52 Cook Books : Red Bean & Mushroom Burgers

It's time for the 52 Cook Books Challenge again and this time I asked Jack to pick me a book from the cookbook cupboard in his bedroom. I was hopeful for another baking book but was slightly disappointed by his very unseasonal choice of 50 Best Ever Barbecues by Christine France.

Apart from lots of lovely marinated barbecued meat there are also a few desserts and veggie dishes, including the one that I chose, Red Bean & Mushroom Burgers. As Hanna pointed out when she saw the finished burgers, they are quite green looking, but if you cast that aside and taste with your mouth and not your eyes then you will discover that these are lovely tasting burgers and everyone loved them.

I'm not sure that I would ever risk cooking them on a bbq though as they are quite fragile, but using a griddle pan was perfect.

Red Bean & Mushroom Burgers - makes 4

tbsp Olive oil

half a red onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1tsp cumin powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp turmeric

115g mushrooms, finely chopped

400g can of red kidney beans

fresh coriander (or coriander paste)

a little flour

• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic
• Fry for a couple of minutes until softened
• Add the spices and fry for another minute before adding the mushrooms
• Fry until the mushrooms are softened and dry
• Remove from heat
• Mash the kidney beans with a fork and add to the pan with the coriander & mix well
• Form into burgers, using a little flour on your hands to stop them sticking
• Spray or brush with a little more oil and cook on a hot griddle pan for a few minutes each side

Apple & Granola Breakfast Muffins

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth and like a muffin for breakfast then these Apple & Granola Muffins could be for you. They are not overly sweet and have lovely soft pieces of Bramley apple in, which you may want to substitute with sweeter eating apple if you have a really sweet tooth.

I topped them with a little granola which was packed with nuts and seeds.

Apple & Granola Breakfast Muffins - makes 12

120 butter or margarine
100g caster sugar
 2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla bean extract
175g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
125ml milk
2 Bramley apples, peeled, cored & chopped into small pieces
75g granola*

• Beat the butter and sugar together until light & fluffy
• Beat the eggs in one at a time, along with the vanilla
• Mix the flour & baking powder together
• Add one third of the flour and baking powder & mix well
• Add one third of the milk and mix well
• Repeat with adding the flour and milk alternately until all combined
• Stir in the apple
• Line a muffin pan with muffin cases
• Divide the mixture between the muffin cases
• Sprinkle each with approx 1 dessert spoon of granola
• Bake in a 190C preheated oven for 20 minutes
• Cool on a wire rack

Follow the hashtag #BreakfastWeek on twitter for more breakfast inspiration

*I used Midfields Granola (mixed seeds) in these Muffins which I received in my hamper as part of Breakfast Week.