In our Atlanta office we do a monthly birthday and anniversaries gathering, but plan a larger celebration twice a year (once in the spring although this one got pushed too far into hot weather, then another one around the winter holidays.)

Two weeks ago we did a family BBQ that was a combo-celebration for:

• Overdue celebration for RCBU going GA (that’s “Rackspace Cloud Back Up” becoming “Globally Available” for those not in the know)
• June Birthdays and Anniversaries (that’s Anniversary of being with Rackspace, which is kind of a big deal for us)
• Baby shower for Malini Kamalambal and her husband Harish, and Tracy and Kurt Griffiths (both babies due around July 20th-ish!!)
• Jay and Dawn Baugh bought a new house
• and … Honorable mention for Marty Burolla buying a new car!

Bill Brothers was our Grill Master, (with Allan Metts filling in to let Bill cool off) and Balaji manning the veggie-grill. Mostly the BBQ dealt with  some Racker and family mingling, but Wii and ping-pong  games were played. The Racker kids colored pictures that are still displayed on the walls here. A diaper bag filled with useful goodies was given to each of the expecting families.

This was our first attempt at a cookout so we had a few issues with grilling-out (the coals wouldn’t stay lit and it was blazing hot outside for our grillers.) But it sounds like there was a tie between my black-bean burgers and the desserts (cupcakes, cakes, blueberry cobbler… especially the cupcakes) for the favorite dish… My black-bean burger recipe was asked for and leftovers taken home… Also homemade special dishes included: grilled paneer tandoori, kimbap (korean sushi), brushetta, and pasta salad. Everything was delicious!!!!!!!!!!

I sent the recipe for the black-bean burgers out feel free to try it!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/homemade-black-bean-veggie-burgers/Detail.aspx

Read through the tips in the reviews. I made them before exactly as the recipe directions BUT they were a bit dry and fell apart during cooking.

I think the most useful tip is to finely chop the onion, garlic and bell pepper (in a food processor) then DRAIN out the liquid through a fine strainer (not a collander) before adding it to the mashed bean mixture. Use an extra egg (if it’s small) or 1 xlarge egg and add extra breadcrumbs. The patties shouldn’t be wet… they should hold their shape and not stick to your hands. (otherwise add some more breadcrumbs… next time I may try brown rice and add corn, zucchini, or another veggie.)

I added a little bit of olive oil in the mixture to keep them from being dry. I also finely misted them with one of the healthier spray oils before packaging them.  I’d recommend letting them set in the refrigerator overnight (helps keep them from falling apart when cooking.)  Otherwise I used Thai Chili Oil instead of what the recipe suggests. And baking them is just as good… maybe even better.

BTW, don’t pour out the strained onion, pepper, garlic juice… it would be great flavoring for something else!

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