Little Sisters Lentil Burgers (bargain babe recipe)

Ingredients

3/4 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed
3/4 cup nuts (walnuts, cashews, pecans)
1/3 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
3 garlic cloves (or more to taste) coarsely chopped or pressed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Course salt and fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 large egg

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the lentils in a small saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the lentils are tender but still holding their shape, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well and cool.

Meanwhile, spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until fragrant and darkened, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

In a food processor, combine the walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Process until finely ground.
Add the lentils and 1 tablespoon of oil. Pulse until coarsely chopped. (Some lentils should remain whole).

In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Add the lentil mixture and mix well. Divide into 4 equal-sized parts. Roll into balls and flatten with your palms into 3/4-inch-thick patties

Fry em up in oil season with condiments as you like!

Roasted Turkish Eggplant with Fennel and White Peaches

Vegetable oil spray, grapeseed oil in a mist bottle if possible
8 Turkish Orange Eggplant about 1 ½ -2 inches in diameter cut in half top to bottom and each half cut into 3 wedges
1 sweet onion finely chopped
2 cups of finely shaved fennel
1 large or two small white peaches cut in half top to bottom, pit removed and cut into small wedges
¼ cup chopped fresh curly parsley
2 tablespoons banyuls vinegar (or substitute sherry or red wine vinegar)
2 teaspoons olive oil
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Place eggplant and onion on an oiled sheet pan, lightly coat vegetables with vegetable oil spray and season with salt and pepper.Cook until eggplant is tender, about 10 minutes.Once eggplant is cooled, in a large bowl, combine eggplant and onion mixture, fennel, peaches, parsley, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

And, if you're just looking for an easy method to prepare eggplant for any summer salad creation, Forman says:–slice eggplant thinly with a knife or mandolin –spray lightly using an oil mister filled with grapeseed oil –season with salt and pepper –roast on an oiled sheet pan in a 400 degree oven or a well-oiled grill for about 3-5 minutes on each side, until tender