Black Bean Burgers and Avocado Spinach Salad

This meal is packed with flavor! The black bean burgers are an original recipe. I dreamed them up in an attempt to re-create the amazing black bean burger I had at Jacks Cosmic Dogs, in Charleston. The avocado salad was a new treat, courtesy of Bailey, from Peppermint Bliss. It was just unusual enough to intrigue me and ended up a great complement to the burgers.

The Ingredients:

Two cans of black beans drained
One red onion
Three cloves of garlic
One red pepper
Two jalapeño peppers
Cilantro
Salt/Pepper
Panko breadcrumbs
Your choice of cheese for each burger
Olive oil

Making it happen:

Preheat over to 350'.
Combine one can of drained beans, red onion, garlic, peppers, cilantro, salt, and pepper in food processor. Once combined, empty into mixing bowl. Add second can of beans and at least one cup of panko. In large skillet, pour two tbsp of olive oil, letting pan heat. Create burger size patties and sear on each side for about 4 minutes. Top with cheese and stick in oven for five minutes.

Holla and Bon' jour!

Tickets have been booked! My friend, Mercedes, and I are going on a European excursion this summer. I turn 28 on June 14th and will be leaving the following week! I'm giving myself this amazing trip for my birthday. I have never been to Europe and the Gemini in me is dying for a real adventure!

We will be arriving first in Barcelona, traveling on to Benidorm, then to Madrid and Salamanca for a wedding. I plan to drink Sangria and eat lots of manchego, paella, and flan.

We leave the day after the wedding for southern France. After a brief visit with Mercedes's aunt, we will take the train to Paris to cap off this whirlwind vacation. Currently dreaming about an authentic Hemingway experience: wine, cheese, baguettes, Parisian cafes, museums, the Seine, and so much more!!

"Paris is a moveable feast" - Hemingway

A Special Birthday

I traveled back home, to Charlotte, this weekend for a very special birthday! My sister, Bethany, and Lee made the trip as well. We hung out with Lee Friday night and Saturday. We ate breakfast and took him shopping at Southpark. He gets more and more handsome each time I see him.

My cousin, Jarrod, turned 30 this weekend! Jarrod, Andrea, Bethany, and I grew up side by side. Closer than cousins, we spent our childhood doing everything together. Our bond is truly a special one and I feel so blessed that neither time, age, nor distance has weakened it. Jarrod's wife, Emily, planned a caribbean surprise party. With the help of my Aunt and Uncle, the great entertainers, the party went off without a hitch.

Indochine

My friends have been raving about this restaurant for as long as I can remember! I'm embarrassed to say that in the 10 yrs I've lived in, and been traveling to Wilmington, It wasn't until last weekend that I made my way to Indochine.

Indochine is Thai/Vietnamese fusion. This place is packed out every weekend, so I was envisioning hours of waiting.  Surprisingly, we only had to wait thirty minutes; which we spent at the bar enjoying a nice glass of red. The hostess escorted us out of the main dining hall and into a small dining hut. We sat with a view of the outside bar and the extensive gardens. It is the most charming of restaurants.

The food, in fact, was unbelievable!! My friend and I decided to both get something different and then share, this way we got the full experience. Our waiter was candid and offered his suggestions for the best things on the menu. He must have instilled confidence because we took all of his recommendations. We started with Cha Gio and the small cabbage based salads. For our entrees, we enjoyed the Pad Ki Mao and Jungle Curry, both equally delicious. We got the dishes Thai hot and they didn't disappoint. Our waiter insisted upon the coconut cake for dessert and Holy Moly! The cake was moist and the perfect size to split.

Indochine isn't just a restaurant, it is a full on, Thai experience. I'm hooked and planning my next visit already!

Check out the website:

Dinner Menu

Stuffed Peppers

My friend Julie made these for us this weekend! They were so versatile and simple. We decided to make ours Mediterranean, but you could easily go a different route.

The Ingredients:

2 large bell peppers
Three chicken breasts
Sun-dried tomatoes
Tomatoes
Olives
Feta cheese
Chopped spinach
Sautéed onion and garlic
Mint
Parsley
Salt/pepper

Making it happen:

Preheat oven to 350. Slice peppers in half and scoop out seeds. Sauté onions and garlic. Cook chicken. Dice chicken and combine with onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, mint, parsley, spinach, and feta cheese. Season with salt/pepper. Stuff the peppers with the combined mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with brown rice.