8 Simple Meals pt. 2

Here's four more tasty treats that are great for anyone who is short on energy and time.

1. Black Bean Soup

This is quick and easy and really good:

1 can black beans (check the ingredients) - some grocery stores carry Cuban style black beans which are great for this recipe because they are cooked with onions and green peppers and have a little more flavor

Fresh cilantro, to taste

Cumin, to taste

Sea salt, to taste

1 tomato, chopped

1 half avocado, chopped
Lime

Heat up the black beans on the stove and add cumin (I use alot), cilantro and sea salt until it has the desired taste. Top with the tomato, avocado and some fresh lime juice and serve. You could also serve this dish with a little goat cheese or sour cream and salsa. YUM!

2. Greek "tacos"
For this recipe all you need is hummus and some veggies. My suggestion is that you use the hummus recipe from my earlier post or buy your hummus from a local restaurant (still checking the ingredients). I can't find any hummus in the store that doesn't contain the preservative "cultured dextrose."

This is one of my favorite quick meals especially for those days when I crave something light and fresh. I take a few leafs of romaine lettuce, spread on some hummus, and top with veggies. My favorites are cucumbers, avocado, and green onions. This would be good with sprouts, shredded zucchini, or kalamata olives. I usually start with three and keep making them until I feel full. :)

3. POPCORN!!!

Popcorn done right can be so much more than a snack. Forget those microwavable popcorn packs (we'll talk later about that microwave), we're going old school with this recipe. Get some popcorn kernels, you don't need much because a little goes a long way. Try 1/4 - 1/2 cup at first (you can always make more). Grab a large pot... DO NOT forget the lid... I, of course, have learned the hard way from this mistake (it's kind of fun at the time, but a big clean up haha). Melt some oil in your pot on medium heat and then add your kernels and cover. Let them pop away until the popping slows. Don't wait too long for all the popping to stop, you don't want burnt popcorn... not the best smell or taste for that matter.

Okay... now here's the fun part. Butter and salt... I'm OVER it. Here's some new ideas to spice up your popcorn. My favorite is to sprinkle on Nama Shoyu (gluten-free soy sauce), fresh squeezed lemon juice, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. SOOOO good! You could use any of your favorite herbs or spices. Another delicious option is to sprinkle on Brewer's or Nutritional Yeast (a b-vitamin packed nutritional supplement that adds a cheesy flavor). So, get creative and enjoy. This is a great meal for those times when you're sick of the conventional meals and want something different and fun... great for camping trips and fun for kids (I know this because I am a perpetual child and I have a blast with this one).

4. Southwest Salad

This meal is my old faithful... I never tire of it. This is great to make especially if you have leftover rice laying around. All it take is lettuce or spinach and toppings of your choice. I usually use rice, tomatoes, green onion, avocado, and black beans. Sometimes I also throw on some corn and goat cheese. For a crunch add some tortilla chips. The thing that ties it all together is the salsa. Use your favorite salsa as the dressing and enjoy. Garnish with some cilantro and lime. Yum!