Lauras Choice

A Blog from Laura Kubicki

Easy Bean Burritos

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Easy Bean Burritos

From: Laura Kubicki: Adapted from Dee Mochnick, CA

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of whole wheat tortillas
  • 1 14.5oz can of fat free refried beans
  • Dash of hot sauce (optional)
  • 6oz grated cheddar (or so)
  • 1 C finely diced tomatoes (or chunky salsa)
  • 2 C finely shredded lettuce (I used Romaine)

Delicious additions if you have the time to get fancy

  • Seasoned ground turkey, chicken, or beef
  • Mexican rice
  • Sliced black olives
  • Diced sweet onions
  • Diced jalapeños
  • Corn
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Diced avocado or guacamole
  • Salsa 
  • Sour Cream
  • Squeeze of lime juice

Directions:

  1. Spread refried beans on about half of a whole wheat tortilla.  Sprinkle with 1 TBS or so of cheese
  2. Put bean and cheese tortilla on top of a dampened paper towel on a plate.  Cover and microwave 30-45 seconds just until the beans are heated through and the cheese is melted
  3. Sprinkle with hot sauce (optional), lettuce, and tomato
  4. Roll into a burrito by folding the edge with the beans about a third of the way over.  Then fold up a portion of the bottom to make a pocket to hold the fillings inside.  Finish by rolling over once more and you’re done!
  5. Serve with extra salsa, hot sauce, sour cream if desired.  Other fun sides we use are corn chips or Mexican rice.  Enjoy!

Weeknight White Chicken Chili

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Weeknight White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 TBS Olive Oil
  • 1/2 C Diced green pepper
  • 1/4 C Diced sweet onion
  • 2 lbs Chicken Tenders chopped into 1/2″ pieces (or any leftover or frozen rotisserie chicken you may have on hand)
  • 2 packs of White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix ( I favor McCormick’s)
  • 2 cans 15.5 oz Great Northern Beans (or any white beans you prefer)
  • 1 can 14.5 oz Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 can 7.75 oz Black Beans1 C good beer (you’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor this adds)1/2 tps Chilis in Adobo sauce (or to taste – adds great heat and smokey flavor)
  • Juice of 1 lime

Ideas and Additions

  • Try serving over whole wheat elbow noodles for Chili Mac, or use any pasta you may have on hand.
  • Side suggestions:  Corn Chips, Corn Bread, or Saltines and a Garden or Green salad
  • Optional Toppings:  Low Fat Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yoghurt, Shredded Cheddar, Chopped Cilantro, Diced Avocado, Diced Sweet Onions, Lime wedges, Hot Sauce

Directions:

  1. Heat oil in chili pot over medium heat.  Add peppers and onion and cook till soft.
  2. Add chopped chicken and cook till no longer pink.  Or if you’re adding leftover cooked chicken, just warm it up.
  3. Add white beans with juice, drained black beans and tomatoes, adobo sauce, beer, and seasoning mix.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-30 minutes (depending on how much time you have to let the flavors deepen).
  5. Stir in lime juice and serve with desired sides and toppings.  Add a splash of beer or water to desired consistency if you think it’s too thick!
  6. Enjoy!

Quick Tips!

  1. Dice up peppers and onions in advance and store in freezer.  Then just grab and cook for faster prep times!
  2. Save extra Chilis in Adobo sauce in freezer to use later.
  3. Shred cheese from a block and keep in freezer to save prep time and keep away from wood pulp included as a preservative in preceded cheeses.
  4. Grind up lime rinds in garbage disposal to freshen sink