(not) Refried Beans

Serves: 4-5

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 10 min

Total:  20 min

Ingredients

1 tin of red kidney beans or black beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 carrots, cut into small pieces
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 large onion, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup plain tomato sauce (or more)
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. American chili spice
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat oil and saute onions.
2. Add carrot pieces and saute until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add spices and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add beans and let cook for another minute.
5. Remove pot from the burner and mash contents with a potato masher until desired consistency is reached.
6. Add tomato sauce, stir and return pot to the burner.  Heat until warm.
7. Serve immediately with your favourite fillings inside of hard taco shells or tortillas, or serve as a dip with corn chips. 

Reflection

Reflection.  Magazine paper collage, 2011 (6"x9").

Gallery

Gallery.  Magazine paper collage, 2011 (5"x7").

Taco Filling Ideas

Here are some ideas of fillings for your taco, burrito or tortilla.

Diced fresh tomatoes

Main Fillings - Meat and Veggie
ground beef
shredded chicken
tomato rice
(not) refried beans
baked sweet potato chunks

Vegetables
avocado
black olives
jalapeno

Jalapeno and green onion pieces

fresh tomatoes
shredded lettuce
corn
red onion
green onions
red, orange, yellow or green peppers
cilantro

Dairy
sour cream
grated cheese

Sauces
salsa
guacamole
hot sauce

Tomato Rice

A rice dish with a hint of tomato, onions and garlic. Serve as a side for meat or fish, or inside a burrito!

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 min

Cooking Time: 45 min

Total:  60 min

Ingredients

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
5-6 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
a bunch of fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
1 cup basmati rice
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp. salt

Directions

1. In a medium pot, heat oil.  Add onion and cook until translucent and golden, about 3-4 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add tomatoes and parsley, and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Wash and rinse rice and add to the pot.  Stir until combined with sauce.
4. Add salt and bit of vegetable broth, about 1/4 cup.  When liquid starts to evaporate, add more broth.
5. Cook for 25-30 minutes, or until rice is soft.
6. Serve garnished with fresh parsley, as a side dish for meat or fish, or as a burrito or taco filling.

Recipe from wordflux.wordpress.com

Banana Nutella Wraps

A simple recipe with where banana and Nutella are wrapped in a tortilla. Guaranteed to satisfy your snack cravings.

Serves: 1

Prep Time: 3 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  3 min

Ingredients

1 small soft tortilla, white or whole wheat
1/2 banana, peeled
1 tbsp. Nutella

Directions

1. Spread Nutella across the tortilla.
2. Place the banana on the edge of the tortilla, and tightly roll.
3. Serve immediately, either as a long roll, or cut into smaller pieces.

Recipe from nutella.ca

Cityscape II

Cityscape II.  Magazine paper collage, 2011 (5"x7").

Cityscape

Cityscape.  Magazine paper collage, 2011 (5"x7").

Bean "Liver" Spread

Thank you Granny for this recipe!

Serves: about 2 cups

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 15-20 min

Total:  30 min

Ingredients

3 cups green beans, washed and trimmed

1 large egg
1-2 tsp. oil

1 onion, chopped

salt and pepper

Directions

1. Steam beans, either in a steamer basket or in the microwave, until tender, about 5-8 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan and saute onions and garlic until brown, about 4-5 minutes.
3. In a pot, place the egg and bring lightly salted water to a rolling boil.  Cook until egg is hard boiled, about 8-10 minutes.  Run under cold water and then peel.
4. Place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until desired texture is reached.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Transfer to a bowl or dish, and keep refrigerated until serving.  Serve with fresh bread or pita, or use as a sandwich filling.

Treekle (Fruit Trifle)

This spectacular fruit trifle is a memorable dessert that's actually really easy to assemble.

Serves: 8-10

Prep Time: 30 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total: 30 min

Ingredients

1 angel food cake, prepared

1 large tin peach slices, in syrup

1 tin mandarin oranges, drained

1 box strawberries, hulled and sliced

1/2 pint blueberries

2 cups custard, homemade, bought (Devon custard) or powdered (will require milk and sugar)

250 mL whipping cream

1 tbsp. sugar

2-3 tbsp. Sherry, ice wine, Contrau (optional)

Directions

1. Cut cake into medium sized pieces and arrange at the bottom of a large glass dish.
2. Open tin of peaches, draining syrup into a glass or bowl.  Mix sherry with syrup and spoon over cake, just enough that it soaks into the cake.
3. Using about a third of the fruit, make a layer on top of the cake. The fruit does not have to completely cover cake.  To decorate, press fruits against the inside of the glass bowl.
4. Spread custard over layer of fruit.  If using custard made from a powder, make sure that custard is at room temperature.
5. Make another layer of fruit on top of custard.
6. Whip cream and sugar until peaks form, about 2-3 minutes.
7. Spread layer of whipped cream over top of the fruit.
8. Using remaining fruit, decorate the top.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until serving.

Fruit Explosion Oatmeal

A big bowl of oatmeal bursting with your choice of fresh fruits. Start your day off right.

Serves: 1 large serving

Prep Time: 5 min

Cooking Time: 8-10 min

Total:  15 min

A green apple, cherry, banana and  blueberry fruit explosion!

Ingredients

1/3 cup large flake rolled oats
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 1/4 cups milk or soy milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 tsp. lemon juice
variety of fresh fruits cut into small pieces (as much or little as you like)
garnish with maple syrup, brown sugar, honey

Fruit Ideas
apples, pears, apricots, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, bananas

Directions

1. In a pot set over medium heat, combine oats, chia seeds milk, cinnamon.  Stir often, until mixture becomes thick and oatmeal is cooked, about 8-10 minutes.  Stir in vanilla and lemon juice.
2. Note: add harder fruit pieces such as apples or pears when you begin to cook the oatmeal.  Add softer fruits such as berries or banana when the oatmeal is nearly cooked.
3. Garnish with maple syrup, honey or brown sugar and serve.

Lavender Fields

Lavender Fields.  Acrylic on canvas, 2011 (6"x6").

Hay Fields

Hay Fields.  Acrylic on canvas, 2011 (6"x6").

Tulip Fields

Tulip Fields.  Acrylic on canvas, 2011.  (6"x6") 

Pumpkin Spice Muffin Tops

Just the top of the muffins! Pumpkin spice with a cream cheese icing.

Serves: 20-24 muffin tops, freezes well.

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 15-17 min

Total:  30 min

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground clove
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup natural pumpkin puree
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup walnut or pecan pieces

Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered icing sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.  Make a well in the middle.
2. Add eggs, sugar, apple sauce, vanilla and pumpkin puree, and beat with an electric mixer until combined.
3. Fold in raisins and pecans.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and scoop spoonfuls of batter onto the sheet.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 325F for 15-17 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
6. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
7. To make icing, beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until combined.  Slowly add icing sugar while beating, until desired consistency is reached.  Stir in vanilla and decorate!

Lightly adapted from joyofbaking.com