Not your mama's burgers!

Haven't been on in what seems like forever! I made a pact with myself to stay off the computer on nights that Officer K9 is off (I really need to come up with a better name, I tried Officer Cupcake, he said "No!" "But dear, cupcakes were our wedding cake. Can't we use that name?" "No! Some of the guys wives read this." "Okay." Hmpf! So what is manly? Still haven't figured out one that speaks about us. I'll get back to you.) So, I made a pact that on his nights off I would stay off. Which means I have 2 incredible recipes to share with you! This blog started as a wedding blog, but then we got married so what was a girl to do? It seems it has taken the theme of cooking, but more than just cooking it is our life. What goes on around the K9 house as we figure out this marriage thing, baby thing and LE stuff! He has the LE stuff figured out, just now he has to figure it out as a husband and I have to figure out being a wife of a LE. He's doing great! Asks before picking up OT shifts, sharing only the funny or stupid stories. Me? Well, I am learning to just not ask-you may not like the answer. I am learning to pray on my knees every night for him, Hunter and the other Officers on his crew. I am learning to cook meals that we can enjoy together after I get home but before he rushes off to protect people, and cook food that will last for him to eat later at work whenever he is able to get that dinner break. An important blessing to my learning experience and what helps keep me grounded is the Cop Wives Club I belong to. We meet once a month for brunch and a time of prayer for our husbands and their jobs. It's amazing and so needed! I love the ladies I meet with and it is so nice to be able to have those conversations of what life is like as a wife of an Officer and have someone that gets it. This past Sunday I met with another group that is just getting started and their focus will be on fundraising. I'm excited to see the direction of the group and the helps we can give to local PD's and their families. Now, onto the goods!

I am 33 weeks pregnant now. One of Officer K9's co-workers fiance is in the hospital as I type this laboring, 3 weeks early! This got me panicking, won't lie! What if Baby K9 decided to come early? Are we ready? Ummm...NO! I have had one shower, and it was back home so mostly got clothes and GC's, which we needed! I have 3 showers planned by different groups at the end of the month and hope to receive more of what we need. There is still stuff we need to get and do though in order for baby to come home! So today I called the Fire District in charge of carseat inspection for our county and was given 3 options for an appointment. 1 is next week, the 2nd is the week I have conferences at school (no chance I can miss work) and 3rd was the week before baby is due (way too close!) So we are going next week, phew! I also realized that I need to get packing my bag, babys bag and hubbys bag. Yes, as a wife of an Officer, I realize that if an emergency popped up he may be at work and will need a bag packed so he can change out of his uniform. He does not work near where we live, not terribly far but in an emergency a neighbor or aide car will be taking me to the hospital and he will be meeting us there. We are praying for all things normal and in that case he will make it home! I am going out to buy me some hospital pj's this weekend and the in-laws are bringing up a dresser for us. It was Officer K9's as a baby and now he gets to strip it, sand it and repaint it for his boy!

Now the real goods!
Not your mama's burgers (or also known as Rachel Ray's Burrito Burgers from her March 2009 magazine)
Talk about easy and yum!!!! Officer K9 tested for Sgt this week. If anyone has experienced this, it's stressful! He was up late studying and then had a full day of interviews, exercises etc. He was exhausted by the end of the day and when I asked what he wanted for dinner, he picked these. I couldn't say no! I was so proud of him for testing for this.
Makes 4 burgers
1 lb beef
1 15 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 cup leftover rice (I didn't have any and didn't feel up to making any so we skipped the rice)
1 tbl grill seasoning (I used Montreal seasoning)
1 tbl ancho chili powder (I had chili powder in the cabinet and used that, think it's the same????)
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander (only had unground so I used cayenne pepper. It's that same, no?)
1 tbl vegetable oil
1 avocado
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno or serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped (we like spicy so I left some seeds)
1 clove garlic, grated or chopped
grated peel and juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)
4 rolls
lettuce
tomato
*I added cilantro for the guacamole

1. In a large bowl combine beef, beans, rice, grill seasoning, chili powder, cumin and coriander.
Form into 4 patties. Now, the patties were a little tricky, the beans in there don't help keep the meat together. I ended up with lots of beans left in bowl.


We love grilled burgers so we grilled. The recipe calls for heating the oil in a pan and cook over med-high heat.

2. While the burgers cook, in a medium bowl, mash together the avocado, onion, jalapeno, garlic, lime peel and juice (I added chopped cilantro too.) Stir in the sour cream.
Now the sour cream kinda was weird. I think it helps to stay on the burger. Think you could do it either way though.
3. The finished product:

We served ours with fries. Yum!

Tonight we had Middle Eastern Stuffed Bell Peppers. Growing up my mom made traditional stuffed bells, meat and ketchup (at least that is what it tasted like to a young child.) I hated them! I found this recipe originally last year in my Women's Health magazine. In the move I lost the magazine but was able to track the recipe on google. Love google! These are super yummy and super easy! Today Officer K9 had to work, so I made everything last night and today he put them in the oven at 4 and they were ready by 4:30. Perfect! Serve with a salad and you have a healthy, nutrition packed meal perfect on short time! They even hold well so Officer K9 took an extra one to work with him for later!
The recipe calls for brown rice, however we love Quinoa. I substituted it when I cooked them last night.

Makes 4+, I used 3 bells but had enough filling leftover for at least 3-4 more. I froze the extra and now we have a quick meal at another day!

4 medium bells, whatever color you like! I love red bells, but usually will buy whatever is on sale, except green-yick!
1/2 lb ground meat (I used ground turkey, came out delicious! I also used the full lb, probably why I had extra!)
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup sliced green olives
1/2 tsp garlic
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp cumin
1 cup cooked brown rice/cooked quinoa

1. Cut off the top of the bells, clean them and place in a baking dish. Put the tops off to the side. (I used another one of my cast iron dishes, a shallow baking dish works fine for this as well.)
2. Heat oil and brown meat with garlic, Cinnamon and cumin on medium heat. Add raisins and tomato sauce once browned and cook until hot, about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, mix in rice and olives.
4. Place mixture in the bells and replace the tops. Cover with foil and bake at 400 for 15 minutes, or until bells are soft.

Enjoy!