The big 5-0

This is my 50th post! I can't believe I've done that many...
I won't carry on all about Estella, but let's just say she's amazing! I'm dreading the day she starts pushing me away when I smother her in hugs and kisses!

I've been working on some different Fritters and creatures, but mostly just experimenting, nothing too impressive. I would have never thought a stuffed animal could look frumpy, but I think I've accomplished it. I worked for a million hours yesterday on this fully lined dress and it ended up looking like a purple hospital gown! DISAPPOINTMENT!!

Today I thought it was going to be a cold, way-to-early-fall day, so I decided to spend the day cooking, baking, and making a mess in the kitchen. I made some yummy Raspberry Corn Muffins using agave nectar. I've never baked with it but it came highly recommended and the muffins were great! Not too sweet but not with the bitter taste that Rice Syrup sometimes leaves.

A friend from work gave me a recipe for a Veggie Burger, and they're so good that I have to pass it on:

Mash together:

12 oz tofu

2 cups (which is basically a can) black beans

3/4 cup oats

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion (I used less)

1/2 cup grated carrot (I used more)

1 tsp ginger (I used the Ginger Juice)

2 tsp soy

2 tsp brown sugar (I didn't use any sugar or replacement)

2 cloves crushed garlic

1-2 tsp red pepper flakes

I mashed it all together with a potato masher. I used an egg ring to shape the burgers on plastic, so they would all be the same size...it made 8 burgers.

The original recipe recommended frying them on both sides and serving, but since I hate to make anything that requires lots of frying, I tried them a couple of ways. They came out fine either way, but my preference was just baking. I put the raw burger on an oiled cookie sheet and baked them for 45 minutes at 350 degrees, flipping them half way through.
They came out really well, and Estella even ate one for lunch, SUCCESS!

I also made some of Kristy's Spinach Nuggets. Hopefully she won't mind my sharing that recipe too! (I will note my variations in red)

2 - 10 oz packages of frozen spinach (fresh, cooked spinach is fine too) [I used about 15 oz spinach and 5 oz broccoli, that's what I had available]

2/3 cup bread crumbs [ I used 1/2 cup, and made my own b/c lots of store bought bread crumbs have high fructose corn syrup in them...SERIOUSLY]

2/3 cup Parmesan cheese

3 Tbsp butter or buttery spread, melted or softened

2 eggs beaten [I found that I needed another half an egg to make it stick]

Chop the spinach (while still frozen is easiest) and squeeze out the water, combine with the remaining ingredients. Make balls about the size of a golf ball [I made balls the size of a small bouncy ball, LIGHTLY coated them in a mixture of very fine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese], flatten them and put them on a well oiled cookie sheet.

Cook for about 12 minutes [mine took 15] at 375. The nuggets should be firm and browned on the bottom. I've made them the original way too, and they are equally as yummy, just a different texture and outside...mine are a bit more of a soft nugget. (And don't worry, the picture is pre-baking, they'll be more browned after cooking!) Making them the size that I did, made about 30 nuggets.

Well, that's my day so far and it's only 3:00! And, my hiding in the kitchen has resulted in a gorgeous day. As soon as Estella wakes up from her nap (Estella actually goes down for a nap now!!! Miracles happen!) I think we'll go enjoy the day. Besides, I've run out of recipes to try!