Saturday, January 16, 2021

Meatless Monday 'Burger'

There are numerous reasons why people choose to reduce their meat intake or omit it totally from their diet. My Meatless Monday journey began with health and gut issues and changing to a Paleo Diet Plan. So I have created a few plant based options to trade off with through the week.

'Beyond Meat' Burgers (and other meat alternatives) are now available at fast food restaurants and in grocery store meat departments. This plant based meat replacement is getting a lot of press recently. One review I read on 'Beyond Meat' mentioned, "although they are plant based and an alternative to eating carbon producing beef, these burgers are still a processed food." For anyone eating Paleo or any other restricted diet, read labels ... the ingredient list is not the best option. 'Vegan' burgers of past and present have main ingredients of lentils and/or soy, nuts and vegetables. Again, not suitable for the Paleo Diet. The version I have offered in my recipe below omits lentils and soy to keep it Paleo compliant.

Sliced - minced in food processor - finely diced by hand

My 'Meatless Burger Patties' have an egg for binding the ingredients together and coconut flour to absorb liquid. Even so, they are delicate and crumble easily. It is important to finely dice all the vegetables and handle the patties gently. Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet, when totally cooled they can be frozen between squares of parchment or wax paper, so you can remove only the amount you need for a meal.  

The frozen patties can be reheated either on a preheated BBQ grill, a small bake sheet in the oven or in a non stick pan.

Meatless Monday 'Burger' Patties       Yield: 10 patties
These patties are delicate and crumble easily. Handle gently and you have a delicious, Paleo friendly, meat-free burger. 
Combine and cook off most of the liquid
 

1-1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil 
1 large onion - 1 heaping cup finely diced
12 oz. mushrooms - 3 cups finely diced
1 large carrot - 2/3 cup coarsely grated
1-2 stalks celery - 1/2 cup finely diced
2-3 large cloves garlic - minced 
1 cup coarsely grated butternut squash
2 tsp. coconut flour
1 tsp. dried sweet marjoram 
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper 
1 large egg
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos *see Chef's Note
2 oz. - heaping 1/2 cup activated pecans, finely chopped
 
Line a bakesheet with parchment paper, set aside.
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add remaining 1/2 Tbsp. oil plus the mushrooms, carrot, celery, garlic and squash, stir to combine and cook until slightly softened, stirring often. Rub the sweet marjoram and oregano in your palm and sprinkle over the vegetable mixture with the salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are tender and the mixture has cooked off most of the mushroom liquid. Remove from heat, transfer to a large plate and set in the fridge to cool completely. 
 
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl whisk together the egg and coconut aminos. Working quickly, sprinkle in the coconut flour and whisk until there are no lumps, the mixture will thicken. Stir in the pecans then fold in the cooled vegetable mixture, mix well to combine.

 Gently form and pat into a patty form
Onto the prepared bakesheet, divide the mixture into 10 portions using a 1/3 cup measure or two #30 scoops for each patty. Be sure to leave space between them. Gently form and pat the mixture into a patty form. If you have them, use an egg ring to get a consistent, nice round patty.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 40 minutes or until slightly browned and crispy on the edges. These patties freeze well, cool completely before freezing. Handle the patties gently, when totally cooled they can be frozen between squares of parchment or wax paper, so you can remove only the amount you need for a meal.
 
To reheat a frozen patty: spray the shiny side of a piece of tin foil with non stick spray or avocado oil. Place the prepared tin foil on a preheated BBQ grill, gently place the frozen patties on the foil to heat through. Or line a bake sheet with parchment paper and bake the frozen patties in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes. For crispy edges, fry in a non stick pan with coconut or avocado oil be very gentle when turning the patty. 
 
CHEF'S NOTE:*Coconut Aminos; also called Coconut Sauce or Coconut Nectar, is a Paleo and Whole30 compliant alternative for soy sauce. 
Sally Rae's Meatless Monday 'Burger' Patties
Until next time ... Bon Appétit ... stay healthy, be safe, wear a mask and take good care!
 
Photos by Sally Rae
Recipe by Sally Rae 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

New Olson Masks for 2021

Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a safe, quiet holiday. I really enjoyed mine, with extra time to sew and increase my Olson Hospital Face Mask collections. As a followup to my previous post...

The last of some original & beginning of some new fabrics
I have a few new fabrics, a beautiful collection of new batiks and used up some of the original prints. As always, I produce limited numbers ... 2-4 masks ... from each fabric pattern. I also still have the optional N95 'Filti' fabric filters available. From what is happening out in the world, it looks like we may be wearing masks for a good part of this coming year!!

If you wish to expand your mask 'wardrobe' or know of anyone who would be interested in purchasing a mask, please forward this information to your friends and family...  

2021 Stock ... mens' collection on left - some new fabrics center 2 rows - batik collection on right

My 100% cotton masks are washable and can be reused, no more garbage from disposable masks ... and the 'Filti' filter fabric is sanitized in a 150°F oven, instructions from the CDC included. The masks are 2 layer quilt cotton with the following features; a filter pocket, removable nose wire, ear loops or head string and are custom fit to your face.

Thank you and may 2021 bring more joy, love and health to our world!
Until next time ... Bon Appétit ... stay healthy, be safe, wear a mask and take good care!
 
'Designer' Olson Hospital Face Masks by Sally Rae
Photos by Sally Rae