The Best Vegetarian Burger Ever!

I'm not much of a cook- I find it very tedious! But I don't mind spending the effort on these burgers.

They do take some time to prepare but the have to be the tastiest vegetarian burgers I've ever had. Even my non vegetarian friends like them and they're great for BBQ's.

Korma Courgette and Chickpea Burgers

•  1 onion, chopped small
• 1oz butter
• 1 garlic clove, crushed 
•  2 medium courgettes, finely diced 
•  225g/8oz carrots, grated
• 400g/14oz chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3oz wholemeal bread crumbs
• 2 tsp mild curry paste
• 2 tblsp crunchy peanut butter
• 1 medium egg yolk
• Salt and pepper to season

1. Fry onion in the butter for 5 minutes until soft.
2. Add garlic, courgette and carrots and fry for 5 minuets.
3. Blend the chickpeas in a food processor, scrape into a bowl and mix in the cooked vegetables and all remaining ingredients.
4. Shape the mixture into burgers.
5. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or until required.
6. Fry in a little oil until browed on both sides.

 

Baking: The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

When money is tight and a friend's birthday is coming up, I always rely on baking. Last year was no exception!

Cupcakes are a great gift to those with small families, those who watch their weight, those who enjoy a sweet treat now and then and they can fit in a lunchbox!

Simple vanilla and sultana cupcake.

Vanilla sponge cupcake with a hidden jam center.

For my mothers birthday I wanted to make a sponge cake with some flavour, so I made a lemon sponge cake with lemon curd and butter cream filling.

She's a fan of lemon curd and she plays a musical instrument so I decorated it with the five lines of a bar of music and some notes and flowers.

Gingerbread (Again)

At Christmas I was given a gingerbread house making kit. As I had already made a house for the Christmas cake (see previous posts), I wanted to do something different.

After trawling though Google images I stumbled upon this blog: http://alipyper.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/free-gingerbread-castle-template.html At the bottom of the post there is a template you can print off. I adjusted mine to make it smaller.

I used the leftover dough to make a dragon.

I used gummy bears for the guards and strawberry bootlaces to make a portcullis.