Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Quesadillas

It's always easier to fix dinner when you know it's going to be good. And by good I mean mouth watering - deliciously satisfying - can't help but eat more then you should - comfort food type of good.

Tonight's dinner was just that. Good.

This afternoon as I mentally planned tonight's meal and raked by brain for what was at home in my cupboards and in the refrigerator, I knew it had to be something quick and easy as we had somewhere to be later in the evening. Working off of a recipe over here I improvised with the ingredients I had on hand and came up with these spicy chicken and bean bean quesadillas for a quick and easy dinner for tonight (sometime I want try these southwest chicken wraps, they look mouth watering!).

These quesedilla's are absolutely the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal and as I already mentioned they are mouth watering good.

To start with I heated my black beans in a saucepan and then added some chicken, jalapeno and then to give it a little kick and some real good flavor I seasoned the mixture with some spices. Smells so good!

Then I get my pan going with a little bit of olive oil and these really good flour tortillas from Trader Joes (believe me, they are the best flour tortilla shells I have ever had).

I top the shell with a little cheese, followed by my bean and chicken mixture. I top all of that with a little avocado and green onions and place my second shell on top and give it a little squish.

Once my bottom shell has browned and the cheese is starting to melt I carefully flip the whole thing and cook for a few more minutes.

The end result... good food.

Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Quesadillas

Ingredients:
Tortilla shells (I like to use flour unless we are in a gluten free mood and then I use corn)
Two boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
One can of black beans, drained
One cup of shredded mixed cheese blend
One large avocado, diced
1/2 of a jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup green onions sliced thin
Juice from one lime
Garlic powder
Chili powder
Cumin
Salt
Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Place black beans in a small saucepan on low heat. Make sure to stir and keep the heat low to avoid burning.

2. To the black beans add, diced chicken and diced jalapeno. Stir to combine.

3. Season the bean & chicken mixture with garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt and the juice from one lime. Stir to combine. (I don't really measure the seasonings, so just give them a few shakes and you'll be good to go)

4. Meanwhile, on medium heat drizzle a small amount of olive oil in a large skillet. Once the oil is warm, place the tortilla shell in the skillet and cover the shell with a layer of cheese.

5. Spoon some of the bean & chicken mixture on top of the cheese. Top that with some green onions and avocado.

6. Place the second tortilla shell on top and when the bottom tortilla starts to brown flip the entire quesadilla over until the second shell is browned and the cheese is melted.

7. Once the quesadilla is finished cooking remove from pan, cut into pie shapes (or any shape). Serve with sour cream, guacamole, or just eat plain like we did tonight! Yummmmm!

You can make this with any variation of ingredients, tomatoes, sausage, corn, spinach, kale, the list goes on! You really can't mess this up, well.... maybe you could.

I hope you enjoy! Happy cooking!

Scroogey

I enter into this time of year with mixed emotions. On one hand I love the decorations and the music and all the pretty things that the Christmas season brings. But, on the other hand I loath the busyness and the rushing. I step into this time of year with hesitancy because I know myself. I know that I'm easily stressed, quickly frustrated and too often just a little Scroogey.

There's really nothing that I can do to slow any of it down. The countless Christmas parties and running errands and Christmas shopping and gift wrapping, it will all happen regardless of my attitude.

This morning I was reading in Ephesians. I was on auto pilot as my mind wandered to lists of things to be done and making other mental list of projects yet to come. I kept catching myself wandering away from the words in front of me and would scold myself for my lack of focus. "I just need a word from you Lord", I pleaded, "please!"

I turned the page in my Bible, already reciting the well known passage in my head as I did so. "...and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Ephesians 4:23. The word "renewed" quickly caught my attention and my soul seemed to sink into the hope of it's meaning for me. I so desperately need renewal, and not just for a season, but always, everyday.

I dwelt of this verse today and it's conviction in my life. As my husband reminded me, it is the Holy Spirit in my life that does the renewal in me. I can't just "be less stressed" I have to have the fruit of the Spirit do it's work in me.

I don't want to be scroogey and stressed out! I want to be more like Jesus! The only way I'm going to have more of the character of Jesus in my life is if I spend time with Him. Why do I forget these simple things and allow my life to be dominated by self and all it's ugliness?

Here is to stop trying to do it on my own and seek the Lord to fill me up with His Spirit each day!

This evening Ryan and I enjoyed another wonderful gluten free dinner + dessert!

I adapted the following recipe from Emeril Lagasse for a gluten free, dairy free meal and it was so good, the kind of good that you want to lick your bowl clean! Yum!

I've been looking forward to the first butternut squash I would roast this year and I couldn't have picked a better recipe to try it out on.

First I peeled and cubed my butternut squash, drizzled it with olive oil, a little salt and pepper and roasted them in the oven.

The roasted squash gets pureed and added to the browned smoked sausage and onion.

I also cooked wild rice and added that to the pureed squash, sausage, onion, corn and chicken stock.
The finished product looks much better then this photo.... sorry.


Two bowls later Ryan and I enjoyed this amazing dessert that my friend Fallon posted on her blog. So good! Gluten & dairy free berry crisp!


This is Ryan finishing up his bowl of dessert. p.s. he's really into basketball right now... can you tell?

He is so cute!

So you have to try both of these recipes! They won't let you down. Promise.

Smoked Sausage, Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients (I cut everything in half)

2 medium butternut squash, about 3 to 4 pounds, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
12 cups chicken stock
2 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 cup wild rice
3/4 pound smoked sausage, such as kielbasa, cut into 1/4-inch
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 1/2 cups half-and-half (I substituted canned coconut milk)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the squash with 1 tablespoon of the oil, salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until tender. Remove from the oven and cool completely. In a blender or food processor, puree the squash with 2 cups of the chicken stock. Puree until smooth and set aside.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring 4 cups of the stock and 1/2 cup of the chopped onions to a simmer. Stir in the rice and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally with a fork. Remove the rice from the pan and cool. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, add the sausage and brown for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of onions and corn. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 6 cups of stock and squash puree. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. Stir in the rice and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the half-and-half and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley and serve.

Here is the link to Fallon's berry crisp.

http://lifewithfourbrothers.blogspot.com/2011/11/berry-crisp.html

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!