For the Chipotle Burrito Bowl Lover: Black Bean Soup Over Cilantro-Lime Rice!

I have been trying to branch out with my recipes lately and what better place to browse and search?  I'm sure you can probably guess...one of my best friends, Pinterest!  So I have been experimenting with a few this week one of which I am in love with that I made just this evening.  Nate and I are kind of obsessed with Mexican dishes and I love the fact that it's easy and cheap to make.  We also are in love with Chipotle, a chain "Mexican fast food" that is soooooo good and healthy!  I would probably be there weekly if my wallet would allow but we try to make an appearance maybe once a month or so.  When I found this recipe that I made tonight, I was in my glory.  It is a Chipotle inspired "Black Bean Soup over Cilantro-Lime Rice" and tastes very similiar to the burrito bowls that you would get there.   Eli ate a huge portion compared to his normal dinners so I'm guessing that's a thumbs up to make it again :)  I always have my cabinet stocked full of black beans because I like to put them in a lot of recipes which came in handy for this one.  Without further ado...here is the recipe!

Black Bean Soup over Cilantro-Lime Rice:
Adapted from: http://iowagirleats.com

Ingredients: 
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped  (Recipe called for 1/2 onion minced but I like more and I chopped into small pieces)
2 garlic cloves (I used 4 because mine were small...all a matter of preference)
salt and pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder (I used at least 1/2 to 1 tsp more than it called for because I went according to taste)
1/4 teaspoon cumin (I used at least 1 tsp because I went according to taste)
2 cans seasoned black beans, drained but not rinsed (I used Trader Joe’s Cuban-style beans)
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup chicken broth (I used water with a couple boullion cubes)
4-5 dashes green Tabasco sauce (I used Sri Racha hot sauce because I didn't have any Tabasco.  I put 2 to 3 small squirts in since Eli was eating with us. I kept it very mild.)
Toppers: sliced avocado, salsa, sour cream

For the Cilantro-Lime Rice:1 cup long grain white rice (I used left over rice in the refrigerator from our meal last night)
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
juice of 1/2 lime
3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, then saute until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute for no more than 30 seconds and then add the chili powder and cumin.
2. Add drained beans, water, and chicken broth. Bring soup to a boil, then lower heat slightly and simmer for 15 minutes or so. At this point you can do one of two things.  Either scoop 2 ladle-fulls of soup into a blender or food processor then blend until almost smooth or do what I did and use a quick-prep hand immersion blender.  I received this as a gift for Christmas and it is the best invention.  I used to use my food processor but found it to be so messy and a huge pain in the middle of making soup.  This quick-prep immersion blender blends it right in the pot without making a mess.  I highly recommend it :)  If you are using the immersion blender, blend about a 1/3 of it in the pot. Add desired amount of hot sauce at this point.  I let my soup simmer longer than it said because I think soup always tastes better the longer it simmers since the flavors have more opportunity to blend with all the ingredients.  I simmered it for at least 45 minutes.
3. For the Chipotle-Lime Rice: While soup is simmering, bring water, oil, and salt to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice, place a lid on top, then turn heat down to medium-low and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir to fluff then add lime juice and chopped cilantro.
4. To serve, scoop cooked rice into bottom of bowls then top with hot soup. Top with sliced avocado, salsa, sour cream, etc. I also put a little Mexican cheese on top.

This recipe is amazing and you won't be sorry that you tried it!  I also made a dish the other night that I didn't document but I would recommend it.  It is Pesto Shrimp with Snow Peas over Quinoa.  Eli devoured this one as well and it was even better heated up the next day.  I would eat the snow peas again by themselves with the pesto, lemon and garlic on them.  That in itself would be a great side dish to something else.   Any Chipotle lovers out there...let me know what you think if you try this recipe! Enjoy!!

Cauliflower Breadsticks...Just Like the Real Thing!!

