

Padre Pio (2 to choose from) @ Waltzing Matilda

Activities:

Food:

Stigmata Rice Krispy Treats @ Family at the Foot of the Cross

Cappucino Mousse @ Catholic Cuisine

Italian Sausage & Pasta @ Catholic Cuisine

September 26^th: Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Twin Syrian Christian doctors who never charged for their services.  They were martyred during the Diocletian persecution.  Read more about them at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

C and D are for Sts. Cosmas and Damian @ Saints to Color

Activities:

Pray for Medical Professionals @ Today with the Saints

Food:

September 27^th: St. Vincent de Paul

French priest especially devoted to charity and helping those most in need.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Vincent de Paul @ Catholic Playground

Activities:

St. Vincent de Paul Society Lego Truck @ Catholic Playground

Donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society @ Today with the Saints

Food:

Poor Man’s Caviar @ Catholic Cuisine

Classic Beans and Rice @ Catholic Culture

September 28^th: St. Wenceslaus

Devout Christian Duke of Bohemia who was martyred at the hands of his pagan brother.  He had a passion for personally helping the poor.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture. 

Coloring Pages:

W is for St. Wenceslaus @ Saints to Color

Activities:

Read the Story/Sing the Carol of St. Wenceslaus @ Catholic Culture

Food:

Poppyseed Rings @ Catholic Culture

Rich Tea Cookies @ Catholic Culture

Footpring Cookies @ Catholic Cuisine

September 28^th: San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions

The first Filipino saint.  He was martyred with 15 others while in Japan on a mission trip.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Lawrence Ruiz @ Homeschool is Where the Heart Is (Coming Soon!)

Activities:

Feast Day Ideas* @ Love Life, Live Passionately

*(Please be aware if using the coloring pages, that as Catholics, we do NOT believe that humans become angels after death.  Saints yes, angels no.)

September 28^th: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots

Food:

Knot food @ Catholic Cuisine

September 29^th: Feast of the Archangels: Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel

The three angels who appear in the bible.  Michael (Prince of the Heavenly Host) is the angel who cast Satan into hell and defends us against evil.  St. Raphael can be found in the Book of Tobit and is a healing spirit.  St. Gabriel appeared as a heavenly messenger to Daniel, and to Zechariah to inform him of the conception of his son John the Baptist.  More importantly, he announced the birth of Jesus to Mary.  Angels are pure spirits, individually created by God and with their own will and intellect.  Read more about them at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:

St. Michael the Archangel @ Catholic Playground

M is for St. Michael the Archangel @ Saints to Color

St. Michael the Archangel @ Paper Dali

St. Michael @ Catholic Kingdom

St. Michael @ Drawn 2 Be Creative

St. Michael, St. Rafael, and St. Gabriel @ Waltzing Matilda

Archangels @ Happy Saints

Activities:

St. Michael House Purification @ Catholic Inspired

St. Michael Prayer Cards @ Catholic Icing

Archangel Candle Craft @ Sweetness & Light

Archangel Tryptic @ Familia Catolica

Memorize the St. Michael @ Today with the Saints

Food:

Michaelmas Menu Ideas @ Carrots for Michaelmas

St. Michael’s Waffles @ Catholic Cuisine

Michaelmas Blackberry Cobbler @ Catholic Cuisine

Apple Chicken @ Catholic Cuisine

Feast for the Archangels @ Rose’s Supposes

September 30^th: St. Jerome

St. Jerome preferred to be a hermit, but was reluctantly ordained a priest.  Best known for his work in translating the entire Bible into Latin.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Food:

St. Jerome and the Lion Cupcakes @ Catholic Cuisine

Activity:

Memory Verse @ Today with the Saints