Sweet Potato Burgers w/ Orzo Pasta Salad!

These are two HUGE winners in my book! Kids devoured them BOTH!

The burgers they ate as hamburgers, or just plain dipped in ketchup. I just ate mine like a salad.

The salad I brought to a potluck and got some good reviews!! 

Not to be passed by!

Sweet Potato Burgers

Ingredients:

1 C Ground Oatmeal (you can do half oatmeal/ half buckwheat flour) Or whole wheat crackers

1/2 C Onion 

3 Cloves Garlic

1 Celery Stalk

1/2 C white beans

1 Cup Cooked Quinoa (Click HERE to see why this is exciting!!)

1 Medium Sweet Potato cooked. (can do in microwave fast) 

1/2 C Raw orange beets, or carrots, or regular beets

2 Tbls Cilantro chopped

3 Tbls Black Olives Chopped

1 tsp Caraway Seeds

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1) Blend Oatmeal, not too fine - but close. 
2) Place roughly Chopped onion, celery, and garlic in food processor. Process until small.
Heat pan and saute until cooked.
3) Place beets in processor and shred until small. Add sweet potato until blended. set aside.
4) Add beans to onion and celery and cook for a couple minutes. Lightly mash the beans with fork or spoon. Remove from heat.
4) Place in large bowl, add all of the ingredients together. If too dry, add more smashed beans. 
5) Shape into patties and either place on cookie sheet and back for 20 minutes at 375, or place in pan and cook until harder and lightly browned. 
Serve as desired! 
(you can also freeze these very easily!!)

Easy Orzo Pasta Salad (great potluck item!)

Ingredients:

2 small Zucchini Diced 

1 Pound cooked Orzo Pasta (I find Whole Wheat Orzo at TJ or Whole Foods!)

2 Cobs of Corn -with corn cut off cob (not cooked or anything!)

1/2 Red Onion Diced

1 Avocado Diced

1/2 C Diced Black Olives

1 jalapeno diced (no seeds) - Optional

1 Tbl Lemon Zest plus 1/4 C Fresh Lemon Juice (about 2 lemons)

1 C Fresh Basil Leaves (or cilantro)  - Diced very small

Small Handful of crumbled Feta Cheese.

Combine all ingredients and sprinkle generously with Salt and Pepper. 

ENJOY!