November 15, 2013

Bean and Cheese Chimichangas

I found this recipe online and after tweaking it a few times, I am proud to call it a masterpiece!


Ingredients

12 tortillas
2 egg whites
1 can refried beans
1-2 cups shredded cheese (depending on personal preference)
1/2 can Diced Tomatoes and Chiles
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

Place beans, tomatoes, and cheese in a pot and heat until cheese is melted.
Warm up tortillas.
Separate egg whites and whip with a whisk.
Put beans in the middle of a tortilla, sprinkle with more cheese and brush egg whites all around the beans.
Fold top and bottom of tortilla, wrap one side of tortilla securely, close with other side of tortilla.
Fry chimis by placing in pan of oil on medium heat. Heat both sides until golden brown.

Serve with salsa, sour cream, ketchup, or anything else you want to experiment with.

Microwave Score: -- haven't tried it, but not sure it would work out well, we make enough to eat at one time.
Freezer score:-- again, haven't tried, but not sure it would work well.
Rob score: 5.0 He LOVES these, he hates when I buy frozen burritos now, because these are way better.
Overall score:4.0 Not sure they would work to reheat, but they are easy to make, and really yummy!


Spicy Black Beans and Rice

Alright this is a recipe that Kelly and I found in college, and it continues to be a favorite for me. Pretty easy to make, very filling, and seriously yummy.



Ingredients

1/2 cup onion
4 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbsp oil
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can Mexican styled stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 cup salsa
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cups rice

Instructions
In a saucepan fry onion and garlic in oil over medium heat until tender, but not brown.
Stir in beans, tomatoes, salsa, salt and cayenne pepper.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.

Let sit for 5-10 minutes, will thicken slightly. Serve over rice mounds.

Microwave score: 5.0 I really think this microwaves well. I've never been able to tell a difference between the first day and the 3rd day
Freezer score: 5.0 This freezes AWESOMELY. Just make the rice fresh each time.
Rob score: 4.8 He really likes this dinner, as long as I don't make it every single week :)
Overall score: 5.0 I love love love this recipe!

Maquel's critique: This is an easy to make recipe. It isn't something I crave, but it's a nice winter meal. With the hot rice and spicy salsa you can't help but feel warm when you eat it.

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

One of my favorite parts of fall is all the yummy food! I found this recipe and it is SO DELICIOUS. Plus ridiculously easy, how can you go wrong with that?!
Ingredients

8 apples, peeled. cored and sliced thinly
1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Instructions

Generously spray a crock pot with non stick cooking spray, line with apples. 
Melt butter, and mix with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.
Cover the apples with this mixture, spreading evenly.

Every crock pot is different, but cooking on low worked way better for me then high. I did low for about 5 hours. If it looks like the sides are starting to caramelize, it's done. This was SO delicious, I really can't even say how often we make this, because it's embarrassingly often. :) Enjoy!

Microwave Score:4.0 This is amazing for breakfast the next morning! The "crisp" is a bit soggy, but still just as delicious.
Freezer Score: Never tried, but I bet it would work!
Rob Score:5.0 Like I said, we make this A LOT
Overall Score: 4.8 Aside from the reheating soggy habits, this is amazing :)