Loaded Nachos

Loaded Nachos!

Here is a nacho recipe that will really fill you up and taste great. All you need is a cookie sheet of any size (just depending on many nachos you want to make) and an oven!

Ingredients:

Chips

1 can of black beans

1 can of corn

1 or 2 tomatoes, depending on much tomato you like

1 red, orange, or yellow pepper

Avocado

Salsa

Cheese! (cheddar or mexican blend)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray and lay out one layer of chips

3. Drain the black beans and evenly sprinkle as many as you want over the chip layer. Do the same with the corn.

4. Cut up the tomatoes, pepper, and avocado, and sprinkle each one evenly over the chips.

5. Spread salsa evenly over the chips and the rest of the ingredients. 

9. Finally sprinkle as much cheese as your little heart desires. 

10. Place in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted, and enjoy!

The photo at the top is the final product. I am trying to get in the habit of taking pictures of the cooking process - stick with me :)

--shaina

Veggie Soup

Veggie Soup

With all of the ridiculously cold weather we've been having, I decided it was the perfect time to make soup. This one is cheap, easy, healthy, and completely vegan. 

Ingredients:

Noodles of your choice. I like udon because they are similar to

 the noodles in classic chicken noodle soup.

Vegetable stock. Pre-made broth works, too.

Soup vegetables. There are many varieties of frozen mixed vegetables. 

Feel free to use whichever you prefer.

Extra firm tofu- about 4 ounces.

Preparation

The first step is to add 3 cups of water to a saucepan over medium to medium-high heat.

 The veggies go in first since they are frozen and require the longest cooking time.

I added about half the bag or 8 oz.

Next is the soup base.

It should turn the stock a nice yellowish color. Don't forget to taste it to make sure you've added enough. I ended up adding about 8 teaspoons, 2 more than the container recommended, since the frozen vegetables add a little extra water.

Now the veggies just need to cook. Put the cover on let and them soften for a while. Remember to stir them and taste them to check for softness.

While the veggies are cooking, the tofu can be prepared. I used about 4 oz. I first cut it in half, then squeezed it in paper towels to get as much water out as possible.

Then I cut it into ~1/2 inch cubes.

Once the vegetables are soft, the tofu and noodles can go in. I broke my noodles into thirds since they're rather long.

Now the noodles just need to cook. Udon noodles only take about 5 minutes, but other types of noodles will take around 10 minutes. Just follow the directions on the package.

The finished product. I also added a little parsley and tarragon just for color and subtle flavor.

Recipe:

3 cups water

6 teaspoons vegetable soup base 

*Vegetable stock equal to three cups can be substituted for water and soup base*

8 oz frozen mixed vegetables

4 oz tofu

~2 oz noodles

Tarragon and parsley to taste

1. Put water in a saucepan over medium to medium-high heat

2. Add vegetables

3. Add soup base

4. Allow vegetables to cook until tender

5. While vegetables are cooking, squeeze the water out of the tofu and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

6. Once vegetables are cooked, add tofu, noodles, and herbs

7. Allow noodles to cook

8. Enjoy =]

Makes ~3 servings 

** Remember that soups get better after they sit. While it is delicious immediately, it will be even better after sitting for a few hours or overnight.

<3 Molly

Mini Bean Burritos

(why cant I get this damn picture to rotate rawr)

These mini bean burritos are quite simple and quick to make! They are so quick that I actually forgot to take any good pictures of the process so that's why there is only the final product and the ingredients shown. Don't worry I will get the hang of remembering to take more pictures :)

You will need:

- mini burritos (hell even big burritos if you got them!)

- salsa (however spicy or non-spicy you prefer...I'm a mild girl)

- your favorite kind of shredded cheese (I love sharp cheddar)

- black beans

- corn

- lettuce (shredded or leafed -- which ever you got)

- red, yellow, or orange bell peppers

Any brands will do, being the poor college kid that I am, I have the cheapest stuff, and most of it isn't even fresh... haha but I've got the rest of my life to worry about the freshness of my veggies, not today.

Literally the simplest steps ever:

1. Open the beans and corn, scoop as much as you plan on using into a bowl and microwave them until they are hot, usually like 45 seconds, depending on how many you have.

2. Wash and slice your pepper into thin strips. 

3. Microwave the burritos for like 10 seconds if you like them warm and a little squishy-er, otherwise just use them out of the bag.

4. Put the beans and corn on the burritos, spoon as much or as little as you like.

5. Add as much cheese as your little heart desires...my heart desires a lot.

6.  Add the lettuce, a slice or two of pepper, and spoon some salsa on there.

7. Fold up your little burrito of goodness and enjoy!

Feel free to make any variations, I pretty much made it up on the spot with the junk I had! Comment with any questions or suggestions!

--Shaina :)
**disclaimer: this is my first blog ever so sorry if its confusing, ugly, boring, unorganized, or any other negative thing. i promise i will get better - stick with me**