Burritos

Black Bean Burritos 
via: vegetarian.about.com

This is a quick and easy basic recipe for a vegetarian and vegan bean burrito. Toss in some extra toppings such as non-dairy sour cream, homemade guacamole, salsa, black olives, or whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients:

2 cups leftover pre-cooked rice
juice from 2 limes
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 15 ounce can black beans
1/2 onion, diced
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp hot sauce, or to taste
4-6 flour tortillas

Preparation:

In a large bowl, toss together the fresh cilantro with the rice and drizzle with lime juice. Heat in the microwave on on the stove just until hot.
In a separate large skillet, sautee the onion and garlic in olive oil for 2 - 3 minutes, or until onion is soft.

Reduce heat to medium low and add black beans and remaining ingredients (except flour tortillas). Stir to combine, and allow to cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Spoon rice and beans onto flour tortillas, and add any additional toppings you want, such as vegan cheese, salsa, avocado slices, black olives or non-dairy sour cream. Wrap your bean and rice burritos and serve hot.


Spicy Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito
(via: vegweb.com)

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

    1 large sweet potato
    1/4 cup chili powder
    1 teaspoon garlic powder
    1 tablespoon cumin
    Dash cayenne
    1 teaspoon oregano
    1/4 cup diced red onion
    1 cup cooked black beans
    1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
    1/2 cup cooked brown rice
    1/4 cup frozen corn kernels  
    3/4 cup tomato sauce
    1/4 cup canned diced green chilies
    3 cups roughly chopped kale
    6 corn tortillas
    1/4 cup diced tomato
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1) Wash sweet potato and peel, if desired. Bring large pot of water to boil. Add sweet potato, cut in large chunks, and boil until tender, about 30 minutes. When easily pierced with a fork, it's done.

2) Meanwhile, combine the chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, and oregano.

3) Saute the red onion on medium-low heat in a small amount of water until soft and slightly translucent, roughly 5 to 10 minutes. Add half of the mixed spices, black beans, bell pepper, rice, corn, tomato sauce and green chilies. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Lastly, stir in the kale and heat until bright green and just wilted. Remove from heat.

4) When sweet potato is cooked, mash until smooth with the remaining half of spice mixture. Heat corn tortillas between two damp paper towels in microwave for 30 seconds.

5) Spread mashed sweet potato down the center of each tortilla. Top with the black bean and veggie mix. Roll and serve topped with diced tomato and fresh parsley.

Source of recipe: I'm big on sweet potatoes- loaded with health benefits, they're versatile and satisfying. This recipe, born from leftovers, is an easy and fresh way to combine healthy ingredients.

Makes: 6 burritos, Preparation time: 15 minutes, Cooking time: 35 minutes

Broken

I've broke it again, that feeling of when
we were friends, and then more
and you wanted to soar on the vibe
but really inside saw the end

was in sight, try all your might
to be sure that I'm not the one
I'm still on the run, I don't want to be us
not ready for trust, can't bear the pain

of breaking it again.

Burn

Sometimes I still miss you
so much I'd burn through
every bridge just to get to
a place to have you
see me as the one who
but one part of two.

But for me to be she
is not something I'll see
a place I'll never be
where I'll never stand
or hold your hand
So I burn inside instead

Ever notice how your horoscope is more interesting than what actually happens?

My astrologer of choice (the one I have a free email subscription to) is Georgia Nichols. Her predictions sound like they could actually happen and her comments always give me a chuckle. But, wow, my life should be this interesting:

Last week's prediction

All Signs

On the whole this is a mellow week. To be sure, as we approach the Full Moon on Saturday, Dec. 10, there will be a build-up of tension on Thursday and Friday. But hey, we deal with a Full Moon every month. So this is nothing to be too anxious about; we just have to be aware. The Full Moon is in Gemini, which means Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces and Virgo will feel its impact more than other signs, but everyone will feel it. It's easy to underestimate how the Moon creates constantly changing feelings. Some people show it; some people don't. (I think a lot of this depends on whether you are fear-based or beer-based.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Many of you will enjoy tweaking your digs or redecorating because you're entertaining at home and having fun times with family. No question. (You love good conversation in a beautiful room with candles, good food and drink.) However, be careful driving and walking because the Full Moon at the end of the week is an accident-prone situation and this will manifest most strongly on Thursday and Friday. Think twice before you say anything or do anything. (Did you know that the origin of the word scruples means "to hesitate?") You might save yourself some grief by pausing to have a sober second thought.


Last week's actual events
I was supposed to get a Christmas tree on Sunday but didn't, drove all the way out to Rockland from Carelton Heights to pick my daughter up from a sleepover, braved the mall briefly with her (mostly for window shopping and alot of "I can just make that" statements) and ended Sunday with a bit of tidying and finishing up school assignments. During the week I attended every class because it is the last week of review before finals week and I even made peace with the class bully. I got some Christmas decor out of storage and thought about where it could go, but that's as far as I got.

Maybe I followed her advice subconsciously and actually thought twice before speaking or drove more carefully to avoid accidents. I ::did:: renew my car insurance and the week ::was:: pretty quiet. But there was no entertaining and I didn't trip on my own feet (like I usually would).

