Black Bean and Butternut Squash Burritos

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Burritos

The best burritos I’ve ever made. Also, the only burritos I’ve ever made. But quite possibly the best I’ve tasted! These burritos have a kick of heat to them (that you can control yourself) and a light sweetness thanks to the butternut squash. The filling is so good I found myself eating it on its own. Use it to sprinkle on salads or as a dip for crackers in addition to making burritos. You could also try using sweet potato or pumpkin as a way to change up the butternut filling.
Yield: 4 burritos or 3.5 cups of filling

Ingredients:
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, cubed, & roasted
1/2 cup uncooked short grain brown rice (yields: 1.5 cups cooked)
1-2 tsp olive oil
1 cup chopped sweet onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 red pepper, chopped
2 ears corn, shucked and cut off cob
1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
2 tsp ground cumin, or to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
One 15-oz can black beans (about 1.5-2 cups cooked), drained and rinsed
3/4 cup Daiya cheese
4 tortilla wraps (large or x-large)
Toppings of choice: (avocado, salsa, vegan sour cream, spinach/lettuce, cilantro, etc)

1. Preheat oven to 425F and line a large glass dish with tinfoil. Drizzle olive oil on squash and give a shake of salt and pepper. Coat with hands. Roast chopped butternut squash for 45 mins. or until tender.
2. Cook brown rice according to directions on package
3. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, add oil, onion, and minced garlic. Sautee for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Now add in salt and seasonings and stir well.
4.  Add chopped red pepper, black beans, corn and cooked rice and sauté for another 10 mins. on low.
5. When b’nut squash is tender remove from oven and cool slightly. Add 1.5 cups of the cooked butternut squash to the skillet and stir well. You can mash the squash with a fork if some pieces are too large. Add Daiya cheese and heat another couple minutes.
6. Add bean filling to tortilla along with desired toppings. Wrap and serve. Leftover filling can be reheated the next day for lunch in a wrap or as a salad topper.

Thanks to OhSheGows for recipe

Magical Chocolate Pudding

It sounds most unusual but tastes delicious. The kids will love it. Who would have thought . . .
Tastes & Treasures Cookbook has Strawberry Spinach Salad but this takes healthy to another level.

Magical Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:
1 medium banana, frozen (it makes the pudding more creamy when frozen)
Flesh from 1/2 medium or 1 small avocado
1/3 cup strawberries, hulls removed
1/3 cup kale, chopped
2 dates
2 heaped tbsp cocoa powder (raw if desired)

Directions:
Put everything in a food processor, and process. Serve immediately or allow to chill in the refrigerator first.

Thanks to bitesizedthoughts.com for recipe

Avocado, Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Rancho de La Osa has a fascinating history starting in the late 1600s. Their dinner menu is superb including Bibb Lettuce with Avocado and Pine Nuts. This recipe can be found on page 120 of Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Another salad recipe we really enjoy is this crunchy, low-calorie, delicious one below.

Avocado, Tomato and Cucumber Salad

2 cups grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
4 cups avocadoes, diced medium


2 cups cucumbers, peeled and diced medium1 cup red onion, diced small
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
salt
fresh black pepper
Lettuce (if you want)

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and top on a bed of lettuce (if desired)
Makes 8 servings

Quinoa, Corn and Avocado Salad

A delightful refreshing salad to serve anytime.

Historymaker Eddie Basha gave the Historical League his family recipe for Tabouli Salad using cracked wheat and mint. Tabouli Salad is on page 132 of Tastes & Treasures cookbook. Try both recipes.


Quinoa, Corn and Avocado Salad


Ingredients:
1½ cups cooked quinoa

1½ cups frozen corn, thawed

2 medium avocados, diced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

½ medium red onion, diced small

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Zest of 1 lime
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Sea salt to taste

Directions:
Combine everything in a large bowl and mix well.

Serves 6

Avocado soup

Nothing like Cool dishes for Hot Summer days.

Creamy and Cold Avocado Soup
Ingredients:
2 medium, ripe avocados (seeded and peeled)
2 ½ cups cold water
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
8 ounces cream
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic
4 tsp Maggi chicken stock

Directions:
Place ingredients in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Garnish with chopped avocado and cilantro; serve immediately.

Makes 5 to 6 servings.

Shrimp Salad

Bonnie Newhoff is one of the best cooks in the League. She uses fresh ingredients from her garden when she can and isn't afraid to experiment with recipes. This salad was a welcome addition at one of our meetings.

Green Salad with Shrimp page 174 Tastes & Treasures

2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons white vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 or 3 avocados, sliced
2 pounds small shrimp, cooked and peeled
1 bunch spinach, trimmed
1 head romaine, trimmed and leaves separated
1 head iceberg lettuce, trimmed and leaves separated
1 pound bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled

Combine the oil, cottage cheese, onion, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, peppercorns and cayenne pepper in a blender or food processor and process until mixed. Combine the cottage cheese mixture, avocados and shrimp in a bowl and mix gently. Chill, covered, for 8 to 10 hours. Rinse the spinach, romaine and iceberg lettuce and wrap in damp clean kitchen towels. Chill for 8 to 10 hours.

Tear the greens into bite-size pieces. Combine the greens and the shrimp mixture in a salad bowl and mix gently. Sprinkle with the bacon and serve immediately.

Serves 8 to 10