black beans

salads

Quinoa Salad Is Healthy but Full of Satisfying Flavor

If I find myself with a free Sunday night, I like to prepare some meals for the week.

If I find myself with a free Sunday night, I like to prepare some meals for the week. Basically I'll pick one dish, be it a soup or salad, that I can bring to work for lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Since I'm continuing with my ongoing efforts to eat healthy, last Sunday I threw together a hearty and filling black bean and quinoa salad.

This flavorful, slightly spicy salad is packed with vegetables. It's seasoned with a sherry vinegar, soy, and lime vinaigrette. It proved to be a satisfying midday meal, but it would also make an excellent side dish to fish or chicken. Check out the protein-rich recipe when you read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey Chili

On a cool Fall evenings, I often crave chili.

On a cool Fall evenings, I often crave chili. While a pot that's simmered on the stove all day is intensely flavorful and satisfying, a quick week night rendition filled with aromatic spices, black beans, and chunks of turkey, is equally gratifying.

This recipe employs cooked turkey, but, if you prefer, feel free to substitute rotisserie chicken or ground turkey.

Don't forget the condiments — sour cream, fresh lime wedges, and grated cheddar cheese enhance the comforting richness of the dish. To serve this rapid chili to your family, get the recipe and read more

salads

Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken, Rice, and Black-Bean Salad

Who says chicken salad has to involve globs of mayonnaise and chopped celery?

Who says chicken salad has to involve globs of mayonnaise and chopped celery? This recipe gives the classic salad a Southwestern-style twist.

Cooked shredded chicken is tossed with rice, black beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, and green onions. A quick ground cumin vinaigrette flavors the mixture. For a hearty variation, serve the salad in warmed tortillas sprinkled with cheese.

This salad is also delicious the next day, making it perfect for back-to-school lunches or late Summer picnics. Get the recipe and read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey and Black Bean Tostadas

Tonight, serve your family a meal that comes together in minutes.

Tonight, serve your family a meal that comes together in minutes. This tostada recipe is great because it's full of flavor and texture. There's a satisfying crunch thanks to the tostada base, a crispness from the filling black bean and corn salad, and richness provided by the cheddar cheese and sour cream. Although the ingredients are classic Tex-Mex, the extra veggies make it healthier than nachos. The recipe calls for turkey, but feel free to substitute shredded chicken or ground meat. For the wildly simple method, read more

recipes

Go Meat-Free With Black Bean Burgers

A couple of weeks ago I catered a dinner for a group of hungry hikers.

A couple of weeks ago I catered a dinner for a group of hungry hikers. The crew spent a Saturday trekking the 14-mile round-trip up and down Mount Diablo and the meal was the shining light at the end of the walk. My sister, the leader, requested that I prepare a hearty yet meat-free vegetarian meal that included black beans. Always up to the challenge, I decided to make black bean burgers. After scouring the web for an exciting recipe, I chose this Mexican-inspired one from Gourmet.

Although I tweaked it a little, the final burger is meaty, satisfying, and incredibly scrumptious. I took the time to make fresh salsa and guacamole, but feel free to use store-bought substitutes. Whatever you do, don't leave out the condiments, they add to the burger's overall flavor. This makes a stellar vegetarian-friendly backyard dinner, so get the recipe, and read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Cumin Chicken With Black Beans

Take a flavorful trip south of the border with this cumin and cayenne scented chicken dish.

Take a flavorful trip south of the border with this cumin and cayenne scented chicken dish. Pounded chicken breast halves and canned black beans make this meal come together in a flash.

First the chicken is seared, then the black beans are sautéed with vegetables in the pan drippings. Sound delish? Wait till you taste this healthy and provocative dish! To get the recipe, read more

Come Party With Me

Come Party With Me: Cinco de Mayo — Menu

Just because Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year doesn't mean you can't entertain!

Just because Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year doesn't mean you can't entertain! I've got a delicious menu that consists of fast, yet flavorful Mexican dishes. Invite friends over for an early celebration this weekend, or wait until Tuesday evening to party on the actual date.

Start by taking some help from the store and purchase your favorite brand of guacamole and fresh tomato salsa. Supplement these dips with a quick homemade black bean salsa seasoned with garlic and jalapenos. For the main course, serve chicken enchiladas with creamy green sauce. If you're really pressed for time, make the enchiladas with a rotisserie chicken.

While the enchiladas bake, throw together a scrumptious side dish in the form of a festive watermelon and papaya salad with tequila vinaigrette. Sound delicious? Wait until you read the recipes — your mouth will be watering! Check them out now: read more

recipes

Monday's Leftovers: Black Bean Croquettes With Salsa

So you've got leftover legumes in the pantry.

So you've got leftover legumes in the pantry. Don't pigeonhole canned beans by turning to the same staples, like chili, tacos, or beans and rice; instead, venture out of your realm to try another low-maintenance dish, like these black bean croquettes, topped with zesty salsa fresca.

Not only are they a nice break from the monotony of Winter stews, but they're also healthful and inexpensive to prepare. To make this recipe in under an hour, read more

recipes

Sunday Slow Cooker: Chipotle Black Bean Soup

This weekend, I'm hosting a book club in my home, and a few of the attendees are vegetarians.

This weekend, I'm hosting a book club in my home, and a few of the attendees are vegetarians. I was torn about what to make for them, but I think I've been sold by this luscious black bean soup. It's tinged with the smoky aromas of chipotle peppers and cumin, and I'm excited that I won't have to worry about frantically making it before the event, since my slow cooker's got it covered! To make this your next meal, read more