Easy Sweet and Spicy Black Beans

Ingredients

• 4 (16 ounce) cans black beans
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 4 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• T TBSP light brown sugar
• 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (according to taste)
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan onion, olive oil and garlic.
2. Add beans.  Heat thoroughly.
3. Season with cilantro, brown sugar, cayenne, and salt. 
4. Simmer for 5 minutes, and serve.

Changes I made:

I increased all of the ingredients.  Things disappear fast in our house.

I sauteed the onion and garlic first.

Boiling didn't make sense.  There was no liquid to boil.

I added olive oil for sauteing the garlic and onion.

I added a tablespoon of brown sugar to make it sweet.

Note

(I use dry beans.  I soak them overnight and then cook them for 90 minutes.  Your choice.  I like dried beans because nothing is added and less waste i.e. cans)

Base recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Black-Beans/

DIY Chai Concentrate

My mom saved this recipe for me and I tried it.  It turned out yummy.  I'd probably only make this recipe once in a while.  It was like making jelly...alot of work.

Chai Tea Concentrate

• 4 tsps. each ground ginger and cinnamon
• 4 tsps. fennel seeds, ground
• 2 tsps. each ground black pepper, cardamom and coriander
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ cup loose black tea such as Earl Grey
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup blue agave
• 2 Tbs. molasses
• 4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tb. fresh lemon juice

Heat spices in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until fragrant and smoke starts to rise, a couple of minutes. Add 1 quart of water and the tea; bring to a simmer.

Remove from heat, cover and let steep about 10 minutes. Strain out tea and spices; stir in agave, honey, molasses, vanilla and lemon juice.

To serve, combine ¼ cup of the concentrate with either ¾ cup hot or cold milk or water. The rest can be covered and refrigerated up to a couple of weeks until ready to use.

I found this recipe at:

http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20120120/FOOD04/301200004/Recipe-Totally-yummy-DIY-chai-

Changes that I made:
I substituted 3/4 cup agave nectar for 1/4 cup agave nectar and 1/4 cup honey.  It ended up tasting like Oregon Original Chai, which I really love.  As far as being cost effective I didn't add it all up but with the ingredients used it's probably pretty close to what you can buy in the store.  I'd have to do the math.
*What made it really cost effective is that after I strained the spices I put them back in the pot, added a quart of water and made another batch.  It tasted the same as the first.  Frugal me!

I poured myself 1/4 cup concentrate and kept adding rice drink until it tasted right.  It was probably around 3/4 cup rice drink.  So, a 1:3 ratio.

Prickly Pear (Nopales) Chorizo Guacamole

Ingredients

1 prickly pear cactus pad or 1/2 cup from a jar or can

1/2 cup salsa - spiciness level up to you

6 ounces chorizo-soy or pork

1 tsp. chili powder or mexican type seasoning

1 large avocado

2 T. chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Wash prickly pear if using fresh.
2. Cut off spines
3. Chop cactus into small pieces
4. Place cactus in frying pan.
5. Add seasoning.
6. Saute until tender
7. Mix chorizo in with sauteed cactus
8. Cook until well heated or cooked through if using pork chorizo
9. Mash avocado in a bowl
10. Chop cilantro.
11. Add the  ingredients to the avocado: chorizo, cactus, cilantro, and salsa
12. Place pit of avocado in gauacamole if not eating right away.
13. Garnish with cilanto sprig.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Main Ingredients
4 chicken breast halves
2 15 ounce cans black bans (rinsed and drained to prevent gas)
2 15 ounce can Mexican stewed tomatoes (sliced or diced) or use Rotel tomatoes
1 cup salsa (spice level preference according to taste) We prefer Chi-Chi's medium.
1 4 ounce can chopped green chilies (spice level preference according to taste) We prefer mild.
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 15 ounce can whole corn in water
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

To be added on top of the finished soup
tortilla chips
grated cheese
sour cream or plain yogurt
sprigs of cilantro

Directions
1.  Cut up the chicken breast into bite size pieces
2. Throw everything into a large, pot, stir and cook over medium heat for 40 minutes.
3.  Garnish as desired.

Serves 6 people a big bowl of soup.

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

·                     1 can (1 1/2 cups) Chick Peas, drained and mashed

·                     1/2 cup Almond butter.

·                     1/2 cup light brown sugar

·                     2 teaspoon vanilla

·                     1/8 tsp Salt

·                     1/8 tsp Baking Powder

·                     1/2 cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1.            Preheat oven to 350.

2.            Combine all cookie dough ingredients -- EXCEPT for chocolate chips -- in a bowl and mix well.

3.            Add chocolate chips and stir.

4.            Scoop 1 inch thick balls onto a sprayed or greased cookie sheet. Before placing in the oven, use the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten the cookies because they will not flatten on their own.

5.            Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chocolate chips are melting.

6.            Remove from oven and let cool.

I found this recipe at:http://www.createliveblog.com/2012/01/recipe-chickpea-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

Raisin and Walnut Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
2 large sweet potatoes
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) if you want it to have a spicy kick
1 Tablespoon maple syrup (optional) if you want it to be more like dessert

Directions
1.  Scrub sweet potatoes clean and cut off icky ends or parts.
2.  Peel if you want.  I don't peel them because there are vitamins in the skins.
3.  Cut potatoes into bite sized chunks.
4.  Put potatoes into pot and cover with water.
5.  Add salt.
6.  Bring water to a boil
7.  Put heat to simmer and boil for 10-12 minutes.
8.  Check if they are done by sticking a fork in them.  If the fork goes in easily, they are done.
9.  Drain water into sink.
10.  Leave sweet potatoes in the pot.
11.  Mash sweet potatoes with a masher.
12.  Add raisins and walnuts and mix together.
13.  Add cayenne or salt and pepper to taste.
14.  If you want it to be like a dessert you can add maple syrup. Yum!

Serves 4 with a polite serving.  Serves 2 if you want a big serving!