Make Believe Kitchen

January 1, 2011

Even though we cooked,

     and even though it was a typical meal,

         and even though we cleaned up afterwards…

…There’s just something nice about cooking in someone else’s kitchen!

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We’re cooking at Karen’s again –

Homemade bean burgers a la this recipe. We added egg and panko this time – the inside and out – and they turned out great.

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Beautiful, beautiful collards, steamed in some of the discarded bean broth

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Topped with guac + ketchup – who needs a burger bun!? (We have ZERO bread in this house!)

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Pickles to complete the burger theme!

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And lastly, leftover rice spruced up with some sundried tomato pesto (this stuff is amazing and I’m going to make it up and I will put up the recipe when I do!) Pesto rice is the easiest way to jazz it up I can imagine.

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For dessert, I drank Karen’s colon cleansing liquid. For real! She had to take it before her surgery and wanted me to taste how horrid it is. Spiked with a little Crystal Light, I didn’t think it was that bad – so long as you’re ready to down salt water!

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Straight no chaser:

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We are all curled up watching Sex & The City 2, which I have avoided watching since it came out due to bad reviews, but it’s pretty good so far! Those women are just so fun to watch.

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OH, and guess who finished 98% of her article today!! Having the house to myself helped, but I really am a believer in tough love and just got it done. Close Gmail and Twitter helped too : )

Nite!

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{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Katie @ Healthy Heddleston January 1, 2011 at 8:10 pm

Heard you mention your article a few times.. what’re ya writing for?? :P

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2 Kath January 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

On Probiotics for Breathe

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3 Evan Thomas January 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

Glad Karen is doing so well. I’m sure your excellent cooking helps. Those bean burgers look fantastic! I know I appreciate good home-cooked food when I’m not feeling in top health.

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4 Sana January 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm

I can’t believe you drank Karen’s colon cleansing liquid!!! lol too funny!

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5 Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine January 1, 2011 at 8:16 pm

Ewww colon cleansing drink sounds just fabulous haha…brave soul for trying it!! I’m sure Karen really loved the home cooked meal. You guys are taking great care of her!

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6 Simply Life January 1, 2011 at 8:19 pm

oh those burgers look delicious!

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7 Ellen @ Undercover Runner Eats January 1, 2011 at 8:19 pm

Colonoscopy preps are no fun. I’ve had to go through 2 already in my short 19 years of life. The GoLytly is definitely the worse of the two possible options (the other being the Gatorade prep).

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8 Hannah January 1, 2011 at 8:19 pm

Honestly, you make the most colourful meals! It’s so inspirational :)

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9 Anna @ ciaotochow January 1, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Hmm…you’ve got me thinking I should watch Sex & the City now. The first one is much better than the second in my opinion, but they’re such a guilty pleasure I love ‘em both!

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10 Dorry January 1, 2011 at 8:23 pm

love bean burgers! your dinner photos have me craving something I can into ketchup. Happy New Year!

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11 Allie (Live Laugh Eat) January 1, 2011 at 8:24 pm

SATC 2! Those woman are hilarious, aren’t they? Get that 2% done!

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12 Jessica @ How Sweet It Is January 1, 2011 at 8:24 pm

Those bean burgers look tasty!

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13 Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com January 1, 2011 at 8:26 pm

Your bean burgers look delicious! :) Glad Karen is doing well!!

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14 Amanda (Eating Up) January 1, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Haha no way! I’m watching SATC2 too for the first time!

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15 Camille January 1, 2011 at 8:28 pm

What a beautiful dinner!
Glad to hear that Karen is well and in good spirits!

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16 Stacy @ Every Little Thing January 1, 2011 at 8:29 pm

I haven’t seen it either but have been wanting to! Will have to rent it. I heard bad things too but I’m not expecting much more than a fun movie :)

I don’t do buns either…burgers are so much better without!

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17 Tina @ Healthy Made Easy January 1, 2011 at 8:32 pm

What a healthy and yummy-looking meal! That chocolate is one of my all-time favorites. Orange + Chocolate is always a great combo. I would pass on the salt water though…

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18 Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen January 1, 2011 at 8:33 pm

Great job on the article! and those burgers look fantastic.

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19 Katy (The Singing Runner) January 1, 2011 at 8:34 pm

Food looks great as usual. :)

And congrats on getting your article almost done! :)

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20 Kaitlin January 1, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Those bean burgers look amazing! Seems like you had a fun and productive day, congrats!

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21 Kate (What Kate is Cooking) January 1, 2011 at 8:37 pm

I love cooking in other people’s kitchens!

