Vegan Bean & Barley Chili

Ingredients
1.75oz package of chili seasoning
4-10oz cans of rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies (do not drain)
2-8oz cans tomato sauce (no salt added)
15oz can chili hot beans (do not drain)
15oz can great northern beans (drained)
15oz can red beans (drained)
15oz can black beans (drained)
15oz can corn (no salt added, drained)
16oz bag pearl barley
6 cloves minced garlic
1 large onion (diced)
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
10oz (aprox. 4) fresh habanero peppers,diced
2.5oz (aprox. 1) fresh chili pepper, diced
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (more or less to taste)
1 Tbs. cumin
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
In a 5 1/2 quart or larger stock pot cook pearl barley according to package (aprox. 45mins.)

In a second pan caramelize diced onion in extra virgin olive oil.  When almost complete add diced habanero peppers, diced chili peppers,  and diced garlic. 

Once pearl barley is cooked add onion mixture to pan and add all remaining ingredients, mix well.  Simmer on low, stirring occasionally for approximately one hour.  Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips (all optional).
 
Serving Size: 2 cups (recipes makes roughly 9 servings)
Calories: 402.5
Fat: 3.5 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 1595 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 86.25 grams
Fiber: 19.5 grams
Sugar: 11.25 grams
Protein: 17 grams

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadilla

I recently went to a restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor called Sava. This restaurant is a vegetarian restaurant and I must say it is AMAZING. I ordered their Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadilla. I was unsure about this combination at first and hesitant to order it, but I am glad I did. It was delicious and if anyone visits downtown Ann Arbor I would definably recommend it. Last night though I was craving something yummy for dinner and while rummaging through my cabinets remembered this dish. I threw some ingredients together and came up with a tasty alternative.

Ingredients
4 burrito sized flour tortillas
210g (approx.) roasted sweet potato with skin removed
1 tsp. vegetable or olive oil
1/2 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. cumin
Juice from one lime wedge
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/2 jalapeno pepper diced
1/2 cup 2% cheddar cheese shredded
Directions

Place sweet potato in the oven and bake at 400' for 40-60 mins. When tender remove potato from the oven and let cool. Remove the insides of the potato into a microwave save bowl and mash them with a fork or a potato masher. If the potato isn't mashing well place in the microwave for a few additional minutes until tender enough to mash.

Heat oil in small saute pan. Add onions. Stir occasionally. Once onions have become slightly caramelized remove from heat and add them to the bowl with the mashed potato. Add black beans, cumin, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Continue mashing until all ingredients are well blended.

Place 1/4 of the mixture onto each tortilla. Spread evenly over 1/2 of the tortilla. Top with 1/8 cup shredded cheese. Fold tortilla over an place in a fry pan sprayed with cooking spray. Cook both sides until lightly brown.

Cut in wedges and serve with sour cream and/or salsa.

Serving Size: 1/2 recipe (2 Quesadilla's)
Calories: 506.25
Fat: 15.5 grams
Cholesterol: 20 milligrams
Sodium: 1280 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 82.5 grams
Fiber: 11.5 grams
Sugar: 5.25 grams
Protein: 15.5 gram
Points: 11

Souffle Omelet with Balsamic Strawberries

I found this recipe while browsing for something new to try (recipe here). The picture looked amazing. When I got down to the ingredients list I have to admit I became scared. I thought to myself that this was either going to be an amazing recipe or a disgusting one. I was pretty convinced that it would not be something in between. I bought the ingredients to make it, and it took a few days for me to build up enough guts ( I really was expecting it to be gross) but to my surprise it was AMAZING !!! The egg is really light and fluffy. The sweetness reminded me more of a big pancake then an egg. This recipe reminded me of eating a dessert like strawberry shortcake. I will definitely be making this again.

