Full of Beans!

One day when Chase was about 7 years old, I went to pick him up from afterschool care and his teacher stopped me and said, “Well, Chase was sure full of beans today!” I had no idea what that meant, but was certain it was something gross and obnoxious, so I said, “I’m so sorry.” I later learned that it just meant he was acting silly – whew! Our Sunday night dinner was not silly, but it was literally full of beans.

I actually made two very filling entrees. The days are so hectic lately and I wanted to have leftovers for me and plenty for Chase to take home too. I also got to test some more yummy Urban Vegan recipes. I still don’t have kitchen lighting, so once again I made most of this dinner during daylight and reheated it just before serving.

One entrée was Curry Cashew Casserole, another fabulous UrbanVegan test recipe.

As you can see, it has broccoli and chickpeas, two of our favorite ingredients, in a cashew sauce. Due to tester protocol, I can only say mmmmmmmmmmmmm! I served it over baked brown rice. I have this one bag of rice I’m using up that will only cook properly if it’s baked - I have no idea why.

The second entrée was lasagna! I made Black and White Bean Lasagna in a giant to go container for Chase to take home.

It is full of wheat and soy so I didn’t taste it after it was baked, but I did taste the sauce and the cheese mixture while preparing it and they were good. And Chase loved it. It has just a bit of cilantro in it, but otherwise it’s just like regular Italian lasagna. I made the sauce with mashed white beans, whole black beans, and tomato sauce, and onions and peppers and garlic, the usual tomato sauce ingredients. Then I made a cheese layer with tofu ricotta, tofutti cream cheese, a little tofutti sour cream, and some nooch and other seasonings. I added in a layer of fresh spinach too. I have a recipe if anyone wants it. I couldn’t tell which of the entrees Chase liked best. It was probably a tie.

I had a recipe for Black Bean, Corn, and Cranberry Relish I had saved from a 1998 Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Cooking magazine. It looked so pretty in the magazine I couldn’t wait to make it.

It’s good, but I would like to tweak with the seasonings a little to get it perfect.

I also made up some broccoli slaw. I thought it would be nice to have one food fresh from the oven for dinner, so I decided to make some phyllo wraps with the slaw. I hadn’t worked with phyllo in a while. I should have moved the wraps to the plate with a spatula and not my hands.

I may have missed out on the lasagna, but I got plenty to eat. I got the leftover broccoli slaw.

And I had room for dessert! This is a piece of Urban Vegan’s Choco Coco Oat Bars – chocolate, coconut, oats – what’s not to love?!!

I have a very busy week at work and then I’m off until December 31 – yahoo! I know many of you will be taking finals this week, as will Chase, so study hard, do well, and then look forward to a well deserved break. Everyone else – stay warm!