black bean & avocado enchiladas

Okay, I have to take a little break in the Shredded Beef programming to bring you this absolutely scrumptious vegan delight!

I've been eating this for lunch all week and the fact that I only have one serving left almost makes me want to cry... I might have to make a second batch PRONTO. Yes, they're that good.

What makes these enchiladas so amazing? Not only are they filled with super fresh flavors, but they're smothered in a homemade enchilada sauce. Now, if you've made my homemade enchilada sauce before you know that it takes less than ten minutes to make and is 100 x better than the canned stuff. Well, this time I went one step further and added a little cocoa powder to the enchilada sauce. OMG. You won't believe how rich and amazing the cocoa makes the sauce! It doesn't taste like chocolate, just extra rich and good. It's the same amazing chili/chocolate combo that works magic in the Aztec Cocoa. SO. GOOD.

Black beans give these enchiladas filling power and avocado offers that creaminess that you'd usually get from cheese. If you're vegan, just make sure your tortillas are vegan (some use lard, some don't). Or, try making your own!

And yes, I know that enchiladas are supposed to be wrapped in corn tortillas, not flour. Use whichever type you like. Delicious is more important than correct, in my book.

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loaded sweet potatoes

I had a really hard time deciding what to load these potatoes up with because there were just so many options. So, look forward to more versions of stuffed sweet potatoes in the future!

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite produce items because they're yummy, nutritious, don't go bad quickly, relatively inexpensive, and can be cooked about a trazillion different ways. This time I paired them with some sauteed spinach, sweet-tart cranberries, and crunchy walnuts. It's so simple, yet oh so good!

This recipe is vegetarian, but can easily be made vegan by substituting the butter with coconut oil. Sweet potatoes and coconut oil (and coconut milk) go really, really well together.

I made three because I knew that's about how much I'd eat over the next couple of days, but this recipe could easily be scaled up or down to make any number. You don't really need to measure the ingredients, just wing it.

Oh yeah, one more thing... these are pretty big, so I'd consider this the main dish. Maybe add a warm roll, a small salad, or a cup of soup and call it a day. It's practically a meal on its own!

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island rice pilaf

I really can't imagine ever just eating plain rice again. Over the past few years I've discovered so many different things you can do with rice, especially cooking it with different liquids and seasonings.

One of my all-time favorites is Savory Coconut Rice, which combines coconut milk, garlic, and jasmine rice. This recipe is kind of like that, but it veers off in a slightly different direction. Instead of using jasmine rice, this recipe uses plain rice (great for those of you who can't find jasmine) and includes some black beans, which always go great with rice. Coconut milk makes everything creamy and mellow, while savory herbs like garlic and thyme add depth. A little sweet pineapple and fresh cilantro help round everything out to create an awesome (and easy) side dish.

The mellow creaminess of this rice was perfect for balancing my Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken, but it would go great with any spicy meal.

Although I called this "pilaf," be aware that it's definitely heavier and more dense than most pilafs. When I hear the word pilaf I think of a light, fluffy rice mixture. Cooking the rice in coconut milk definitely makes it heavier and even a little sticky. So, just be aware of that before you begin. That being said, I could eat a mountain of this rice!

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sweet potato & kale salad

I was in dire need of some vegetables this week, so I made a BIG delicious salad. This salad is super hearty, thanks to the kale and roasted sweet potato. You can eat it as a side salad, or have a bigger portion for a light meal (maybe add a roll or slice of good bread).

I love the flavors of this salad. A tangy champagne dressing contrasts perfectly with creamy sweet potato. Raw sunflower seeds add just a touch of nuttiness and dried cranberries add a pop of sweet-tart flavor. It's just great! If you don't like kale, this would also be great over baby greens or spinach, although both tend to be more expensive than kale (at least in my area).

I used champagne dressing because its flavor is light an unobtrusive, yet it's super tangy. I predressed the kale because as the dressing soaks in it will help soften the tough kale. I found that predressing the kale with just a 1/4 cup of dressing was plenty for the entire salad even after adding the other ingredients. Depending on the size of your bunch of kale, you might not even need that much. If you are using other greens, I wouldn't suggest adding the dressing until just before serving as most greens can't stand up to dressing the way kale can.

Enjoy!

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nature's candy

I'm calling this one "Nature's Candy" because my first thought upon tasting it was, "OMG, WHO NEEDS CANDY WHEN THIS EXISTS?!" ... Yep, I thought it in all caps and everything.