Ingredients

8 oz. fresh strawberries, steams cut off and quartered

1 tablespoon fresh mint or 1 teaspoon dried mint (more or less to taste)

½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided

2 large eggs, separated

¼ teaspoon Vanilla

1 tablespoon butter (use 2 tablespoons if you are making two omelets)

Directions

In bowl, combine strawberries, mint, vinegar and 1½ teaspoons of the granulated sugar; set aside. In small bowl, whisk egg yolks with vanilla and remaining ½ teaspoon granulated sugar for 1 minute or until slightly thickened. In bowl of electric mixer, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. With rubber spatula, fold yolks into whites until no streaks remain. In 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt butter. (To make 2 individual omelets, use 6-inch nonstick skillet.) When butter is sizzling, add egg mixture, spreading it into an even layer with spatula. Cover pan; reduce heat to low. Cook omelet 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown on bottom and barely set on top. Spoon strawberries down center of omelet; with spatula, fold omelet in half over filling. Slide omelet onto plate; dust with confectioners’ sugar

Recipe makes 2 servings

Serving Size: 1 omelet
Calories: 196.5
Fat: 9.25 grams
Cholesterol: 210 milligrams
Sodium: 120.5 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 17.25 grams
Fiber: 2.25 grams
Sugar: 13.5 grams
Protein: 7 gram
Points: 4

Chili Omelet

I have been craving a chili omelet for days. After looking up the nutrition facts for restaurant omelets, I decided I would make this at home. I made the perfect black bean chili recipe so I decided to give this a try. It turned out great. Now I only wish I could wake up early enough to eat this for breakfast every day.

Ingredients

1 cup 100% liquid egg whites

½ cup black bean chili (see recipe)

¼ cup shredded 2% cheddar cheese

Cooking Spray

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Spray a small frying pan with with cooking spray. Heat on medium heat. Once the pan is warm add liquid egg whites. Cover pan and cook approx 5 minutes until egg is fully cooked.

Once egg is cooked add chili and cheese, fold egg over and serve.

Serving Size: 1 recipe
Calories: 350
Fat: 8.5 grams
Cholesterol: 20 milligrams
Sodium: 1092 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 28.5 grams
Fiber: 7.5 grams
Sugar: 1.5 grams
Protein: 39 gram
Points: 7

Black Bean Chili

I love chili and with fall right around the corner I wanted to make a chili that was high in protein but low in fat. I stumbled across some recipes for black bean chili. Every recipe looked great and after tweaking some that I found I ended up with a flavorful yet versatile chili. Ingredients

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 chopped white onion

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

3 cans (14 ½ oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (12 ½ oz) crushed tomatoes with juices

3 tablespoons canned chipotle salsa (more or less to taste)

1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

fresh cracked pepper to taste

Directions

In a 4-quart sauce pan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in olive oil until they start to brown (approx.8 mins.)

Add beans, crusted tomatoes, and cumin. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Stir in cilantro, chipotle salsa, rice vinegar, and cracked pepper.

Recipe makes 11 servings

Serving Size: ½ cup
Calories: 145
Fat: 2.5 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 487 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 23 grams
Fiber: 7.5 grams
Sugar: 1.5 grams
Protein: 7 gram
Points: 2

Pico De Gallo

I created this recipe because I love Pico de Gallo but because I dislike raw onions and peppers I thought this was a recipe I could improve on. This recipe is really good. I really enjoyed the balance of sweet and spicy. Steaming the peppers and onions really brought out their sweet flavors. I could eat this recipe by the spoonful.

Ingredients

3- 4 diced tomatoes (aprox. 4 cups)

1 finely chopped white onion

1 cup fresh chopped cilantro

2 finely chopped banana peppers (or any in season sweet pepper)

1 finely chopped green bell pepper

1 finely chopped Cu banelle pepper (or any in season sweet pepper)

1 lime, zest and juice

1 teaspoon sugar

fresh cracked pepper to taste

Directions

Dice onion, banana peppers, green bell pepper, and cubanelle pepper. Once diced place into a microwave steamer and place in the microwave for 5 minutes or until onions and peppers are slightly cooked. Remove and let cool.

In a large bowl mix onions and peppers with the remaining ingredients.

Stir well and chill approximately 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe makes 14 servings

Serving Size: ½ cup
Calories: 17
Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 3.5 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 4 grams
Fiber: 1 grams
Sugar: 1.5 grams
Protein: .5 gram
Points: 0