2012 Favorites

Well friends, can you believe it?  The year is about to end.

This year was different than the last several as cycling fell off our radar in early summer.  This left time for fishing, backyard makeover, kayaking and just plain hangin' around.  It was nice.

There were also trips to Chicago, Leavenworth/Seattle, Jenner, Bend and Laguna Beach (haven't shared those last two yet!).  We didn't see our favorite place in the whole world, Montana, but hopefully we'll return in 2013.

We are blessed.

I was excited to be nominated to be one of the Top 25 Nor-Cal Mom's for 2012 over at Circle of Mom's and had two recipes featured there!  I was also happy to work with California Farm to Table this year and have several recipes featured on their site > Philly Cream Peach Tart, Spicy Pumpkin Hummus, Homemade Garden Burgers,Salmon Cakes with Creamy Dill Sauce.  I had another feature at a great little linky as well.  I also entered my first cooking contest with Real Women of Philadelphia, and though I didn't win a new kitchen, my recipe was featured there too.  I'm also happy to have been featured on my friend's great blog, The Tasty Alternative, not once, but twice (thanks Amber!).  It has been a big year for this little blog.

Thank you to everyone who read, reads and continues to visit this little bloggy.  It means more than you know.  

Now here are your favorites of 2012!

1.  Homemade Garden Burgers & Sir Kensington's Gourmet Scooping Ketchup

2.  Cold Quinoa Salad with Fresh Mint, Craisins & Almonds

3.  Salmon Cakes with Creamy Dill Sauce (good thing all that fishin' happened)

4.  SlimKicker Review & Giveaway - proof that everyone likes free stuff.

5.  Pumpkin Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Glaze

6.  Trail Protocol: What side of the bike trail you should be on and why

Cheers to a safe and Happy New Year!  Can't wait to see what's to come in 2013.

♥TCW

Homemade Garden Burgers & Sir Kensington's Gourmet Scooping Ketchup

My husband is a fan of protein.
"Babe, how about some protein with that?"
"Babe, we need more protein."
"I need protein."

This translates to "add meat to everything you cook please".

But I am the daughter of granola parents.  And I don't think we need meat all the time.  I think we can have hearty meals without meat.  So the other night I made us homemade garden burgers.

The Cyclist was very skeptical.

And then he ate them.

And I got the seal of approval on a no-meat (but protein filled!) meal.

Yipee!

And additionally, I have a double Yipee!

Sir Kensington's sent me some of their tasty Gourmet Scooping Ketchup to try out and it really made these garden burgers extra delicious.  Even better, Sir Kensington's uses real tomatoes and real sugars (instead of high fructose corn syrup).  In my humble opinion, it is much tastier than other ketchup I have had.  Also, I think the branding of this product is fabulous.  I totally recommend clicking the link and perusing their site.

Now the double Yipee(!!) - I'll be partnering with Sir Kensington's to give you some of their fabulous ketchup and sharing some other ketchup recipe ideas I have.  More to follow, so stay tuned!

And last but not least - here is how to make those tasty garden burgers....

{inspired by Jessica's BBQ Cheddar Chickpea Burgers}

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 teaspoon olive oil + 1 tablespoon
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 medium peeled carrot, chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1 medium zucchini, grated
2 tablespoons Sir Kensington's Spicy Ketchup
2 tablespoons Sir Kensington's Plain Ketchup
30 oz. of garbanzo beans (aka chick peas), drained and rinsed (I used dry beans, but you can also use 2 15 oz. cans)
3 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
salt & pepper to taste

Saute red onions and 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat, add a pinch of salt, let cook & caramelize for a few minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

Add brocolli, carrots, zucchini & cilantro to your food processor and pulse until finely chopped.  Add garbanzo beans, ketchup, whole wheat pastry flour, smoked paprika, salt & pepper and process until all ingredients are combined.  Remove from food processor and form into patties (I got 5 patties out of this recipe).  Heat a large skillet & add remaining olive oil.  Cook over medium high heat until crispy on the outside.  Be careful flipping to avoid burger breakage.

We ate these on onion buns with jack cheese, spinach, onion and tomato (plus extra Sir Kensington's) and had fries and beers on the side.

Hopefully your protein loving loved one will enjoy these too!

I shared this recipe on the following sites, click the links for more tasty eats!
The Healthy Home Economist
New Life on a Homestead
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Mom's
My Sweet & Savory
Delightfully Dowling
Simply Sugar & Gluten Free
All the Small Stuff
Real Food Forager
Growing Home
Kelly the Kitchen Kop
The Tasty Alternative
The Kings Court IV
The Gluten Free Homemaker
This Chick Cooks
Lady Behind the Curtain
It's a Keeper
Frugal Follies
Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Miz Helen's Country Kitchen
The Nourishing Gourmet