10 days down, we're going strong as Ovo Lacto Pescatarians. My menu planning was too aggressive and we had more food than we could possibly eat at the start. After a couple of days, we dialed back the menu and figured out what works and what doesn't. What works is keeping it simple.
We have always been big fruit and veggie eaters, but now - wow - we are seriously going through groceries! I'm finding myself at the market more often, which doesn't work I need to fine tune my planning and shopping, which is shocking to say. I am a master planner. My warranty is going out on so many other working parts of me, it isn't that surprising that my planning capability needs some fine tuning too. Good thing all my warranty items can be fixed!
Except the two bites of steak my husband had after being tortured by the fabulous smell while grilling steaks for our son's birthday dinner of choice - remember the kids are are still omnivorous. He later declared the steak was good but it wasn't worth eating. Instead of steak, we ate Halibut with Pineapple Avocado Salsa, an Everyday Food magazine recipe (Jan/Feb 2012) that was fabulous.
If you've tried my Bean and Cheese Burritos, try the sauce on Huevos Rancheros with black beans and poached eggs. Salmon with potatoes and kale rate high as did the mushroom, barley and zucchini soup.
Part of the fun, and confusion in planning, is the number of new recipes we are trying. Our favorite new recipe is eggplant baked with lentils and tomatoes. The black bean soup was mediocre at best and will not be on future menus.
The dinners ahead include cheese ravioli with marinara, bell peppers with corn filling and chili rice, vegetable and tofu pad thai, warm quinoa salad with shrimp and asparagus and grilled veggie pita pizzas.
Do I notice anything different with changing our diet? I don't miss meat. The kids are trying new foods and seem to enjoy what will be put on the table next. Our youngest thinks we're out to torture him...perhaps we are. Our 8 year old has decided he doesn't want to eat meat, just bacon and ham. Our 11 year old wants meat only meals and can his friends come over? Our 17 year old daughter who has been griping about eating meat forever was excited initially over our new eating plan. She lasted two days. She caved for chicken chow mein. My body composition is changing, definitely not eating the amount of fat as before. I have lost a few pounds (in my elbows - nowhere noticeable).
So far, so good. How are you doing on your resolutions? Any diet or lifestyle modifications?
I'm motivated and inspired by the responses and reactions I receive to my blog posts. Let me know your comments and thoughts - even the tongue in cheek comments by those of you who think dried beans are for art projects. I love a good laugh. Thanks!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Bean & Cheese Burritos: By Request
When I'm winning the "mean mom" award of the week from my kids, I remind them that I'm not trying to win any popularity contests. I am their mom for the love of the game, in good times and bad.
This is my same philosophy with cooking. I don't plan and prepare meals to win popularity contests, I plan and prepare meals to be as healthy and consciencious as possible. Sometimes I get lucky and everyone likes what I cook too!
One family favorite is Bean and Cheese Burritos. I make the burritos in bulk and freeze for later.
I was telling a friend about the burritos and how my youngest has eaten 8+ this week alone. I received an email from another friend whose daughter was listening in on my conversation and went home and told her! Word of mouth marketing at its best!
Here is my Bean and Cheese Burrito recipe that your family will tell their freinds, who will tell their friends, and their friends...and their friends!
Makes 30-35 burritos based on how big you want your burritos.
5 lbs dry pinto beans
Put beans in large pot - I use a 10L stock pot. Fill pan with water. Soak beans overnight - at least 12 hours. Drain beans. Put back in pot.
Add water to cover 2" higher than beans. Bring to boil. Cover. Cook for 2 hours. Beans should be soft.
Add:
3 onions, chopped
2 T. granulated garlic
4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1 T. salt
2 T. chili powder
2 tsp. oregano
1 bay leaf
Cook for 1 hour.
To make the burritos:
30+ flour tortillas. I use Mission Large Burrito size, 16 to a pack
Cheese. I use 3 bags of Trader Joes Mexican Blend shredded cheese. Yes, I'll spend 3 hours making beans but I'm too lazy to shred my own cheese combination.
Warm entire package of tortillas in the microwave 1 minute to soften and make folding easier.
One tortilla at a time, add a scoop or two of beans - eyeball it - whatever looks good for your family. Top with a handful of cheese, again, eyeball it.
Fold in sides of burrito and roll up from front to back. Ole - a burrito!
Wrap in foil, put in freezer bag. Freeze. I usually freeze 5-6 per bag.