This recipe comes to you courtesy of Rachelle, who wrote to tell me that this has become her go-to side dish and even her 3 year old loves it! I was immediately intrigued by the cinnamon/basil combo and I just happened to have some extra apples that I bought on sale. All of the stars were aligned...

All I can say is that it completely blew me away. I fully expected to have to sprinkle a little salt or sugar on after baking, but it needed absolutely nothing. When is the last time you made a recipe that didn't require even a little pinch of salt? The apples are incredibly sweet after roasting and the subtle creaminess of the sweet potato perfectly compliments them.

It's sweet enough to eat as a snack, but subtle enough to eat as a side dish to a regular meal. I think it would be awesome with any number of roasted meats, Herb Roasted Pork Loin in particular. So, I hope you'll try this one! I don't think you'll be sorry! :D

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quinoa black bean tacos

Shhhhhh.... They're VEGAN!

I decided to experiment a little more with vegan food in 2013. Now, before you get your panties all in a bundle, hear me out.

I'm an omnivore and probably always will be. I eat everything, animal and non-animal, but that doesn't mean that every meal has to include both. I see vegan food as a challenge (I LOVE challenges) and a good way to incorporate more fresh food and fiber into my diet. Also, I'm only really interested in food that just happens to be vegan, not strange ingredients or concoctions that are meant to replace animal products. I plan to use only ingredients that can be found at regular grocery stores. Luckily, quinoa has become so popular in the past few years, that you pretty much can find it at any grocery store these days. And if you can't? You can sub with rice. Rice and beans together make a complete (and delicious) protein source.

Quinoa is great because it cooks up quickly, can be seasoned with just about anything, is highly nutritious, and has a really fun texture. I mixed in some black beans ('cuz I love 'em) and seasoned it all up with some taco spices. I topped the tacos with homemade pico de gallo (which is absolutely to die for) and a slice of avocado for that rich creaminess that I'd normally get from cheese or sour cream. Quick, simple, delicious.

Here are some other fun toppings for your tacos: pineapple, mango, jalapenos, corn, or sauteed mushrooms (okay, now I'm just thinking about all of the things that I like to put on my burritos at Izzo's).

The verdict: Super fast, super easy, super tasty, and way more satisfying than I expected! Love 'em! (and cheap, as usual)

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apple nut quinoa

As much as I love my myriad of baked oatmeal recipes, I've wanted to shake things up a bit lately and try something other than oats for breakfast.

Enter quinoa. If you've never had quinoa ("keen-wah") it's a little seed that is packed with protein and fiber. It cooks up fast and is fun to eat because the little pellets have a great texture once cooked. Usually quinoa is seen in savory dishes, but it also works great in sweet recipes, like this breakfast Apple Nut Quinoa.

The juice in this recipe provides all of the sweetness that you need and really ups the flavor a notch (or ten). Use any juice blend that you'd like, but try to get one that is 100% juice and doesn't contain any added sweeteners. I thought apple cranberry would have been nice, but the apple cherry that I used was much less expensive and happened to have no added sugar, so I went with that.

Hit up the bulk bins at your local grocery store or health food store for the best price on quinoa. It's often over priced when sold in small packages (these are usually found near rice and beans).

It's almost New Years and time for resolutions, so keep this one handy for when you get that sudden motivation to be "healthy"! ;)

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roasted root vegetables

You may have heard me talk about how much I love roasting vegetables in the oven... if you haven't, I'm sure you will in the future. Often. Because it's the BEST.

Roasting vegetables transforms bitter and boring veggies into sweet, rich morsels of goodness. They're super delicious and super healthy, and we all want that, right? Oh, did I mention how easy it is? Just chop 'em up, toss with oil and some herbs and spices, and let them do their own thing in the oven while you prep the rest of your meal.

There are a million and two (or maybe three) ways to make roasted vegetables and I made this special Wintery version with all root vegetables to go along side my pork tenderloin. The roasted root vegetables were a perfect flavor match and made for a beautifully colorful companion to the pork. This was my type of meal! YUM!

Of course, prices and volume will vary depending on what vegetables you buy. I bought a big 'ol Super Mario Bros. style turnip, which was surprisingly expensive, but added a nice flavor contrast. You could also try parsnips, rutabagas, or any other root vegetable that might be available to you.

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red enchilada sauce

Enchilada sauce is one of my very favorite things, ever. I love when it soaks into a flour tortilla while baking and makes everything tangy and spicy and good. Mmmmm.

Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with the last can of enchilada sauce that I bought and my local grocery store doesn't have much of a selection. So, I thought it was high time that I made some myself.

I'm kicking myself for not doing this sooner.

