by | Oct 14, 2013 | 19 comments

**Have you entered my giveaway for Nelly’s Energy Truffles?ย  It closes tomorrow night!ย  Also check out my 7 Tips to Improve Your Running Speed!**

Happy Motivation Monday! Today’s Motivation Monday post is going to be a little bit different than most.ย  But hopefully it will have the same effect!ย  First, I’m going to play along with a fun “get-to-know-the-blogger” game … I was nominated for a Sunshine Award by my friend Sara, who I guest-posted for last week, and who blogs at Loving on the Run.ย  Then, I’ll share a great-tasting, but not-perfect-texture recipe for Black Bean Tempeh Burgers!ย  Enjoy!

keep your face towards the sunshine(picture source)

The word sunshine just brings a smile to your face, doesn’t it?ย  I hope so!ย  For the Sunshine award, you are supposed to post the image below (check!), answer 10 questions from the person who nominated you (check!), thank them (thank you, Sara!ย  You are amazing!), and nominate 10 more bloggers.ย  Since I nominated 10 bloggers for the Liebster Award not too long ago, I’ll invite anyone who wants to play to join in instead!ย  If you feel like answering one of the questions, please do so in the comments.ย  Or, if you’re a blogger, answer the questions on your blog – and be sure toย post your link in the comments so we can all check it out!

 

sunshine award

Sara’s Sunshine Award Questions (and my answers!)

1. What is your favorite non-running form of exercise?ย  I need so many answers here!ย  Most common = quick circuit workouts like those on my pinterest boards.ย  Best workout = tie between spinning and circuit workouts.ย  True favorite = hiking in some beautiful location like St. Lucia or Colorado.ย  Most relaxing/ wish I did it more = yoga.

2. What made you decide you start blogging?ย  I have been wanting to start a blog for YEARS … I started reading healthy living blogs in 2009 or so, and always wanted to start my own.ย  Once I realized that I was already giving out advice to family, friends, and colleagues, and started thinking more seriously about something health-related as a real passion/ goal, I decided to do it.ย  Then, I got an unexpected week off of work, and … the rest is history!

3. If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be?ย  This is the second time I have mentioned these places … I think I’m itching for a vacation! :).ย  It’s a tie between Colorado, where my grandparents retired and where my family has a ranch house, and St. Lucia, where Kevin and I got engaged (and the first stop on our honeymoon!).ย  These two places are the ones where it is easiest for me to truly relax. Christmas 2010 144 hike st lucia
4. What is your favorite weekendย activity?
It’s more of a weekend “perfect day” than an activity … I’d wake up, eat breakfast and read some blogs and health news, go for a long, slow run, shower and eat, relax outside, read, and do some blogging, then cook a fun dinner with Kevin, have a few glasses of wine, and hang out or watch one of “our shows” (currently Friday Night Lights, Secret Life of an American Teenager – I know!, Arrested Development, or Cutthroat Kitchen)

5. What is a current goal you are working towards? I’d like to continue to work on enjoying each day and living for the moment rather than stressing out.ย  I’d also like to beat my half marathon PR, but I’m honestly thinking that will take another 6 months – I’m not quite ready!ย  I have a few other goals that I’m keeping secret for now!

6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?ย  The honest truth is that I don’t know … and I’m OK with that!

7. What is one positive thing blogging has brought to your life?ย  I’ve gotten to know so many great people via blog comments and emails, and have gotten a few emails saying that I’ve helped out in some small way.ย  That in itself is worth it 1,000 times over!

8. What is your favorite blog to read?ย  TOO impossible to answer … there are SO many blogs are in my Feedly, that I wish I could just sit around and read all day!

9. What isย yourย favorite workout song? I kind of hated this song at first, but now I LOVE IT … Holy Grail by Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake.ย  I cannot listen to it without nodding my head or singing … during yesterday’s race I definitely played imaginary drums.

10. What is your favorite holiday?ย  Real favorite is Christmas.ย  It is SUCH a special holiday to both my family and Kevin’s family, and I’m still a complete 6-year-old when it comes to Christmas giddiness.ย  I LOVE everything about the holiday, and it’s a great time to spend with family.ย  Second favorite is St. Patrick’s Day!ย  My family is Irish, and every St. Patty’s Day my mom would make us dye ALL of our food green.ย  Check out this spread from the St. Patty’s Day gathering we hosted for a few friends this past year – green chips, green veggies, guacamole, green grapes, green candy, green cookies, green sangria, and much more green goodness! ohare family christmas lyons family christmas st pattys day 2013

Black Bean Tempeh Burgers

Better With Veggies

I’m not even going to write this up in recipe format, because I’m not quite happy with the texture (yet!).ย  The burgers taste wonderful, but they’re a little crumbly and not real burger texture.ย  I’ll keep working, but because I keep missing Heather’s Meatless Monday A-Z link-up, I wanted to participate with a half-way recipe :).

