How about a little home cooking for a change?

o my roommate feels that occasionally I should blog about our favorite recipes to make at home.  I can't be certain if this is because she feels we should show that we actually can cook and/or do eat somewhat healthy from time to time, or just that she wants to share recipes she really enjoys, or that she's too lazy to start her own blog...anyway, I'll try it a few times and see what the response is.  So, without further delay, today's recipe is Delicious Black Bean Burritos...

The finished product

So, the recipe is a slight variation on the one you'll find linked above.  Here's what you'll need:

2 bottles of beer (we used Heineken)
2 large tortillas
2 tablespoons oil (we used olive)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper (red preferred, but we used green this time), chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon minced jalapeno peppers (we used pickled)
3 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Salt, cumin and chili powder to taste
A good salsa

Food isn't the only thing that is better sauced.  So are cooks.

Step one is to open the beer, and drink it while doing the prep.  For step two, heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet.  Once it's up to temperature, add the onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapenos, and cook for about two minutes while stirring occasionally.

Veggies are go!

Next, dump in the black beans and cook for another three minutes.  You don't have to babysit it, but keep it moving in-between sips of beer.

Everything's better with protein!

Next, add the cream cheese, salt, cumin and chili powder.  Mix everything together well over the next couple of minutes, by which time the cheese will have softened and coated everything.  Once you're there, add the cilantro.

Yes, I know it looks and sounds weird, but it works!  Trust me!

The original recipe recommends heating the tortillas in the oven while you're putting the filling together, and that's probably the way I would normally go.  My roommate prefers the convenience of zapping them in the microwave.  Anyway, spoon the filling into the tortilla and add your salsa. 

A shameless plug follows...

This time, we used green salsa from Sassy Sadie's Salsa, picked up at last weekend's Boise Urban Market, which added a kick and some very nice flavor.

You can't say I didn't warn you...

If you remember how that first picture looked, that's what you should have when all is said and done.  If not, just scroll up and look at it again.  Fini.

And there you have it.  I said that if I was going to post recipes, I'd rather do it on subjects like how to take an awesome food item and make it even better through the gratuitous use of cheese or bacon.  Or both.  But she was pushing, and I suppose variety can be a good thing.  So, what do you think?