Quick Vegetarian Chili

Because I was getting bored with my usual rice and beans.

Quick Vegetarian Chili:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
½ cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp black pepper
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp taco seasoning
1 ½ cup vegetable stock
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can black beans
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 15 oz can black eyed peas
1 15 oz can kidney beans
Salt to taste

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3 minutes. Turn heat down to medium; add remaining ingredients. Let simmer for 8-9 minutes, until heated through. Top with cilantro and plain yogurt.

Serve over rice or alone.

*Worcestershire sauce sometimes has anchovies, which would technically make the dish not vegetarian. If you’re an actual vegetarian, do omit.

Serves...a lot of people. :D

--Jirafa

Spicy Black Beans

My camera hates me. Clearly it does not love black beans as much as I do. But I really really love black beans. I'm eating them as I type this up (honestly). I have cans upon cans in my pantry.

If I had to live off black beans and rice for the rest of my life, I could do it.

Spicy Black Beans

1 15oz can black beans, drained but NOT rinsed
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp taco seasoning
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
¼ cup water

Heat 2 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and bell pepper, cooking until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook an additional minute. Add beans, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, and water. Cook until beans are heated through.

Serve overtop cilantro lime rice!

Serves 3-4

Cilantro Lime Rice

I love Chipotle. My favorite part about Chipotle, whether I get a burrito or a bowl, is the cilantro rice and black beans. I'm convinced it's just rice, lime juice, cilantro, and salt. The exact combination still eludes me. This rice doesn't really taste like Chipotle rice. But it still tastes delicious.

That's good enough for me. For now.

Cilantro Lime Rice:

2 cups long-grain rice
4 cups water
1 tsp kosher salt
Juice of 2 limes
Handful of cilantro, roughly chopped

Rinse rice at least twice to get some of the starch off. Bring rice and water to a boil; let the water boil off just until little holes start appearing in the surface of the rice (let it go too long, it will burn. It’s a delicate process). Immediately turn burner to low and cover. Let rice cook for 20 minutes on the heat, then remove from heat and allow to sit covered for an additional 10 minutes.

Empty rice into a large bowl and toss with remaining ingredients.

Serves 3-4

--Jirafa

Eggy Breakfast Sandwich

This was breakfast. Tasty warm messy breakfast. I made Bisquick drop biscuits (yes, I support Bisquick. I have no urge to make a floury mess at 9 AM) and lightly spooned melted butter over the tops when I took them out of the oven. Filled with a salt-and-pepper egg over easy and added slices of cold, salty French feta.

There is almost nothing I love more than Valbreso feta.