Black Bean Burgers

So it's been challenging figuring out things to cook for just me and Colin. I want to cook and still make our food, but it's a pain cooking for one person and hoping a toddler will eat it as well. I've been pretty successful so far. The other challenge: simple things. Since Scott isn't here to help distract Colin, if we've had a bad day cooking is near impossible w/o constant whining and being pushed/pulled on by the little guy. So what I cook needs to be quick, and hopefully makes 2-3 meals for us--another reason Colin needs to like it. I also want it to be healthy with a good mix of vegetables and protein. Alas, it has been difficult. And finally, and equally as important, cheap or relatively so. Thus far we've had zucchini pasta (an old favorite--so easy), hamburger/potato/broccoli/cauliflower/tomato casserole--just starting to work on this one. Tonight though I think I hit a homerun. I know lots of people make bean burgers, but I've only tried one other time--with success--but I always forget what I do. I don't write my concoctions down usually b/c I don't measure things. I subscribe to the Mark Bittman style of cooking--in that you do what feels right. If you don't want to follow a recipe exactly, don't. So my style of cooking is a bit organic-w/o the organic products.

So on to the black bean burgers, which I should really call 3-bean burgers. Here's how they went down.

1 can black beans- mashed
1 can garbanzo beans/chick peas- mashed as best as you can
1/2 finely chopped med. onion
1/2 finely chopped red pepper
veggie puree (I used some I had frozen for Colin--it included lima beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and corn--sounds gross and icky, but it's a tasty combo)
oatmeal (the cheap uncooked kind in the big circular tube)--about a cup or more
salt
pepper
garlic, minced
2 eggs, lightly beaten

You mix all this stuff together. Then you cover and let chill until easily handled--about 1 hour.

Fry in olive oil or grill. I've done both when working w/bean burgers. The only problem is they crumble badly, so grilling is really messy.

I intended to serve on buns, but mine were freezer burned, so we just ate straight. I'm a ketchup girl, so that was my condiment of choice.

Some ideas for changing it up. I think I'll add a dash of hot sauce to the mix. Green chiles could be good, too. Could I make it like ground beef for lasagna? A bean loaf? Hmmm. Things to consider. I would have taken a picture, but I need a different memory card for my camera.