rejuvenating leftovers: spicy black bean cakes

 

First, I made these Spicy Black Bean Cakes (thank you, Martha). It was amazing and delicious, and you should make it too. It's so healthy and filling for a vegetarian dish.

{Romantic Additions}

DO: Wait to cook the jalapenos and garlic until after the rest of your vegetables are prepped and ready. I didn't wait and the jalapenos and garlic stood getting cold on the stove.

DON'T: Try to just make 8 patties. This recipe created a large batch and if I were to make only 8 patties, they would have been enormous.

FOR ME: I didn't have all the ingredients for the lime sour cream, so I improvised:

• Mix 1/3 cup sour cream (or all that's left in your tiny container) with a couple squeezes of mayo.
• Add lime juice. Stir to combine.
• To spice things up, add a few dashes of paprika. 

Now to the leftovers:

• Place the remaining patties (after being cooked) in a zip-lock bag in the fridge over night.
• Come home from work, hungry (and proud that you didn't eat the remaining bags of Cheez-its under your desk).
• Put rice in the rice cooker (according to package directions) and start cookin'.
• Do some minor cleaning--vacuum, sweep, etc.
• When the rice is done, throw some olive oil in a saute pan.
• Add the leftover patties. Break them apart and let them warm up.
• Toss two and a half heaping spoonfuls of rice.
• Add some soy sauce and this amazing goodness (Panda Express Orange Sauce).
• I've found the amazing orange sauce at both the grocery stores in this small town, so it should be available to most of you.
• Cook until it's piping hot.
• Serve.
• To yourself on a cold winter's day, waiting for your significant other to return.