Black Bean & Spice Mini Turkey Burgers

Okay, we made a huge pivot in our apartment search.  We are now looking to buy.  I am terrified, but also really excited to make an investment in our future.  And, to live in a beautiful home again.  But, I am being picky and we have a budget, so in case we do not find what we are looking for, I have some ideas of places to rent too.  Did you know new renovations or builds in Philadelphia means tax abatement for 10 years!!! Compared to taxes in NJ this is AMAZING and also makes buying in Philly worth it right now. 

Growing up I did not realize how lucky I was to live in a beautiful big house, that my dad built and my mom designed, with a pool, parking, woods, and a BIG kitchen to cook in.  Since then I have lived in Rochester, NY with a huge crack in my ceiling that was freezing (it was $250 a month for my room... but looking back probably not worth it), east Harlem, NYC (paid only $650 a month and was able to save money for medical school), Clementon, NJ with 5 guy roommates (aka a lot of cleaning, but they were always appreciative of my baking :)) and a number of other places.  I am SOOOO over moving.  And, Mike and I think it is time to just live us two.  We have lived with roommates the last 3 years to cut costs.

Anyways, we came home the other day exhausted from apartment searching and we made these Black Bean & Spice Mini Turkey Burgers.  Mike said he loved the beans in the burger because it made the burger stick together better and made it tastier.  I also used a ton of spices, so there may be a confounding factor here, but it is still a great recipe- Mike likes it and beans add extra fiber, are lower fat, and makes the turkey meat stretch a little further to save mullah.  #winning. 

Side note....while in Utah, my little sister told me I needed to start hashtagging things on instagram.  To be honest, I thought it was not necessary.  I must be an old person stuck in a young persons body.... who doesn't know how to hashtag??!! #grandmastatus.  But, I am all about learning new things and growing.  And since starting hashtagging, I gained some new followers, so that is exciting!  Thank you everyone who follows me :).

Okay, enough about all that.  I will keep you posted on the house search, but until then enjoy these burgers!  We made them small to fit on the potato slices that we used for bread.  But, then Mike just ate the potatoes on the side

Black Bean & Spice Mini Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

* makes 12 small burgers

• ½ can of 15 oz can black beans drained
• 1 and ½ lb lean ground turkey 
• 1/2 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin 
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder 
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp coriander
• 1/8 tsp of ginger
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup of gluten free panko bread crumbs 
• pinch of cayenne for more spice 

Directions

1. Turn on Foreman Grill or you can bake them in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 20 minutes.
2. Mix spices and drained black beans.
3. Use a fork to smash some of the black beans into the side of the bowl.
4. Add turkey and mix until all incorporated.
5. Make 2 inch round balls of meat.
6. Spray grill or pan lined with foil with olive oil spray.
7. Grill each side for about 3 minutes until golden brown.
8. Use crispy potato slices as bread (peeled, sliced, sprinkled with olive oil, salt and pepper and baked on 350 for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown) or any bread you would like.  
9. Add cheese, avocado or anything you like and enjoy!!
   
   
   
   

   

   Leftovers that I used to make wraps the next
   day when we went apartment searching again.
   This is going to be a long process, so I am
   mentally preparing and physically preparing
   food to fuel us during it haha