Cheap Eats - Refried Beans

Blessings Darlings!

I haven't focused on cheap eats recently, and given the economy I really should.

Tonight's dinner is going to be the Taco recipe I posted before, the half beef/half bean taco mix.  A fact I forgot about last night before going to bed - I had planned to start soaking the beans then.

But I didn't.  I DID remember them when I awoke at 1 am. And hauled my sorry butt to the kitchen to sort, wash, and start soaking two cups of dry black beans.

Have I mentioned that I tend to be my own worst enemy?  Then again, in my experience, that is true of us all.

This morning I drained the soaking liquid then pressure cooked the beans.  Since I only needed one pound of cooked beans, the two cups of dry beans resulted in FAR more beans than I needed.  Which is great, it allowed me to make refried beans.

I'm sure all y'all already know that 'refried' beans aren't 'refried' at all.  Refritos, in Spanish, means 'twice cooked'.  First the cooking to make them soft and edible, then the cooking with seasoning and mashing them to make then tasty and give them a creamy texture.

This is a VERY laid-back recipe.  I don't measure a damn thing, it's all mix/taste/adjust.

REFRIED BEANS

Several cups of cooked beans. Any type, really, except garbanzos, because then you'd be making hummus. I probably used around 3 cups this time, and the water left from cooking them.
A chopped onion. You pick the size. I used a large but not huge one.
Chili powder. I probably used  about a tablespoon
Salt, I used at least a teaspoon
Minced Garlic, I used 3 cloves this time. Mince this first - it allows antioxidants to develop
Pepper, black, I dunno how much, I ground the pepper mill for a bit.
Ground coriander seed, maybe 1/3 tsp?
Ground cumin seed, maybe 1/2 tsp?
Oregano, a dash or so.
 Some oil.

So, put 1 - 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a heavy pot.  Let it get shimmery over medium heat.  Add onions, cook 'till translucent.  Add minced garlic and seasonings, let them 'bloom' in the hot pan for 30 seconds.  Add beans.  Heat. Mash. Adjust seasonings, add water if needed. 

Serve with chips, or baked tortillas, or cut veggies. 

Frondly, Fern

Focus, Dammit

Blessings, Darlings!

I've already lost one Twitter follower over what I'm going to post here (and I sure didn't go into as much detail in 140 characters as I'm going to do here).  But, for goodness sake folks, if you are getting something out of your life - be it meat, or refined carbs, or people or whatever - then really get the things out of your life.  Stop blogging/posting/commenting on what is OUT of your life, and focus on what is IN your life.

Focusing on what is 'not in your life' keeps the stuff IN your life.

If you've gone vegetarian, stop the obsessing with other people eating meat - otherwise 'meat' is still a focus of your life.  If someone offers you some, you just say 'I don't do that anymore, thanks" and eat something else.

Same thing if you have decided to no longer let your past limit you now.  Stop pointing out the scars you got from your past.  Pointing them out - focusing on the scars - keeps the past as your organizing principle.

Friends/family keep bringing up your ex? Calmly say that you are not going to discuss that issue any more, it's over, and change the subject.  And do NOT change it to "why do you keep insisting on discussing 'this topic'.  Change it to something positive or future oriented.  Like your planned vegan meal for dinner, and how you love it (see?  not how you are 'replacing meat with X, Y, or Z).

Remember that Zen allegory:  "Older monk and younger monk walking to the next town together.  At a river, there is a woman trying to cross, unsuccessfully, so is back on the short, crying or whatever.  As monks, they aren't even supposed to NOTICE women (which I think is bullshit, and that this is an American story 'set in Asia to be cool', but, well, whatever).  The older monk, saying nothing, picks the woman up and crosses the river with her.  On the other side, still silent, he puts her down and continues on his way.

"Younger monk is fuming!  They walk for a few hours, and then younger monk turns to his companion, saying "WTF? We aren't supposed to touch women, we aren't supposed to NOTICE women, and there you were, picking one up.  You are SO full of crap!"  Older monk looks at him, and replies "I put the woman down hours ago - why are you still carrying her?"


Just do it.


Frondly, Fern