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22 Vanessa January 1, 2011 at 8:41 pm

Yum the burgers look good!! I’m addicted to SATC [have the seasons and movies on dvd, yikes]. I think the second movie was alright. At times it seems to borderline overboard. But I still liked it. Have a great night :-)

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23 lynn (The Actors Diet) January 1, 2011 at 8:51 pm

i didn’t think SATC2 was too bad – though i was sad my friend willy (her gay best friend) wasn’t in it more!

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24 Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds January 1, 2011 at 8:54 pm

I love Sex And The City… pt I and II. Good luck with the article :)

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25 Ashley January 1, 2011 at 9:01 pm

Oh my gosh..the colon stuff IS that bad, haha…when you have an empty stomach and have to chug an 8oz glass every hour, with horrible cramps [from what it's doing to your insides] + running to the bathroom…it is the worst thing everrrr. Yak! The bean burgers look delicious though…hehe :) Happy New Year Kath!!

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26 Michele @ Healthy Cultivations January 1, 2011 at 9:06 pm

The collard greens look AMAZING!!! I love them but have never made them at home.

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27 Annie@stronghealthyfit January 1, 2011 at 9:15 pm

I liked SATC 2, but not as much as the first movie! Your dinner looks fabulous. I’ve been meaning to make some homemade veggie burgers!

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28 Jackie January 1, 2011 at 9:27 pm

I don’t like cooking in other people’s kitchens. “Where is your can opener? Where’s the olive oil? Do you have any peanut butter?” I like my familiar cooking space :)

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29 Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) January 1, 2011 at 9:28 pm

Love that you got 98% of your article written..now that’s FOCUSING power, per your last post :)

I think Crystal Light can mask most anything too..haha! I know girls who carry packets of crystal light and add it to vodka + soda water when out. Just sharing information here :)

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30 Kerry January 1, 2011 at 9:30 pm

I am actually going to make bean burgers tomorrow for lunches this week. They are healthy and cheap!

There were parts of SATC2 that I really liked, but a few scenes I could have done without.

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31 Meg January 1, 2011 at 9:32 pm

SATC women ARE so much fun to watch and I’m not even into TV shows at all! I couldn’t agree more :)

I love your bean burgers, they’re amazing and probably would be even better topped with guac! Mmm or just avocado!

Enjoy your night, kath!

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32 Sarah January 1, 2011 at 9:35 pm

Ah, glad I found your blog! I am going to try your bean burgers, they look great! And orange chocolate, yes please.

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33 ezzie January 1, 2011 at 9:38 pm

LOVE that bean burger recipe! And I remember my parents both had to drink stuff similar to that before their colonoscopy and my they were telling me about how disgusting it was, too :P

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34 Christin@purplebirdblog January 1, 2011 at 9:44 pm

Oh sweet jesus I have had a colonoscopy and had to drink the whole damn gallon of GoLYTELY. It said to expect a bowel movement within the hour. At exactly an hour and 2 minutes it BEGAN! One of the worst days of my life, lol! :)

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35 carlee January 1, 2011 at 10:24 pm

That looks absoltely awesome! I love how green and pretty the guacomole looks! I am trying bean burgers sometime next week I think bc I am tryin a vegetarian diet as a challenge and bc I just want to see how it makes me feel!

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36 chelsey @ clean eating chelsey January 1, 2011 at 10:31 pm

I hope you are ::ahem:: cleansed tomorrow! :)

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37 Stephanie January 1, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Good luck with the article! Can’t wait to read it!

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38 Maryann January 1, 2011 at 10:35 pm

The meal looks delicous! I loved Sex and the City 2…it didn’t hurt that Aiden was in it!

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39 Namaste Gurl January 1, 2011 at 10:37 pm

Yummy and creative dinner, as always, Kath! :-)
I loved Sex in the City 2, I don’t care what any bad reviews say!

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40 Lauren at KeepItSweet January 1, 2011 at 10:59 pm

I still haven’t seen Sex in the City 2! I kind of put it off for the same reasons but may have to watch it when it is free On Demand:-)

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41 J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) January 1, 2011 at 11:18 pm

I had a bunless burger the other day, too! http://www.j3nn.net/2010/12/30/bunless-bacon-burger/

Those beans look so meaty. YUM! :)

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42 Diana @ frontyardfoodie January 1, 2011 at 11:43 pm

I like breadless meals. They make me feel much better after eating. haha

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43 Sarah (Sarah Learns) January 1, 2011 at 11:59 pm

Congrats on being productive today! Can you send me some of your focus vibes?? I’m afraid it’s going to be rough going back to work in the lab on Tuesday after having 1.5 weeks off for the holidays…

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44 Danielle @ FoodBoogie January 2, 2011 at 12:02 am

Yum… guac on bean burgers is the best combination! Hope you’re feeling cleansed :P

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45 Alicia85 January 2, 2011 at 12:06 am

hey kath can you use kidney beans for this recipe?

