Black Bean and Spinach Enchiladas

We ate these for dinner last night and LOVED them.

*for sauce*
3 C veggie broth
1/4 C tomato paste
1/4 C flour (can use whole wheat)
2 T cooking oil (can use coconut oil)
2 t cumin
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/4 t chili powder
salt/pepper to taste

*for enchiladas*
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 C corn (frozen, thawed)
6 oz. spinach
1/3 C cilantro, chopped
6 green onions, thinly sliced
2 t cumin
3 C shredded three cheese blend (or pepper jack or some kind of mexi cheese)
8 tortillas (can do whole wheat or flour, go big or use smaller and make more)

To make the sauce, heat oil over medium heat in saucepan. Add tomato paste, flour, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Cook 1 minute, whisking. Whisk in broth, bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Salt/pepper to taste and set aside.

Saute spinach in some oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until slightly wilted. In large bowl, combine beans, 2 C cheese, spinach, corn, green onions, cumin, and cilantro. I added a little more cumin. I wanted some spice.

Heat oven to 375. Pour a small amount of enchilada sauce in bottom of 9X13 dish. Fill tortillas with enchilada mix, roll and put in pan. Pour the rest of the sauce over the prepped enchiladas then sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Cook about 30 minutes or until warmed through and enjoy!


Found this recipe online somewhere but not sure where.

Shepherd's Pie (Vegetarian Version)

This dish is so good, you won’t even miss the meat!  It’s hearty, full of flavor and lots of veggies!  And I love that it’s a one dish meal making it easy to clean up!

Recipe:

Wash, peal and boil 4-5 baking potatoes. Drain and place back into pan. Add 1/2 t. dried thyme. Add 1/4 – 1/3c milk or sour cream, a little butter if you want, salt and pepper to taste and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy.
While the potatoes are boiling place 1 c. lentils, 3 clove of garlic, chopped, 2 c. vegetable broth and 3/4 c. water in a large skillet and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add 1 medium red onion, chopped and 4 medium carrots, chopped. Simmer for 10-15 minutes longer until vegetables and lentils are tender. Add 1 (14 oz.) can of Italian style diced tomatoes, 2 T. tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste.
Top the lentil mixture with mashed potatoes and 1 c. shredded cheese. Bake in the oven at 350` until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

From Emily Saddler at OrganicEmily.com.  She has lots of great recipes there.  :)

Chili

This recipe makes a big pot.  If I we don't eat it all, I will usually just put it into a ziplock bag and freeze it for another meal.

 

Good Olive Oil

1 package (1.5lbs.) ground turkey or beef

2 large onions, chopped

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons cumin powder

2 teaspoons dried oregano

Red pepper flakes (optional and whatever you prefer)

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 (32 oz.) bottles or cans diced tomatoes ( I like to use the fire roasted if I can get it on sale at Sprout's)

2 (15 oz.) cans rinsed and drained pinto beans

2 (15 oz.) cans rinsed and drained black beans

 

Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over med-high heat and add the meat.  Chop onions, add.  Chop garlic, add.  Add the seasonings and the tomatoes and beans.  Add about 1-2 cups water depending on how thick you want it.  Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes or all day on low in the crockpot.  Serve with any of the following:

 

sour cream

chopped green onions

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

sliced avocado

corn bread

green salad

 

Recipe from Emily Saddler

Best Dessert EVER!

Fresh Peach Dessert

2/3 cup powdered sugar

3/4-1 cup butter
2 pkg. graham crackers; crushed
12-14 medium peaches; peeled & sliced
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 pt. whipping cream

Mix cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, & butter. Press into the bottom of a glass 9 x 13 pan. Reserve some of the crust to sprinkle on top. Whip cream and add a little vanilla and powdered sugar until set. Mix the sweetened condensed milk with lemon juice. Then place the peaches on the crust and pour the milk/lemon mixture on top. Spread the fresh cream on top and sprinkle with remaining crust.

*This is so light and fresh, but you have to share it or half it because it is best if enjoyed in the first 24 hours!

