We have Lindsey Reed guest posting this week on Shelly’s Friday Favourites. Lindsey comes to us from Future Shop’s Tech Blog, and in addition to being a Mom of 2, she and her family really love to cook. I can’t wait to try her Quiona Black Bean Burgers!
Spring is finally here, and on the West coast we’ve been blessed with gorgeous weather earlier than usual, so my mind has already turned to BBQ season. I know I’m not the only one out there grilling early this year because I can smell the all too familiar BBQ smell coming from my neighbours as well.
I love to BBQ, but I love it even more when my husband BBQ’s. The extra flavor the grill gives just adds something special to the meal.
My kids love it too since they get hamburgers and hotdogs more often, but I do like to mix it up on them a bit. My kids can be picky eaters in that they won’t try unusual foods, but they have always enjoyed a variety of flavors. Of course one our favorites to BBQ are burgers, and the nice thing about making any type of burger patty is that you can spice it up any way you like.
My husband and kids prefer to use ground bison meat instead of beef in their burgers. If you’ve never tried bison, I suggest giving it a try by just replacing the beef in your favorite burger recipe with ground bison.
My personal favourite is a quinoa black bean burger. They are healthy, full of vitamins and fibre, and with the seasonings I use, they have a mexican flavor. Once I convinced my kids to try them once they love them too.
I love the versatility of a BBQ. Of course you can grill your meats, but we also love to grill veggies and potatoes, either in tin foil or a BBQ topper with some olive oil and spices to go with our meal. I don’t know if it’s just my kids, but for some reason it’s easier to get my kids to eat their veggies if they’re grilled too. Here’s the recipe I use to make Quiona Black Bean Burgers.
Quinoa Black Bean Burgers 
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Ingredients: 1 C cooked quinoa |
Directions
Cook the quinoa according to the package directions
Drain black beans and mash using a potato masher
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl
Form into desired size patties
Lightly brush each side with extra virgin olive oil
Grill them on the BBQ!
Besides the flavors you get from BBQ’ing I think the best benefit from grilling is the easy and quick clean up! If you put the whole meal on the grill you really only have to wash your dishes after.
To get the perfect hamburger or veggie patty, a great BBQ is a must have. We use a Char-Broil one at home almost identical to this Char-Broil 4-Burner Propane BBQ and it works amazing and has lasted years. I remember cringing at the cost of a great BBQ when my husband wanted to purchase, but the truth is, it has stood the test of time and we’ve definitely used it more than I thought possible.
I think spring is one of my favorite seasons and mostly because it means summer is coming. I can’t wait for beautiful hot summer days and having friends and family over for BBQ dinners, complete with my favourite Quiona Black Bean Burgers.
Don’t forget about BBQ accessories such as brushes and spatulas, you can find some great ones at Best Buy online.