Recipe makes 2 servings (4 small burgers). Each serving has 202 calories, 5g fat, 23g carbs, and 19g protein.

Crumble half a block of tempeh (I used Westsoy Five Grain).ย  tempehAdd in 1/2 cup black beans, and mash at least half of them.ย  Add in a scant 1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 eggs), plus 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp cumin, and 2-3 tsp mustard (the key ingredient for this link-up!).ย  ingredientsGo ahead and mix up with your hands – it’s much easier this way!ย  Form into burger shapes and lay onto a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.ย  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

I served the burgers with parnsip fries (yum!), sauerkraut (random craving), and roasted veggies.ย  If you can get past the crumbly texture, these are delicious, and quite healthy! full meal

I tried the recipe again, this time adding spinach and 1 tsp tahini.ย  I thought that some extra (healthy) fat might help the burgers bind, but I think the spinach counteracted the tahini, and the burgers were still fairly crumbly.ย  Let me know if you find a good alternative! with spinachblack bean tempeh burgers with spinach

So tell me in the comments … Answer one of the questions from the Sunshine Award above!

19 Comments

  1. emily (a nutritionist eats)

    These burgers sound amazing, definitely going to try them! Love that they combine beans and tempeh!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Emily, please let me know if you try them and come up with a texture solution. I’m sure your version will be wonderful!

      Reply
  2. Heather @ Better With Veggies

    I love your halfway version – You’ve seen that I’m not always successful either. I think the burgers sound yummy, they deserve some extra testing to perfect things. ๐Ÿ™‚

    My favorite holiday is Christmas too.For both the meaning & the feeling you get. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      I know, seeing other bloggers not be perfectly successful on the first try makes me feel better :). I hope you test them out and come up with a better version!

      Reply
  3. Arman @ thebigmansworld

    I love posts like this- really gives more insight into the blogger. I cannot wait for that recipe- I am still yet to find a tasty way to eat tempeh!

    And thanks for not making other bloggers envious- we all know my blog is your favourite one ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Haha – don’t let the others know about your blog being my favorite!! ;). OK, even though the tempeh-black bean burgers were a texture failure, if you can wait 2 weeks I have the BEST tempeh recipe ever to share with you. It even involves a variety of one of your favorite foods!

      Reply
  4. Davida @ The Healthy Maven

    getting to know YOU has been one of the best things to come out of blogging! I say we both move to Colorado and go on daily hikes! I’d be more than ok with that ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Aww, you make my day!!! I completely agree – it’s been so fun to share what we have in common, and I can’t wait to get to know you even better. And YES, your plan for Colorado sounds like a dream!

      Reply
  5. Laurie

    This was a fun post! Questions 4 and 9 – I am on the same page. Except replace “long run” with “lifting session” and sub in “Joe” (my boyfriend) for Kevin ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Great minds think alike!!! Glad I’m not the only one who likes hanging out at home and listening to Holy Grail :).

      Reply
  6. Amy @ Long Drive Journey

    I loved spinning the one time I did it too, but I’m just not sure whether it’s bad for my IT band…I want to go back, but I don’t want to cause more problems!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Amy, did you feel any more pain after spin class? If you do go back, I would recommend two things (although I’m not a doctor): first, talk to the teacher to make sure your bike is set up correctly. Improper bike set up can aggravate (or cause) injuries incredibly quickly. Second, foam roll like crazy afterwards! The worst thing you can do for your IT band is let it get super tight, which can happen from exercise or from sitting for a long period of time (so try to stand up at least every hour or so, too!). OK, unsolicited advice over :).

      Reply
  7. Jillienne @ ChasingRaspberries

    It was great getting to know you a little better Megan. I loved reading all your answers! Congrats on the award!

    Reply
  8. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table

    I think choosing a favorite blog would be like choosing a favorite kid – totally impossible! I read many but I love them because they are all unique!

    Tempeh burgers sound great! I have some tempeh that I need to use… I may try my hand at one.

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      I agree. I honestly do feel like I KNOW a lot of the bloggers I read (like you!). If you make a tempeh + black bean + mustard burger that has good texture, I will promise to you that I will make (and eat) your beefy oats! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Thank YOU for the nomination!

      Reply

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Megan Lyons Headshot

Hi! I'm Megan Lyons,

the voice behind The Lyonsโ€™ Share. I love all things health, wellness, and fitness-related, and I hope to share some of my passion with you. Thanks for stopping by!
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