Sunday, June 14, 2026

Roasted Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Spinach Freezer Burritos

Ingredients:

Oven-roasted sweet potatoes:

5 lbs large sweet potatoes, cubed

3 T Olive Oil

1 t Accent or MSG

1 T salt

1 T black pepper

1 T smoked paprika

1/2 T onion powder

1/2 T garlic powder

1 T cornstarch


Meats:

1 shredded rotisserie chicken

 2 lb ground beef, cooked with taco seasoning per instructions


Veggie Mix:

3 T olive oil

2 large Onions, chopped

2 green peppers, chopped

1 lb mushrooms, sliced

4 jalapeños, finely diced

2 T minced garlic

4 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 10 oz cans Rotelle diced tomatoes and chilies

2 lb bag frozen roasted corn or regular corn

1/4 c or more to taste, Badia Taco Seasoning

2 T dried parsley

2 T dried cilantro

2 T smoked paprika

2 T onion powder

2 T garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste


Quinoa or Rice:

5 cups quinoa or brown rice to cook according to package directions

chicken broth in the amount required for quinoa or rice, likely 10 cups


Additional filling:

4 lbs pepper jack cheese or other melting cheese, shredded

2 lb baby spinach


100 burrito-sized tortillas

parchment paper, optional

gallon freezer-sized bags


Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss cut sweet potatoes with olive oil and seasoning powder mix. Spread onto three sheet pans leaving plenty of space for optimal browning.  Roast for 15 minutes, toss, and return to oven until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside about five more minutes. Set aside.

Prepare quinoa or rice according to package directions but substitute chicken broth for water. When cooked, remove from heat and cool in a bowl or sheet pan; set aside. 

Shred chicken and cook beef. Set aside.

Heat oil in large pan with high sides. Sauté onion, peppers, garlic, and mushrooms in a couple batches, until mushrooms release their liquid and it cooks off (I divided this into two large pans to cook). To each large pan, add two cans of drained black beans, one can of Rotelle, one lb of frozen corn, and seasoning, divided between the pans. Cook until the liquid is gone and remove from heat.

Divide your sweet potato, veggie, and quinoa mixtures into thirds. Use 1/3 to assemble vegetarian burritos, 1/3 of the mixture combine with chicken, and the last 1/3 combine with the ground beef.

Fill your tortilla with 2/3 cup of the mixture, add 2 T of cheese, and 1/4 c of fresh spinach. Roll the burritos up tight. You can roll them in parchment paper if you like. We don't. 

Place five in a freezer bag and lay flat in the freezer. Keep going until you have made 100 burritos! Be sure to label your bags with the date and type of burrito.

To heat; wrap your frozen burrito in a damp paper towel and heat for 1 1/2 minutes on each side.






Thursday, November 27, 2025

Thanksgiving 2025

Recording our plans for Thanksgiving 2025 here:


Cook's Illustrated Sous Vide Turkey

Bone-in Ham  

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Corn and Hominy Pudding- gonna use TJ's Frozen Roasted Corn 9x13

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/corn-and-hominy-pudding

Broccoli Rice Casserole 9x13

Ingredients
  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and well-drained
  • 1 cup uncooked Minute® White Rice
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup (cream of chicken or celery works too)
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ pound Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes (about 8 oz or 2 cups cubed)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping, optional)
  • ½ cup crushed potato chips, Ritz crackers, or French's fried onions (for topping, optional) 
Instructions
  1. Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch (or 2-quart) casserole dish with cooking spray.
  2. Cook Aromatics: Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Create the Cheese Sauce: Stir in the condensed soup and milk until combined. Add the cubed Velveeta cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  4. Combine Ingredients: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the uncooked Minute Rice, the well-drained cooked broccoli, and pepper. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
  5. Assemble and Bake: Pour the mixture into your prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly.
  6. Add Topping (Optional): Sprinkle the additional shredded cheddar cheese and your chosen crunchy topping (like crushed crackers or French's fried onions) over the top.
  7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
  8. Serve: Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving. 
For alternative ideas and visuaRolls

Persimmon Pomegranate Salad with Endive and Pecans

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/endive-salad-with-pomegranate-seeds-persimmon-pecan-vinaigrette

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Browned Butter Crispy Sage and Rosemary

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/savory-sweet-potato-casserole


Mama Stanberg's Cranberry Relish-definitely worth the hype

https://www.npr.org/2006/11/23/4176014/mama-stambergs-cranberry-relish-recipe


Roasted Veggie Medley


Mushroom and Gruyere Bread Pudding by Ina Garten white casserole

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023558-mushroom-and-gruyere-bread-pudding


Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Best Mac Salad

 This is a great salad to take for potlucks or to serve for a large crowd. This makes enough to serve 20 people, but the recipe can be doubled or tripled for larger events.