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46 Kath January 2, 2011 at 8:23 am

yup!

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47 Cara Craves... January 2, 2011 at 12:07 am

Mmmm…burgers!

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48 stacey-healthylife January 2, 2011 at 12:15 am

Good luck on your article. Great idea with the rice.

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49 Allison (Have it Your Weigh) January 2, 2011 at 12:18 am

Those burgers look so delicious. I’ve never had guacamole on one but you can’t go wrong with avocado! I thought Sex and the City 2 was really cute…hope you enjoy it!

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50 Nicole @ yuppie yogini January 2, 2011 at 12:18 am

I haven’t watched SATC2 yet either, but I’m glad to hear that it isn’t as bad as the reviews made it out to be.
Good job on your article. I need to make focus my resolution this year too!

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51 Mads January 2, 2011 at 12:26 am

Eww! Colon cleansing liquid!
When I was little, I got giardia and had to drink prune juice. My mom drank it right along with me out of solidarity. It was nasty, but I love that my mom did that for me.
I’m sure Karen is grateful to have some moral support from you :)

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52 Allison January 2, 2011 at 12:30 am

Hi Kath! I’m a long time reader, first time commenter. I wanted to let you know how much of an impact your blog has had on me… I love reading all of the recipes and all of the adventures around your new city! VA looks beautiful. I actually live in Charlotte, your old stomping grounds.. and know Great Harvest Bread Co. (and Jeff) well since I used to work a job that put on a lot of the running races here in Charlotte. I hope the start up of GHB is going well for you guys! Anyway, just wanted to share that you (along with all of the other healthy living blogs I read!) have inspired me to write my very own blog…. happytalesblog.com. Just started a few days ago and it is so much fun! I’m excited to be a true part of the blogging world now. PS. what did you think of SATC 2? I have yet to watch it… but thought the first one was pretty funny!

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53 Kath January 2, 2011 at 8:23 am

Hey Allison! Thanks for reading and congrats on your blog!

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54 Justeen @ Blissful Baking January 2, 2011 at 1:07 am

what a wonderful meal! i refuse to eat hamburgers, so these bean burgers sounds perfect!

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55 Fi January 2, 2011 at 2:13 am

ive been looking for a simple bean burger recipe=thanks!they look yum! xx

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56 Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) January 2, 2011 at 7:43 am

There’s this old house up in New Hampshire that my family always goes on vacation to every year. It doesn’t matter that there are a pile of dishes in the sink after a fanchy schmancy meal. Somehow it still creates excitement, just the idea of cooking somewhere else. And eating somewhere else too, for that matter. :D

Lovely meal! :D

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57 Allie January 2, 2011 at 7:47 am

It IS so nice to cook in some one elses kitchen every once in a while! I just cooked a ham, butter nut squash soup, and asparagus in my boyfriends kitchen and it was fun. The only thing that is tough is finding certain ingredients, etc! Glad to hear Matt’s mommy is doing well-it is so nice of you guys to be making dinner for her :)

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58 Barbara(Blood, Sweat and Heels) January 2, 2011 at 8:12 am

Eeesh…Golightly? I had to down a jug or two before my colonoscopy a couple years back. NOT my idea of an after dinner drink.:/

I’m glad Karen is feeling better.

Happy New Year Kath! You’re blog is one I enjoy daily!

Barbara

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59 Kjirsten- Balanced Healthy Life January 2, 2011 at 9:36 am

The bean burgers look so tasty! What did you think of the movie? I didn’t like it. I thought it was too make beleive, I wish they would have stayed in NYC!

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60 Kath January 2, 2011 at 9:41 am

I liked it more than I thought I would, but I was rolling my eyes at parts. Loved seeing their lives 2 years later though!

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61 notyet100 January 2, 2011 at 9:59 am

bean nurger looks so good

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62 Amy at TheSceneFromMe January 2, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Wow, I wanna eat one of those homemade burgers! They look so much better than the grease laden ones out at the chain restaurants!

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63 Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin January 2, 2011 at 1:13 pm

I enjoyed SATC 2, but it seemed to drag on forever! I think I’d rather just rewatch old episodes.

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64 Amy January 2, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Never thought to use the bean broth! great idea! Looks so good, and I LOVED SATC 2 but I loved every episode so not much of a critic I suppose lol

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65 Alaina January 2, 2011 at 6:14 pm

I just got that same chocolate but with raspberries. I’m looking forward to having a piece. :-)

Those burgers look delicious! Of course.

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66 Kate January 2, 2011 at 9:11 pm

I liked part 2 more than part 1..it seemed more them. Part 1 was a tad depressing even though it all ended okay in the end

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