Black Bean Beer Soup (based on recipe from Taste Adventure)
2 cups vegetable or beef broth
12 oz. amber lager or bock
3/4 cup fresh tomato "pico di gallo" salsa
1 1/2 cups instant black bean soup mix
2 green onions, minced (include some green leaves) for garnish
1/3 cup each minced red and yellow bell peppers for garnish
1/3 cup crumbled queso fresco (Hispanic cheese) for garnish
Heat broth, beer and salsa in pot until simmering. Stir in soup mix, and let simmer 5 minutes. Prepare garnishes, if using. In the time it takes to prepare garnishes, mixture will blend into thick, chunky black bean soup. Remove from heat. Divide among four soup bowls and top each with one-fourth of each of the garnishes. Makes four 1-cup servings.
These are more flavorful than most frozen brands of veggie burgers, thanks to the beer. If you have a food processor to mix the blend, the patties will be easier to form. If not, the patties will be somewhat loose and crumbly.


Beer Bean Burgers (recipe by Lucy Saunders, all rights reserved)
1 1/4 cups black bean flakes
1 cup pinto bean flakes
1 cup peeled and minced white onion
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 cup finely grated carrot
1/2 cup minced pimento or roasted red peppers (drained)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese
2 tablespoons ground chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
8 oz. amber lager,
warmed 1 egg white
Cornmeal to dust burgers
Corn oil to fry patties

Mix all ingredients except egg white, corn meal and corn oil in food processor fitted with metal cutting blade, or in a large bowl. In another bowl, whip egg white until thick, white and foamy, but not stiff. Stir into mixture, blending well, and chill 30 minutes, or until beans have absorbed moisture. Form bean burgers with your hands, about 4 inches in diameter and 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, and dust both sides with cornmeal. Fry with 2-3 tablespoons corn oil in non-stick skillet placed over medium-low heat until crusty and browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Keep warm in 250-degree oven until ready to serve. Makes 8 bean burgers.