Celebrating 5 Years of Marriage & Southwest Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burger

Hi friends!

Oh, I have missed you! It’s been such a fun weekend and I sure did LIVE it up! I took a moment to spend some quality time with the love of my life while taking in all that we are thankful for. This weekend we celebrated our 5 year anniversary (CRAZY right?) and fell in love all over again.

My husband is the best gift from God I have ever received. I don’t say that flippantly, I mean it with my whole being. I am daily amazed at the man he is. He always puts God, then me first before him self. He has shown me grace more than I EVER do and I am learning more about LOVE from him. Don’t get me wrong our marriage isn’t perfect (who’s is?!), but I think that the longer we have been married the more we know how to show each other love and how to not press the buttons that drive us CRAZY! I think the best thing that I have loved about these first 5 years is that I have had the chance to grow with someone who is willing to help me when I fall. My husband is a ROCK and so freaking smart, he teaches me so much on a daily basis. I am excited to spend the next 50+ years being adventurous together!!!

We are not super sentimental when it comes to gifts for each other, well I am not ( need to get better) but Hubby as always was so creative this year and made me the sweetest gift ever!

He framed one our favorite songs to dance to called, Crazy Little thing called Love by Michael Buble. He didn’t just frame the lyrics, be put our names in it as well as the date of our wedding. I can’t wait to add it to our wall of memories.

Our day started out with me BREAKING the 21 day Crazy Sexy Challenge!!! We went to breakfast where I ordered a egg white vegetable omelet and enjoyed a cup of decaf coffee. It honestly wasn’t’ anything to write home about.—> more about eggs and such to come soon!

After breakfast we went car shopping. We are looking to get a SUV with 4 wheel drive for work. I think I am in love with the Honda Pilot!!

After our fun car window shopping experience we headed home where I made the most amazing salad! Mixed greens and kale topped with carrots, sprouts, snap peas, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, cucumber, zucchini, and goddess dressing from Trader Joe’s.

The rest of the afternoon was spent chilling in our backyard in our little pool with adult beverages in hand—> first glass of wine in 21 days!

I decided to make us a dinner for the night since we went out to breakfast. I wanted to eat a burger, but I wasn’t quite ready to add meat back in my life yet. So instead I made the most delish sweet potato black bean burgers!

SOUTHWEST BLACK BEAN AND ROASTED SWEET POTATO BURGER

 

(Makes 10 patties-I like to make the whole recipe and freeze some)

2 cups cooked black beans, smashed

Sweet potatoes to qual 2 cups when peeled and cut into small cubes

2 teaspoons olive oil

Salt (preferably sea salt)

3 ounces yellow onion-diced

2 teaspoons garlic

3 tablespoons tamari

2 teaspoons ground cumin

pepper

7 oz cooked brown rice

1 1/2 teaspoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (I skipped this in mine & was still delish)

1 oz cornmeal (+ 1 oz for dredging)

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees

– Place the mashed black beans in a bowl. Peal and cut the sweet potatoes, dropping them in cold water as you cut them. Drain well and toss with olive oil and sea salt. Spread them out in an even layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 25-30 mins or until tender. Toss occasionally.

– Heat a bit of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. Brown onions and garlic. Add onions to the bowl of beans, stir in tamari, cumin and salt/pepper to taste. Add the cooked rice, sweet potatoes, Worcestershire sauce and 1 oz of cornmeal. Mix well.

– Form into 4 1/2oz patties (you can also eye ball this) and dredge lightly in the remaining 1 oz of cornmeal. Heat a cast iron (again-I used a regular one, gotta improvise sometimes), over medium heat and add more olive oil or cooking spray-brown lightly on each side. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

Serve w/ salsa, guacamole or your favorite salad.

…quite the romantic setting.

The wine selection of the evening was a birthday present from my friend Melissa, from South Coast Winery. We saved it for a special occasion and enjoyed every SIP!

For dessert we enjoyed Hubby’s gift from me! Home-made dark chocolate truffles I got from a local candy shop. THEY WERE INCREDIBLE!!!

The night ended on our back patio watching a little Brain Reagan while the sunset. One of the moments I wish I could re-live everyday!!!

Oh and I almost forgot I decided to try on my wedding dress after 5 years!!!! Knew it would still fit A new tradition and goal to always fit in it. I dream of my daughter playing dress up in it, I couldn’t imagine anything sweeter!

I finish the 21 day CS challenge and I can not wait to share with all of you what I am going to keep from it as well as what I won’t. I will have a recap up this week!!! Stay tuned….

Questions:
Do you still have your wedding dress?
If not did you sale it?<