"I might get a burger for lunch" the hubs says. I know what's going on. He's cranky because he hasn't had breakfast. He wants something substantial. I will not let him get a burger for lunch, especially at this time of year when I feel we have to even out all the meat gluttony going on from Christmas turkeys to barbecues all across the globe.
I do make him scrambled eggs for breakfast from my very happy chooks. The trick to good scrambled eggs is cooking garlic chives in butter first, then adding the eggs, with a good sprinkling of salt and pepper. I make awesome scrambled eggs.
I manage to sustain him whilst he sands the benchtop down. I refuse to buy a composite one and I think the oregon beams we used ten years ago can be salvaged with some sanding and regluing.
For lunch, though, I have to suprise him. Something filling and delicious that still uses all those bloody zucchini and that kale I have in abundance in the garden. Oh, and tons and tons of garlic chives, sauteed in olive oil.
Bean Mix
Tons of garlic chives or an onion, sauteed in olive oil
1 large zucchini, finely sliced
4 big kale leaves, stalks and all
1 tbsp cummin or more to taste
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 - 2 tbsps of tomato paste
Saute onions then add veggies, add the spices, and then add the lid so the zucchini steams and cooks. Salt and more spices to taste, and stir in the tomato paste. Keep warm.
Make Your Burger Substitute
I know, I know, it's not a burger. But it'll do. IT's filling and tasty, I promise.
I used frozen paratha from Aldi I keep in the freezer for when I fancy some kind of instant stuff tortilla pastie kinda thing, or as a treat for curries. YOu just put them in a hot pan from frozen and they brown and puff up. If you don't have paratha, you could use a corn tortilla or a flatbread.
Add a layer of beans, some grated cheese, some jalapenos, chopped coriander - and if you have them (I didn't, but you might) finely chopped tomatoes and cucumber, even lettuce. Wrap and call the husband in from whatever he is doing.
I really wanted to say 'burgers are ready' but I didn't want to disappoint him. However, he was super pleased with the bean wraps, and it kept him going as he sanded the rest of the benchtop.
No, it was nothing like a burger. But it did stop him talking about them.
For a minute.