You will have a freezer full in no time. These burritos make great after school snacks, quick before or after sport meals and are incredibly inexpensive.
To reheat, unwrap foil. Put on plate. Put in microwave. Cook for 2 minutes, turn burrito over. Cook for 2 more minutes. We have a reheat button on our microwave that does the job, we don't bother with flipping. Work with what you've got.
The fun is not over yet. Know me well enough to know that I don't slap a burrito on a plate and call it a meal. I top the burrito with steamed vegetables - cabbage, yam, zucchini, and onion is a great start - and ranchero sauce...and avocado and maybe a bit of sour cream too.
Ranchero Sauce:
1 onion, chopped small
4 1/2 c. water
Bring to boil. Cook onion until tender.
Add:
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. granulated garlic
Cook for 2 minutes.
To thicken sauce, mix together:
1/4 c. cornstarch
2 T. whole wheat flour (you can use regular white flour, just use less)
add enough water to make thin paste
Add paste to pan, stirring constantly.
Allow sauce to cook over low heat for 10 minutes to thicken.
Layer it up! Burrito - Steamed Veggies - Ranchero Sauce - Avocado - Sour Cream.
FABULOUS!
This is one of my family's absolute favorite meals. I hope it becomes your family's favorite too!
Enjoy!
This is my same philosophy with cooking. I don't plan and prepare meals to win popularity contests, I plan and prepare meals to be as healthy and consciencious as possible. Sometimes I get lucky and everyone likes what I cook too!
One family favorite is Bean and Cheese Burritos. I make the burritos in bulk and freeze for later.
I was telling a friend about the burritos and how my youngest has eaten 8+ this week alone. I received an email from another friend whose daughter was listening in on my conversation and went home and told her! Word of mouth marketing at its best!
Here is my Bean and Cheese Burrito recipe that your family will tell their freinds, who will tell their friends, and their friends...and their friends!
Makes 30-35 burritos based on how big you want your burritos.
5 lbs dry pinto beans
Put beans in large pot - I use a 10L stock pot. Fill pan with water. Soak beans overnight - at least 12 hours. Drain beans. Put back in pot.
Add water to cover 2" higher than beans. Bring to boil. Cover. Cook for 2 hours. Beans should be soft.
Add:
3 onions, chopped
2 T. granulated garlic
4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1 T. salt
2 T. chili powder
2 tsp. oregano
1 bay leaf
Cook for 1 hour.
To make the burritos:
30+ flour tortillas. I use Mission Large Burrito size, 16 to a pack
Cheese. I use 3 bags of Trader Joes Mexican Blend shredded cheese. Yes, I'll spend 3 hours making beans but I'm too lazy to shred my own cheese combination.
Warm entire package of tortillas in the microwave 1 minute to soften and make folding easier.
One tortilla at a time, add a scoop or two of beans - eyeball it - whatever looks good for your family. Top with a handful of cheese, again, eyeball it.
Fold in sides of burrito and roll up from front to back. Ole - a burrito!
Wrap in foil, put in freezer bag. Freeze. I usually freeze 5-6 per bag.
You will have a freezer full in no time. These burritos make great after school snacks, quick before or after sport meals and are incredibly inexpensive.
To reheat, unwrap foil. Put on plate. Put in microwave. Cook for 2 minutes, turn burrito over. Cook for 2 more minutes. We have a reheat button on our microwave that does the job, we don't bother with flipping. Work with what you've got.
The fun is not over yet. Know me well enough to know that I don't slap a burrito on a plate and call it a meal. I top the burrito with steamed vegetables - cabbage, yam, zucchini, and onion is a great start - and ranchero sauce...and avocado and maybe a bit of sour cream too.
Ranchero Sauce:
1 onion, chopped small
4 1/2 c. water
Bring to boil. Cook onion until tender.
Add:
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. granulated garlic
Cook for 2 minutes.
To thicken sauce, mix together:
1/4 c. cornstarch
2 T. whole wheat flour (you can use regular white flour, just use less)
add enough water to make thin paste
Add paste to pan, stirring constantly.
Allow sauce to cook over low heat for 10 minutes to thicken.
Layer it up! Burrito - Steamed Veggies - Ranchero Sauce - Avocado - Sour Cream.
FABULOUS!
This is one of my family's absolute favorite meals. I hope it becomes your family's favorite too!
Enjoy!
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