Wednesday, September 2, 2015

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



Tuesday, September 1, 2015

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 1st – 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 3rd – 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 5th – 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 8th: 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 9th: 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 10th: 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 12th: 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 13th: 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 14th: 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 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 15th: 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 16th: Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian
Cornelius was the 21st 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 17th: St. Robert Bellarmine
Exemplary Italian Jesuit.  Read more about him at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:
St. Robert Bellarmine @ Waltzing Matilda

September 17th: 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 18th: 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 19th: 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 19th: Our Lady of La Salette
Read more about her at Catholic Culture.

Coloring Pages:
Our Lady of La Salette @ Catholic Playground

September 20th: 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 17th 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 21st: 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 23rd: 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 26th: 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 27th: 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 28th: 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 28th: 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 28th: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots

Food:
Knot food @ Catholic Cuisine

September 29th: 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 30th: 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