Delicious Black Bean Burrito

We actually had these Black Bean Burritos for dinner on Easter Sunday. This Easter was not our usual Easter. For one thing it was just my daughter Liz, my husband Mike and myself.  Liz and I don't eat meat and my husband Mike was trying to eat healthier. So a salty ham was out of the question. 

Meredith with her nephew Drew.
Meredith made a Cookie Monster cake for his 1st birthday.

Our day started off with my niece Meredith who has been on a heart transplant list for months, getting a new heart the day before Easter...which was also her father's birthday. The surgery didn't go very well and there were a lot of complications and Meredith wasn't expected to make it through the day. We were woke up at 5:30am on Easter thinking that it was a call about Meredith, but it was about my Great Aunt Florence they were sending her to the hospital by ambulance. Long story short Meredith ended up making it and is doing well. She is still in the hospital and has a long way to go. My aunt ended up having a small heart attack and is doing well also. She was able to go home today from the rehab fissility. 

My Great Aunt Florence at age 98 with my cat Sam!

Needless to say know one was in the mood to cook let alone eat. So I came up with the idea of the burittos. It was fast, easy and quit yummy. It was a beautiful day so we ate outside on the deck. It will be an Easter that we will never forget.

So give them a try... I think you will like them.

                     These burritos are soooo good, you'll want to have them every night.

Ingredients

• 2 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno peppers
• 3 ounces vegan cream cheese 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven heated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through.
2. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Place onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapenos in skillet, cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Pour beans into skillet, cook 3 minutes stirring.
3. Add the cream cheese to skillet with the salt. Cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir cilantro into mixture.
4. Spoon mixture evenly down center of warmed tortilla and roll tortillas up. Serve immediately.

Scrumptious Smoothies

Me, Erin and Liz

Recently I went to visit my daughter Liz in NYC. Where we went to our favorite restaurant for a quick smoothie for lunch while we were driving to Philadelphia for a family wedding. My daughter Liz and I got the "Green Life Smootie" my other daughter Erin got the Berries-N-Cream. It was a great healthy lunch that was easy to drink while I was driving. And if you have ever driven through midtown Manhattan you know what I mean:0)

Driving through Central Park

 So when I got home I thought that I would try to make them myself. I often am very busy and need something fast and easy. But because I try to eat Vegan I need something healthy so that I can get my greens in. If you don't like the taste of kale, spinach or other greens like collard greens. This is a wonderful way to eat them (or should I say drink them). You can't even taste them. So I am sharing with you my creations, feel free to add you own ingredients. If you are not vegan you can add greek yogurt, organic milk etc...

This is my version of the Smoothies

"The Green Life"

 

Handful of Kale 

1/2 cup blueberries 

1/2 banana 

1/2 cup of pineapple 

1 cup of orange juice (you may need more orange juice depending 

on how thick or thin you want it). 

I sometimes add some baby spinach for the exra greens.

 First I use put the kale in the food processor and blend it till in is finley chopped. Then I add the pineapple, banana till it is the concistincy of baby food. Then I transfer the purée to a blender and add the orange juice to the 16 oz line on my blender or till you get the right consistency that you like. I just can't get over how good this drink is... You have to try it! Enjoy........ If you don't have a food processor try these steps in your blender it just may be a little chunkier.

Berries-N-Cream

11/2 cup of Vanilla or Plain Soy Milk (more or less depending on the consistency that you like)

1/4 cup of Strawberries

1/4 cup of Raspberries

1/4cup of  Blueberries 

1/2 banana

1 scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder

Place all ingredients into the blender and blent till smooth. This is so yummy!