And This week's prediction

Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, December 11, 2011

All Signs

Last month I talked about the Mars attack we're all experiencing until next autumn. (For clarification, Mars will be in one sign for eight months instead of six-to-seven weeks, which it normally does every two years.) Naturally, this means this energy (and Mars is just energy) focuses on the same place in each of our charts for months. Oy! Kinda like a stuck record or CD. Read on to learn how each sign can best handle this influence because by now you surely can feel there's a disturbance in the Force. (And yes, I know, the Great Lakes died for our sins.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This is a most curious time for you and will continue to be this way for months ahead because deep unconscious urges and ideas are bubbling to the surface now. This stuff surprises even you! Past behaviour patterns, old fears and insecurities and worries might haunt you. (What's with this?) Literally, your unconscious thoughts are surfacing! Now, here is the eye-opener: Why are these thoughts and urges hidden in your subconscious? It must be that you're denying their existence and their validity. In turn, this means you have to face aspects about yourself you would rather deny. But hey, we all do this. We all have these aspects. (I've been keeping mine in a shoebox under my bed for years.)

Ohh, a disturbance in the Force, that can't be good. What will this week actually be like? Will I be haunted by my deep unconscious urges and have to release them after years of pushing them down? Will it be on YouTube? ;)

I have a week of final exams to get through, there won't be much time for mulling over hidden insecurities and I believe I've done a good job about dealing and accepting most of my demons over the past year or two.

But let's see what the future actually brings :) It looks like it'll be interesting!

-Mickie

Poets - Tragically Hip

Spring starts when a heartbeat's poundin' 
When the birds can be heard above the reckonin' carts doing some final accounting 
Lava flowin' in Super Farmer's direction 
He's been gettin' reprieve from the heat in the frozen-food section (yaa-Aa)

Don't tell me what the poets are doing 
Don't tell me that they're talkin' tough 
Don't tell me that they're anti-social 
Somehow not anti-social enough, all right 

And porn speaks to it's splintered legions 
To the pink amid the withered corn stalks in them winter regions (euyeaaah)
While aiming at the archetypal father 
He said with such broad and tentative swipes why do you even bother (yeeaaah)

Don't tell me what the poets are doing 
Those Himalayas of the mind 
Don't tell me what the poets been doing 
In the long passes over time 

{ Instra } 

Don't tell me what the poets are doing 
On the street and the epitome of vague 
Don't tell me how the universe is altered 
When you find out how he gets paid, all right 
If there's nothing more that you need now 
Lawn cut by bare-breasted women 
Beach bleached towels within reach for the women gotta make it that'll make it by swimmin' 

Tetes a Claques distraction

Every now and then a good Tetes a Claques video will make you forget all of your problems :)  I introduced a new group of people to this episode yesterday in plant maintenance class. We were supposed to be looking at blueprints but needed a five minute brain break. My favourite is the classic Willy Waller 2006 in the Oncle Tom collection. If you even understand just a bit of French, I suggest you watch the french videos. Something gets lots in the english translation.

"Woah minute Oncle Tom"

Enjoy!

http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/le_willi_waller_vid30_serie6

http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/index.php

Kolochi or Kolochy or Kolochki (from the beloved Easterners)

Ahh, technology. My cousin Kevin saw my posting on Twitter about my plans to bake my way through this year's Christmas list and suggested the following recipe. My waistline is in big trouble soon...


(Kevin's notes: This is from my mother, probably from Annie P., my grandmother.
So its either Polish or Czech)


Kevin has an amazing grandmother, second only to mine. Annie taught me how to make perogies many years ago and her recipe is still the absolute best! To say she has spunk is a huge understatement!


Kolochki


Ingredients


1 Tsp. Sugar
1/4 cup. warm water
1 tbsp (tablespoon) dry active yeast
1 Cup milk
1/4 tsp. butter or vegetable shortening
1 beaten egg
3- 1/4 cup flour
2 tbsp melted butter
raspberry or apricot jam or poppy seeds
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar


Topping
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup flour
2 tbsp. melted butter


Preparation
Dissolve 1 tsp. sugar in warm water, sprinkle yeast over water, Let
stand 10 minutes or until frothy.


In a small saucepan, heat together; Milk, 1/4 cup sugar, salt and
butter, until butter is melted. Let cool to lukewarm.


In a large bowl combine dissolved yeast mixture and beaten egg.
Gradually beat in 1-1/2 cups flour/ Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.
Gradually  stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough,
slightly sticky. Turn dough onto floured board and knead until dough
is smooth and elastic. Place dough in large greased bowl, turning to
grease all over. Cover and let rise until dough is doubled in bulk.
(About 1-1/2 hours)


Meanwhile, prepare topping by mixing together sugar, flour, cinnamon
and melted butter until it resembles coarse meal. Set aside.


Punch dough down and cut into 24 - 30 pieces. Roll each piece into a
ball, place on greased baking sheet. Cover loosely, let rise for 1
hour.


After they have risen, make a small indentation in each ball, brush
with butter. Fill with about 1/2 tsp. jam or poppy seed (Which ever
you like) Sprinkle with topping.


Bake in 375 F oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.


(Thanks so much.  Easier to read yours than mom's.  One change you should make to your typing is the yeast.  It is not 1 pkg or 1 tsp but 1 tbsp (tablespoon))