Tacos. We love tacos. The boys devour them. They love the crunchy mess. They love the flavors. They love to see how full they can make them. And they love to eat them on their special taco plates. (My mom gave us some for Christmas...GREAT gift!) I love the concept of making tacos in the oven...and melting the cheese over the top of the meat. Then piling on the … [Read more...]
Chicken and Bean Enchilada Casserole
Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a quick meal idea for a loved one who is sick, recently had a baby or maybe had surgery. The easiest and simplest way to handle these situations is to have something ready in your freezer, a meal you didn't have to spend any extra time preparing, because you just doubled up a simple recipe like an enchilada casserole. This … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Baked Beans
I love baked beans. They are an essential part of our summer barbecues and picnics. But who wants to turn on their oven for several hours on a hot summer day? Not me! So I cheat and make my baked beans in a slow cooker. This slow cooker baked beans recipe is really easy to make. It is made of common pantry staples, but if you do not have molasses on hand, replace it with … [Read more...]
Seven Layer Tostadas
This is one of those "it just came together" meals... A few weeks back, we took the kids downtown during Fiesta week to go to the River Parade. They were serving some delicious tex-mex options in the section where our seats were located. They had fajitas, as well as bean and cheese tostadas. The kids had never had a tostada before, as I rarely made them in Ohio because the … [Read more...]
Baja-Cali Black Bean Salad
So this was my lunch yesterday and today. And I'm thinking about whipping up another bowlful this weekend to serve with some yummy grilled chicken (if it warms back up enough to be pleasant for eating outdoors! Brr!). And whipping up is probably not the best verb here...because there is no whipping involved. Just stirring really. So maybe I'll stir up another bowlful this … [Read more...]
Pinto Beans with Peaches and Bacon
Before you wonder off to your next stop online...hear me out on this one. I know it sounds strange. Taking our boys out for dinner is an adventure. We don't go out often, but when we do it's usually with family, so we at least have a 1 on 1 ratio at the table. We divide and conquer, which makes the whole dining experience a little easier...but they are still wiggly. … [Read more...]
Black Beans with Mango & Cilantro
As promised, more cilantro recipes! We love love love these black beans. I've made them here and there over the years, and have "rediscovered" them...now that we live in the land of really inexpensive cilantro and super delicious mangoes. My oldest son isn't the biggest fan of beans, but he seemed to enjoy these. I'm not sure if it was the added flavor from the cilantro, or … [Read more...]
White Bean & Corn Chowder
{$5 Dinners - Rice and Beans Budget Board} Who ever said beans were bland, anyways? Seriously y'all. There is so so so much flavor packed into this chowder. There's just something about a homemade white sauce with the flavors of the veggies and the stock. So rich, so simple...just down home, "roux goodness," y'all. We enjoyed this meal, as you see it. No other bread, … [Read more...]
Mexican Stack-Es, Also Known As…
{Pin It to your favorite recipes board!} I'm not sure what took me so long to figure these out. I recently chatted with my friend in OH who made the "Polynesian Buffet" for us (now, years ago...where does the time go!). After our chat, I was remembering that dinner and decided that we needed to do something similar here, but with all the fixins for tacos. We shall … [Read more...]
Lentil Stew with Pita Chips
{$5 Dinners - Rice and Beans Budget Board} I discovered lentils when we lived in the Dominican Republic. I don't think I'd eaten them ever in my life before moving down there. At first, I wasn't too sure about them...as they way we cooked them while in the DR, they were still fairly bland. But I've since learned that if you give them enough flavor and … [Read more...]