Leah’s Kidnapping -or- A Southern Vegan Treat

Red Beans and Rice Burgers
Red beans and rice are good, sure, but it’s a scientific fact that everything is better in burger form.

What you need:

• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 cup cooked rice (I use brown short grain)
• 1/4 onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 teaspoons Cajun spice mix
• 1/2 tsp liquid smoke (optional, but highly recommended)
• 1 tbs + 1 tsp Arrowroot or Corn Starch
• Earth Balance or oil for frying

What you do:

Betsy’s Deluxe Corn Bread
A while back, my mom let me borrow a cookbook full of our neighbors’ favorite recipes. This is a variation of one, and it’s probably the easiest thing ever. I like it for its simplicity, but feel to add something more exciting to it (my mom always used bell peppers and jalapenos).

What you need:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup sour cream (I used Tofutti Sour Supreme)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tsp baking powder

What you do:

Mix everything in a bowl until well combined.

 

Pour into 8″ square baking dish and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until just browned.

Now that you have your burger and cornbread, serve it up with a side of slaw and collards and a big glass of sweet tea!

In case you’re curious, my slaw is a bag of red cabbage, 4 carrots, a dash of ume vinegar, a spoonful of Vegenaise and some pepper. I steam my greens in a little olive oil and add a splash of soy sauce and vinegar when they’re almost done.