What is TRUE comfort? Plus Healthy Recipes for Burgers and Fries

This week, it started getting really cold at night – and cold weather really gets me in the mood for comfort foods. Through my many years of dieting, I “comforted” myself with foods, but they weren’t usually the kind that nourished me physically. So, while they would work in the short term providing instant gratification, they didn’t truly provide any REAL comfort since I wasn’t getting the “nourishment” I desired. Since then, I have redefined the word comfort for myself: True comfort means both eating delicious foods (in the moment benefit) and taking care of my physical health (long-term benefit). For example, when I eat the burger and fries prepared from the recipe below (made with beets and beans—how healthy can you get?) I get the instant gratification of yummy, comfort foods so I don’t feel deprived and I get long-term nourishment. Talk about a win-win!

Enjoy the recipes that follow and until Next Week, Eat Well, Be Well and LOVE Every Bite!

~Chef Jenny

Beet and Bean Burgers and Homemade Garlic French Fries

Serves 6

Preparation Time 20 minutes

Cooking time 30 minutes

Equipment Needed: Food Processor, Baking Sheet

We make these burgers in my cooking classes and they are always a hit so I just had to share them with you.  Enjoy these on sprouted grain buns with the garlic fries (recipe follows).  What a fun dinner!!!

NOTE: This recipe calls for 1 cup cooked brown rice so be sure to get that cooking ASAP or plan ahead for leftovers

1 beet, grated (about 1 cup)

1 small onion, peeled and cut into quarters

1 clove garlic

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup oatmeal, uncooked

1 cup cooked brown rice or other grain

2 chipotle peppers (from canned chipotles), to taste

1/2 cup cilantro

1 Tablespoon tamari

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/4 cup flour or gluten free flour mixture

½ cup cornmeal for rolling

Preheat oven to 425 F.  Using a food processor, grate beets and remove.  Put the onion and garlic into a food processor and pulse to chop coarsely. Add the beans and process until coarsely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients (excpet cornmeal) and process until well blended.  Remove to a bowl, stir in grated beets and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Spray a baking sheet with oil. Form mixture into patties and roll in cornmeal. Bake for about 15 minutes. When the bottoms are lightly browned and beginning to get crisp, turn the burgers and cook for 10-15 more minutes, until the other side is brown.

Garlic Fries

Soaking potatoes in hot water helps release starches so they cook up crispy, like deep fried potatoes.  Plus, raw garlic really helps build our immune system, and I honestly cannot think of a more delicious way to enjoy it than on fries!!!

2 pounds unpeeled russet potatoes (about 3 large), scrubbed, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick sticks, soaked in hot water for 10-15 minutes

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Sea salt

2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced well

1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced

Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Toss potatoes with olive oil in large bowl. Transfer to prepared sheet, spreading in single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in top third of oven and bake until golden, occasionally turning with spatula, about 25-30 minutes. Toss warm fries with garlic and parsley, add more seasoning to taste and serve….yum!!!!

This recipe and food for thought are excerpted from my weekly meal planning service. Every week, you get 4 healthy recipes, an organized shopping list and a dose of inspiration to keep you motivated in eating healthier. You can try it free for 30 days here.

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About Chef Jenny Brewer

Jenny Brewer is an in-demand nutritionist and natural foods chef who is on a mission to change the way people look at healthy food. Want to feel GREAT and eat delicious food? Stick with me and I will show you how.