2 pounds of macaroni

4 stalks of celery, finely chopped

2 medium onions, finely chopped

2 green bell peppers, finely chopped

1/2 c carrots, shredded

Dressing:

16 oz mayonnaise

1 c sugar

1/4 c mustard

1/2 c white vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil macaroni in large stock pot with salted water according to package directions.  Rinse under cold water.

2. Cut vegetables into small, pieces. Can be done ahead of time.

3. Stir dressing ingredients together.

4. Add vegetables to dressing and stir well.

5. Add pasta and stir well. Cover and chill for at least two hours, up to 48 hours.

6. Stir before serving.

Note: If I will be transporting the salad or making it ahead of time. I will make the dressing in a jar and add half to 3/4's at the time I mix it up and the remaining dressing just before serving.

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Thanksgiving 2024

 Recording our plans for Thanksgiving 2024 here:


Cook's Illustrated Sous Vide Turkey

Ham bone 

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Corn and Hominy Pudding- gonna use TJ's Frozen Roasted Corn

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/corn-and-hominy-pudding


Persimmon Pomegranate Salad with Endive and Pecans

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/endive-salad-with-pomegranate-seeds-persimmon-pecan-vinaigrette

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Browned Butter Crispy Sage and Rosemary

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/savory-sweet-potato-casserole


Mama Stanberg's Cranberry Relish-definitely worth the hype

https://www.npr.org/2006/11/23/4176014/mama-stambergs-cranberry-relish-recipe


Fresh Cranberry Relish


Roasted Veggie Medley


Wild Mushroom Stuffing

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13562/wild-mushroom-stuffing/

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Things to take to a picnic for meat eaters and vegetarians

 https://www.seriouseats.com/grilling-yogurt-marinated-chicken-kebabs-with-aleppo-pepper-recipe

Very good!

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_butterflied_leg_of_lamb/

The best lamb marinade ever!

https://plowingthroughlife.com/easy-macaroni-salad-for-a-crowd/

I reduced the sugar to half a cup and it was plenty. This salad was exceptionally delicious.

I bought shredded carrots.

  • 2 lbs macaroni
  • 2 cups or 16 ounces of mayo
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons or 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon pepper (or a bit more)
  • a few shakes of Accent
  • 1 1/2 cups onion
  • 4 stalks or 2 cups of chopped celery
  • 2 cups or 1 1/2 green bell peppers
  • 1/2 cup grated carrots

https://vanillaandbean.com/smoky-bbq-baked-beans/

These were soupy in the crock pot. Maybe baking in the oven would be better.

https://seonkyounglongest.com/vegetarian-japchae/

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Potatoes

 2 lb frozen boxes chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed out

3 cans artichoke hearts, chopped

1 jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, optional

1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened

2 cups sour cream

2 cups mayo

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 egg, beaten

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 c shredded Italian cheese blend, divided

1 c Parmesan Romano cheese, divided

1 pkg frozen hashbrown potatoes

Combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, cream of chicken soup and egg. Add seasoning. Add 3/4 of bag of Italian cheese blend and 1/2 c Parmesan cheese. Separate the spinach and add to mix. Stir in artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir in potatoes. Put in large buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle with remaining Italian cheese blend and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.


Monday, February 20, 2023

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 lb pkg of chopped frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed out

2 cans of whole artichoke hearts

1 8 oz block of cream cheese, softened

2 c Duke's or Hellman's mayonnaise (must be real mayo)

2 c sour cream

2 tsp of minced garlic

2 tsp of Italian seasoning

1 tsp of black pepper (or more)

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 pkg 6-Cheese Italian shredded cheese, divided

1 c Parmesan/Romano powdered cheese, divided

Pre heat oven to 350. Combine cream cheese, mayo, sour cream in a large bowl. Mix in minced garlic, black and red pepper, and Italian seasoning. Chop one can of artichokes and cut the other can in quarters or 1/8ths and add to bowl. Separate the spinach with your fingers and sprinkle on the top and combine. Stir in 3/4s of shredded cheese and 1/2 c of Parmesan/Romano cheese. Spread in 9/13 pan. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top. Bake for 20-30 minutes until bubbling. Broil for 5 minutes to brown the cheese. Serve with veggies or tortilla chips and salsa.

 


Pandora