Macaroni and Kidney Bean Salad

 This is the first salad I've ever made on my own. I never know how to make salads, so this recipe was a really nice way to boost my salad construction career.
It was HUGE- filled up my biggest salad bowl. It lasted me for at least 6 servings.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans kidney beans
• 2 cups macaroni
• 5 sticks celery, chopped
• 1/2 red pepper, chopped
• 6 green onions (scallions), chopped
• 2/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup raisins or cranberries
• sea salt and pepper
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp cider or wine vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
• crisp lettuce leaves

Directions:

• cook macaroni and drain beans, then combine in bowl
• add vegetables, nuts, and fruit to the macaroni and beans
• in a small container, combine oil, vinegar, salt and pepper
• add to salad, mix well
• line serving bowl with lettuce leaves
• turn salad into this bowl. 
• serve!

Kidney bean "burgers"

My cookbook says you can serve these burgers in a bun like a usual burger or served with gravy and vegetables.

This is a terrible picture of the final product.
Imagine it with some gravy and carrots.
That's better.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans cooked, drained kidney beans
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions:

• drain beans and mash in bowl (use a potato masher if you have one)

• add oats and soy sauce

• knead well with hands
• form into 4 large burgers

• saute in oil- start with high heat to brown on both sides

• lower heat and cook until hot throughout