burritos

We have declared that Friday night is taco/burrito night. We tried sandwiches for a while, but for some reason, the cost of that went throught the roof. Everyone wanted their own fillings and well, there was just too much detail. This is a home, not a restaurant! We have a standard recipe that gets used for both tacos and burritos. When I'm feeling cheap or running behind, it is meat free. And well, Friday is supposed to be meat free anyway.

1-2 T vegetable oil
1 lb of lean ground meat, if using
1/2 c TVP with 1 cup veg broth if not using meat and your dinner companions like to think they are eating meat.
1 can kidney beans, drained andvrinsed
1 can lentils, drained and rinsed
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 chopped onions
1-2 cloves garlic minced/chopped whatever your preference, really
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t garlic powder
1 t chili powder
1/2 t basil
1 cup salsa

In large frying pan, heat oil, brown onions, garlic and meat if using. If using TVP, wait until onions are browned, then add in TVP.

Add spices, cook till you can actually smell the spices in the steam.

Add beans and salsa. If it is not moist and looks kind of dry and in danger of burning, add more salsa/veg broth/v8/tomato juice, whatever you have handy.

Because your spices have cooked into the base, you can actually adjust your spices at this point. Me, I usually add more cumin, as I LOVE cumin.

Cover and simmer while you set the table, heat your shells or wraps, put out the grated chees, guacamole, sprouts, lettuce, a favourite hot sauce, yogurt....

We usually scoop the filling into a nice bowl and bring it to the table to serve out.

This usually makes 2 for me, 5 for B, 3 for DS, 2 for DD and one for BG, with some left over for a lunch in the next week.

chick pea curry

Tonight, B and I are going to donate blood and we're leaving the kids with my BIL, a vegetarian. My two BIL's come over fairly frequently, at least every two weeks and neither one eats animal flesh. As a matter of course, I serve meatless meals every few days anyway, but their visits really force me to think about a balanced meal.

Tonight, it is chick pea curry with barley/rice pilaf. Thanks to the wonders of
http://www.brysonfarms.com/ I get all this awesome produce I have to throw in it. Tonight's curry

1/2 t cumin
1/2 t curry
1/4 t turmeric
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t dried basil
4 T olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots diced
2 sweet potatoes, diced
1 bok choi chopped
1 bunch swiss chard, chopped
1 small bag fresh mushrooms, chopped
4 cans chick peas, drained and rinsed
1 can mushroom soup
1/3 can left over spaghetti sauce

in large pot on med heat, pour oil and add spices. let cook a minute or two, till really fragrant
add onions. cook till half way soft
add carrots. cook until med soft
add sweet potato. let cook three minutes
add rest of ingredients, stir somewhat vigorously-not so hard you mush the vegetables.
cover and simmer till veg are soft.

delicious

morning oatmeal

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. B makes fun of my morning ritual of oatmeal making, but I really like it.

My Oatmeal in the morning

100ml of oatmeal -I have a measuring cup in the oatmeal tub, it's the only way I can be somewhat consistant with my portion sizes. It's the takes ten minutes to cook style.
1 T pumpkin seeds
1/2 t flaxseeds
1 t sunflower seeds
1 T dried cranberries
1/2 t cinnamon
2-3 T organic Meadows 2% yogurt

Boil water in kettle,
Combine oatmeal, cranberries and seeds in microwaveable cereal bowl.
Add enough water to cover.
Stir and nuke for 3.33min at 60% power. I know odd level and timing, but it's the only one that'll cook it just right without overflowing the bowl and spewing all over the microwave. That annoys me to no end.
Remove from microwave.
Add cinnamon and yogurt.
Stir and eat.

It's a party in your mouth-crunchy, chewy and smooth all at the same time.