Stolen from Lisa Evans who stole it from another blog.  :)

 

Teriyaki Chicken Pasta

Teriyaki SauceOur Best Bites

1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. cold water
½ c. white sugar
½ c. soy sauce
¼ c. cider vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. black pepper
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. We’ve talked about ginger before and you can use either ground ginger as directed or about 1 1/4 tsp. of fresh ginger. Believe it or not, in this recipe, I actually prefer ground ginger; it has a slightly different flavor that I think infuses better in the sauce than fresh ginger. That being said, I used fresh here because I had a bunch of minced ginger in my freezer and I didn’t want it to go to waste. And the sauce came out great. So whatever works for you.
ANYWAY. I’m rambling. Combine your ingredients in the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. While sauce is heating, combine cornstarch and cold water. When sauce comes to a full boil, add cornstarch mixture and stir until sauce is thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and use any way you darn well please. You can store it in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

2 chicken breasts
Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste and Glaze or 1 recipe of Teriyaki Sauce
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/3 C sliced green onions, chopped
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted
1 mango, cut into small cubes (or 1 small can of Mandarin oranges, drained)
1 small can pineapple tidbits OR roughly-chopped chunks
1/3-1/2 c. light mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Some Grapes cut in half
Box of corkscrew pasta.

Mix it all up and put it in fridge to cool

Corn and Tomato Soup

Roasted Sweet Corn and Tomato Soup
Recipe by Our Best Bites, inspired by the Sussman Brothers
3 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 cobs)
10 ounces cherry tomatoes (abt 2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, any color, diced
8 ounce jar roasted red bell peppers, drained
32 ounces chicken broth (4 cups)VEGETABLE BROTH
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
kosher salt
fresh cracked black pepper
optional: chopped herbs for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place corn, tomatoes, and garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Gently toss with hands and then arrange in an even, flat layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tomatoes are crinkled and burst.
While vegetables are roasting, heat a stock pot to medium high heat on stove top. Add remaining one teaspoon olive oil and diced onion. Saute about 5 minutes, or until tender. Add roasted bell peppers, chicken broth, smoked paprika and chipotle chili powder. Add a light sprinkling of kosher salt and black pepper (I add about 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few cracks of pepper at this point and then season to taste at the very end.)
When corn and tomatoes are done roasting, add them to the pot*, making sure to scrape off all of the bits on the pan. (*If desired, reserve a couple spoonfuls of roasted corn for garnish.) Bring soup to a low simmer and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes. Use an immersion blender, or transfer soup to stand blender and puree until smooth. Taste, and add additional salt and pepper (and chipotle chili powder if you want a little more heat) to taste. Divide into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika, a few corn kernels, and some chopped herbs if desired.
Yields about 6 cups of soup.
Nutritional info for 4, 1 1/2 cup servings:
Calories: 168
Carbs: 24 g
Protein: 8 g
Fat: 7 g
I LOVED it.  Peter and the kids; not so much.  :)

Mint Brownies

Chocolate Mint Brownies
Koke McMurdie
Brownies
1cup butter 4 eggs
¾ cup cocoa 1 ¾ cup sugar
1 ¼ cups flour ¼ t salt
nuts (if desired)

Mint Frosting
½ cup butter 1 ¼ t mint extract
¼ cup cream 2-3 drops green food coloring
3 cups powdered sugar

Chocolate frosting
½ cup butter 1 t vanilla
½ cup cocoa 2 ¾ cup powdered sugar
1 egg 3-4 T hot water
Preheat oven to 350° and grease 9x13 pan.

Preheat oven to 350° and grease 9x13 pan.
Brownies: In saucepan, melt butter and add cocoa. Transfer to mixing bowl and beat in eggs, sugar and salt. Add flour and nuts. Spread in pan. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool.
Mint Frosting: Beat all ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Spread on cooled brownies. Let set about 15 minutes before adding chocolate frosting.
Chocolate Frosting: In saucepan, melt butter and add cocoa. Transfer to mixing bowl and add powdered sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add hot water, 1 Tablespoon at a time until creamy. Spread over mint frosting. Cut and enjoy!