Falafel Burgers

Well it happened. We’re back to school. Sigh. I was really resisting it the past couple weeks. Not sure why I even bother, it’s not like I can keep it from happening. Although, somewhere in my head, I think I can stop it. If I don’t buy my daughter new shoes, a back pack or a single pencil then the leaves won’t change and the school bell won’t ring. It’s such foolish thinking but I do it every August. If I just surrendered and got on with it I’m sure I’d fair way better this first week back. Maybe I wouldn’t even cry at drop off?!

The one thing I don’t avoid is my food prep and meal plans because I never stopped doing them. In fact, summer is just as busy at time for me in the kitchen as any time of the year, maybe even busier. After all, there is so much I want to make with all the fresh produce. I also entertain a lot in the summer so the only way to survive the revolving door of guest we have at our cottage is to have a meal plan. And back to school is no different. If you create a meal plan, you’re never faced with the dreaded “What’s for dinner?”. In fact, I have friends who tell me the question dogs them all day long. As a self-proclaimed worry-wart, I can relate to spending too much time thinking about something. But dinner definitely doesn’t have to be that thing. Get it off your plate and on to a meal plan, then you’ll have more time to worry about other things like the fact that holiday shopping is just around the corner. (Sorry, I hate myself for even writing that!)

Whether you’re a meal plan pro or just trying out your first schedule, these Falafel Burgers are a sure thing. And don’t be afraid to slot them in on your busiest day, once you get them whizzed up in your food processor you’ve got dinner fast, especially if you throw them together in the morning. I’m just going to tell you here and now that when you read the method don’t be scared off by the idea of soaking dried beans the night before. It really can’t be easier. Open bag of beans. Pour in bowl. Fill with cold water. Go watch reality TV. This step will yield better burgers because canned beans maintain too much liquid and will make mushy patties.

Now that we’re back to school, I’ll be leaning on these burgers a lot. They’re great to freeze and quick to reheat. They’re as easy  as throwing a burger on the grill. Another sigh. Good bye, grille. It was a great summer.

Photo by Maya Visnyei