Thursday, August 5, 2010

Healthy Weeknight Meal in a Hurry--Black Bean Quesadillas

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First of all, a huge congratulations to my Roast Mortemfriend and fellow Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen cook, Cleo Coyle, for her brand-new release (that just hit the shelves yesterday), Roast Mortem, now taking the bookstores by storm! For online ordering, just click here!

I start out every week thinking I’m going to cook healthy things all week, but then something happens to that plan along the way.

That thing is usually lack of time. :) In my head, healthy cooking takes a little longer for me to plan and execute than some of the other weeknight dishes that I prepare.

Most days, the hours fly by, then it’s suddenly 5:30 and I remember that supper needs to be served in an hour.

I do have one really quick, healthy recipe to make in a snap. You can whip these up and have them on the table in about 10-15 minutes.

175

Black Bean Quesadillas

Whole wheat tortillas
1 T Canola oil
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Shredded cheese (I like Monterrey Jack)
Fresh salsa (I just get the kind that’s in the refrigerated deli area…I used artichoke and garlic flavored…yum!)
sour cream

Mix the beans, cheese, and salsa together. Heat canola oil over medium heat in a pan. Scoop black bean mixture onto tortillas, then fold over and put on the heated frying pan.

It’s quick, easy, tasty…and healthy! I think I need to find more recipes like this…

Riley/Elizabeth
Delicious and Suspicious (July 6 2010) Riley Adams
Pretty is as Pretty Dies –Elizabeth Spann Craig
http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com

18 comments:

  1. Good Morning Riley... um Elizabeth (Liz?)

    Finished Delicious and Suspicious over the weekend and really had such a great time. More Elvis in the next book please, but other than that, what a fun read.

    I made (and just today posted) the recipe for Buddy's Country Fried Steak (made one little change in the gravy recipe). I can't wait for an excuse to make the spicy corn muffin recipe.

    And Quesadillas are so easy and fast... I make mine with leftovers, so hard to plan what to use. Artichoke and garlic salsa sounds amazing!

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  2. That recipe sounds so good and easy! I'm going to share it with my daughter who's 22 and living on her own for the first time. She's trying to eat both healthier and inexpensively.

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  3. This does sound delicious and being healthy is an added bonus. For some reason, we have never eaten black beans much until lately. This will be a great way to have them again.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  4. I'm with Dave. I want some of that salsa! I think I'm going to see what interesting leftovers I have that can be turned into quesadillas tonight! Mom is going out and the family will be looking for food. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Juile

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  5. Seriously? Did I just spell my own name wrong??

    *JULIE*

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  6. Too funny Julie

    Thank you Elizabeth for sharing this recipe. I am going to try it as I love everything in it. Now for the rest of my family we shall see. I think they might like it and it is healthy is an added bonus.

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  7. A Year on the Grill--Dave! You rock. What an awesome review and fantastic surprise for my Thursday morning! And...next book HAS more Elvis--actually has a wedding gone wrong on the grounds of Graceland. I'll have to dedicate those scenes to Dave. :)

    I love your addition of buttermilk to the recipe--I think I might be cooking it your way tomorrow night!

    The salsa WAS amazing. It would even have been better if I'd taken the time to make it homemade, but sometimes time isn't on my side!

    Laurissa--Oh, and it's DEFINITELY a cheap meal. You can make a lot of filling with the black beans and salsa...and make more than one meal out of it! Hope she enjoys it!

    Mason--Maybe they were slow to get down here? We just started eating them about 5 years ago...I guess they finally made it in the Southern grocery stores!

    Julie--And it's the BEST way to get rid of leftovers. My family has a VERY low leftover tolerance threshold, so I have to disguise it for them! And...I'm glad I'm not the only one misspelling my name! I think the whole Riley/Elizabeth thing has messed with my head.

    ~ Babs ~My 8 year old ate it, which really amazed me. I thought the beans might look too dark for her (she's funny about the visual aspect of her food!), but she actually ate every bite. A miracle!

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  8. Riley/Elizabeth - Release week for an author is always so exciting (and stressful). I'm so grateful to you for that very nice mention, reminding our followers that I have a new book out. Thank you from the heart. :)

    Your tasty dish reminds me of your excellent Mexican Cornbread Casserole, which Chef Dennis (one of the most popular pro chefs on Foodbuzz stopped by here to praise). Such great ideas for busy families -- kid friendly, easy, *and* delicious.

    And speaking of satisfying consumption - I must join Dave in thanking you for a delicious read: My faves in you excellent mystery were Lulu herself (and "the Graces"). Already looking forward to Book #2 of the "Riley Adams" Memphis BBQ series.

    Have a great day -
    Eat (and read) with joy!
    ~ Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  9. Great post, Riley. I think we suffer the same time deficiency syndrome! This is going into my
    emergency meal recipe file!!! LOL! Congrats on your book being out. It is a terrific read!

    Oh, and Julie, LOLOL. That was funny!
    Jnen ;-)

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  10. Cleo--Well,of course I've got "Roast Mortem" here--had to find out what Clare is up against this time...and to get some more delicious Cleo recipes! And thanks so much for your kind words for my Memphis BBQ...and Mexican Cornbread! :)

    Jenn--Time is NOT on our side, is it? I think I need a whole slew of emergency weeknight recipes! Tonight is one of them...I'm thinking stir fry is going to fit the bill.:)

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  11. Juile, I'm cracking up!

    I love quick and easy dinners, and black beans, too. We ought to have a 30 minute of less week here sometime. Hmm . . .

    ~ Krista

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  12. Oh, that's brilliant, Krista. We should definitely do the 30 minutes or less thing. I'm game!

    ~ Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  13. I love the 30 minute meals idea that will come in handy when the kids go back to school on the 16th.

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  14. Quesadillas. What's not to like? Great post, love the artichokes.

    And hear, hear, to all the good reading from my fellow authors.

    ~Avery

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  15. I love love love quick meals. I want to try this.

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  16. In the spirit of using leftovers and actually having the family eat them I use your quesadilla idea as a stating point...Lo and Behold..no one recognized the leftover chicken from last night!!! I shred the roast chicken, used all the bits & bobs of shredded cheese, added a can of Rotel, black beans and the last dregs of a jar of marinated artichokes and WOW!!!! Thank you so much for the inspiration and all the "Hey Mom...this is really good" (s)go to you!!!
    I am also in for a 30 minute meal a thon!!!
    nanc

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  17. Nanc - love your last-minute "mom's a hero" recipe!

    ~ Cleo

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  18. You know, you gals almost make me wish I cooked! I mean I cook, but only what I have to. I don't really COOK. I shop and eat out pretty well, though. I love to read the recipes here!

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