It literally takes about 5 minutes, uses ingredients that I always have on hand, and tastes about a million times better than that sad can that I used the other day. Plus, I made twice the volume for half the price. I'll never go back to the can. Never.

I made a vegetarian version out of sheer laziness, but if you're a carnivore try using chicken broth in place of the water for more flavor oomph (I've had a cold and apparently, mixing chicken base into hot water to make broth just takes too much energy).

You can adjust the heat by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper. The heat comes from the cayenne pepper, not the chili powder, which is generally mild. So, if you want the sauce mild, either leave out the cayenne or use less. I used 1/4 tsp and it only had a slight kick - kind of like medium salsa.

Now on to the good stuff!

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roasted poblano and sweet potato salad

This recipe was inspired by a dish that I saw at Whole Foods Market. I don't have their recipe so I made this up based on what I thought theirs was. It turned out pretty tasty and it's super healthy which (in my opinion) is win-win! Also, this was my first time cooking with poblanos and I have decided that they are my new favorite ingredient. Their flavor is incredible and my house smelled AMAZING while they were roasting. I'm going to have to try a stuffed poblano recipe soon!



Total Recipe cost: $5.96
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Cost per serving: $0.76
Prep time: 15 min. Cook time: 45 min. Total: 1 hr.

INGREDIENTS		COST
2 large (about 2.5 lbs.)	sweet potatoes	$2.43
2 large	poblano peppers	$0.98
one 14 oz. can	black beans	$0.78
1 cup	frozen corn kernels	$0.32
1/4, diced	red onion (optional)	$0.12
1 medium	lime	$0.20
3 Tbsp	olive oil	$0.32
1 bunch	cilantro	$0.66
2 tsp	ground cumin	$0.10
1/2 tsp	salt	$0.05
TOTAL		$5.96

STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees on the broiler setting. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray your poblanos with non-stick spray. Place the baking sheet with the peppers about 4 inches below the broiler coils(this is the second rack level on my oven). Roast the peppers under the broiler for 15 minutes on one side, flip them over then broil for another 5 minutes on the other side. You want the skin on the peppers to be all blistered and blackened. This will give them a nice smokey flavor. Don't worry, you will be peeling away the charred skin.

STEP 2: While the peppers are roasting, peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even chunks about one inch square. Place the chunks in a bowl and toss them together with 3 Tbsp of olive oil, 2 tsp of cumin, 1/2 tsp of salt and about half a bunch of chopped cilantro leaves. Mix it all up until the sweet potato chunks are well coated. The peppers should be done roasting at this point.

STEP 3: When the peppers come out of the oven, put them into a resealable freezer bag and let them cool. The peppers will steam themselves in the bag as they cool allowing you to easily peel away the skin.

STEP 4: Turn the oven from broil to bake (still on 400 degrees), pour out the bowl of sweet potato chunks onto the baking sheet that was used for the peppers, and roast the sweet potatoes for 30 minutes. Stir the chunks half way through.

STEP 5: Drain and rinse the can of black beans. Thaw one cup of frozen corn kernels. Finely chop 1/4 of a red onion (if desired). Put the beans, corn and onion together in a bowl. When the poblanos have cooled, peel off their skin, open them up to remove the seeds, seed pod and stem then cut the flesh into chunks. Put the chopped poblanos in the bowl with the other vegetables.

STEP 6: When the sweet potatoes are done, let them cool for about 10 minutes. In the mean time, chop the other half of the cilantro, and juice the lime. Mix the sweet potatoes, cilantro and lime together with the rest of the ingredients and serve. This dish can be eaten warm or cold!

Step By Step Photos


Coat the poblanos in oil to prepare them for roasting.


They will be charred and blistered when done (even more charred than this is okay).


After steaming in a ziplock bag, peel away the skin. Remove the seeds and dice the flesh.


Peel and dice the sweet potatoes. Toss them in a bowl with olive oil, cumin, salt and cilantro. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes.


Combine the roasted sweet potatoes with the poblanos, beans, corn, red onion, lime juice and fresh cilantro.



NOTE: It's kind of funny that the sweet potatoes are the most expensive ingredient in this dish. I usually visit the produce market but this week it was so bitterly cold, I was coerced into buying my produce at the grocery store (the produce market is open-air). I'm sure that if I had bought the ingredients at the produce market, I could have made this dish for far less.

While making the salad, it looks like it is going to be a very small amount. To my surprise, it actually made quite a bit. Since I cook for only myself, I will definitely be halving the recipe next time. This recipe can easily be halved, doubled or made into whatever quantity you need!