Dei Fratelli Salsa REVIEW + My Black Bean Cakes + GIVEAWAY!--Ends March 23, 2011

I recently received some Dei Fratelli products for this review and giveaway.  Four generations are behind this family-owned company, producers of canned tomatoes, sauces, purees, juices, salsa, and sauerkraut with an exceptional garden fresh flavor from what I experienced.

Everyone usually thinks of salsa and chips or tortillas come to mind.  Although, I honestly thought the Dei Fratelli brand was the best commercial salsa after my first taste on some tortilla chips, I wanted to show you a healthier way you can also cook with their delicious salsa with my Black Bean Cakes.

The dry variety of beans is the most economical with a better consistency to work.  If you think you don't have enough time to cook up dried beans, then put on a pot to cook while you watch television.  Trust me, but you'll save more time in the long run cooking up a whole bag of beans and storing them in the refrigerator for other uses.  Don't worry.  I will share my best recipes using them to whip your dinner up in record time.

Look carefully for any tiny pebbles among dry beans or popcorn first.  After sorting, rinse the beans and soak overnight.  Then drain, rinse again and proceed to cook up a bag until they're tender, but not mushy.  This should take a few hours.  (Like I said, you're doing the work now to save more time later on.)  Drain off the excess liquid.

My Black Bean Cakes with Salsa

2-1/4 cups cooked black beans, drained of excess liquid
1/4 cup celery (I like to use the celery leafy tops)
1/4 cup peeled onion (about 1 small)
3 cloves peeled garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup bread crumbs (save stale bread and process for later)
1/4 teaspoon whole leaf oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup of Dei Fratelli salsa (I used the original medium)
8 teaspoons of sour cream

Place your onion, garlic, and celery in your food processor and process until chopped nicely before adding the rest of the ingredients except the olive oil, flour, salsa, and sour cream.  You want a meaty texture.

No eggs are necessary for these cakes to stick.  You will  make four big patties.  Shape up each patty  between your lightly floured hands to coat them.  Don't over flour or you'll need more oil to fry them in. 

Fry them in the olive oil and serve with a side dish of rice, which makes your bean cake a complete protein, and a vegetable.  Top the patty with a tablespoon or more (I like more salsa) and two teaspoons of sour cream for a delicious healthy dinner.

Your kids may like to try these bean cakes on a bun with some lettuce and salsa for a healthier replacement for hamburger.

*This is own, honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  I did receive product so I could do this review and express an opinion.*

Thanks to Dei Fratelli and the Hirzel Canning Company,  one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader, will win all four of the same incredibles salsas I received: a (medium) Chipotle, (medium) Black Bean 'n Corn, (mild) Casera, and (medium) Original Salsa.

Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me so in a comment.

2. Go to Dei Fratelli's website and tell me which product you would love to try first or something you learned from their site in another comment.


Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Dei Fratelli Salsa #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

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List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to residents of the United States only.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends March 23, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.