I have been wanting to try these cauliflower breadsticks for a while, but have not gotten around to it till now.  I had half a head of cauliflower left in the fridge and I knew if I didn't use it soon, it was going to go bad.  I couldn't let that happen so it forced me to make something with it and so glad I did :)  I've been trying to come up with some simple healthy lunch alternatives for Eli and myself and this is super easy and amazingly healthy which seems like an oxymoron when you taste it!  I ate these breadsticks with a soup I made a couple nights ago, but you could eat them by themselves with marinara sauce or make a pizza out of it.  I think this week I'm going to try a pesto version of the recipe.  I semi followed this recipe but didn't measure completely and it still came out amazing! You are going to be amazed at this cheesy, chewy goodness!:)

Recipe: (adapted from keyingredient.com)

• 1/4 of a large head of cauliflower "riced" ( I used 1/2)
• 1 tsp of olive oil (I used a little more)
• 2 garlic cloves (I used 2 large cloves and it was plenty with the amount of cauliflower I used.  I think this is a matter of preference)
• 1 egg (white) lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (I didn't measure this...I measured with my eye :)
• 1/2 tsp. dried italian herb seasoning (I used basil because I was out of Italian season blend)
• marinara sauce for dipping (optional....I dipped mine in the soup I was eating)   

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.  I used a 9x13 pan for mine and lined it with foil and cooking spray.  I patted down the cauliflower mixture in the center and made it into a rounded/square shape about 8x8 size.

Now you need to "rice" the cauliflower which you do with a cheese grater.  With a 1/4 head of a cauliflower you will get approximately 1.5 cups lightly packed of the riced cauliflower.  I used 1/2 a head so mine was slightly more and I'm sure it will very according to the size of the cauliflower head as well.  The cauliflower will look somewhat like when you grate cheese.  Place it in a microwaveable safe bowl and microwave it till its soft.  I put mine in for about 5 minutes and it was perfect.  You do not need any water in the bowl!

While you are waiting for the cauliflower to soften, heat the olive oil in a small skillet over low and add your garlic until softened.  Once the cauliflower is softened, add the garlic/oil mixture, the lightly beaten egg white, Italian seasonings and the mozzarella cheese .  Stir together, mix well and spread it into the pan.

Bake until it starts to turn golden brown.  It was approximately 30 minutes for me.  Remove it from the oven, flip it over (I used a spatula for this and slowly lifted each corner before flipping it entirely.  If its too large to do that, cut it into sections before doing so) and if you like put more cheese on top.  I used some Parmesan, but you could use more mozzarella too if you desired.  Put it back in the oven for another 10 minutes or so until cheese melts and turns golden brown.

Let cool slightly and cut into pieces.  Enjoy with marinara sauce!

Let me know if any of you end up trying this and how it comes out!  I was completely impressed with how it tasted and even it's appearance.  It looked and tasted like a breadstick in my opinion!  This is a great way to be sneaky and get your kids to eat some veggies as well :)   Enjoy!

Any other cauliflower recipes out there that you have tried?  I'd love to know!!

It's Breakfast Time: Banana Oatmeal Pancakes!

Goodmorning from the Wrigley household!  All of you in New England are probably stranded in this morning so why not eat something yummy?:)  I decided to try a new recipe and it was quite the hit.  Who doesn't like bananas and peanut butter together?  This household loves it and I got a thumbs up from the little man so we will be making them again soon!  He just said, "Did you just make these mommy....they are really good!"  And to top it off, they are vegan too!

Recipe:
*1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
*1/2 cup whole wheat flour...(I used a little less)
*2 tsp. baking powder
*1/2 tsp sea salt
*1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk (you can use whatever kind of milk you like.  Nate and I drink coconut milk around here now and we love it! I make smoothies for Eli and I every morning and we use the coconut milk...they are amazing!)
*2 ripe bananas

Directions:
*Blend all the ingredients in a blender, except the bananas.  Now add the bananas and blend till they are smooth.  I used our Ninja blender and it works magically plus it has a pour spout that works perfect to pour onto the griddle or frying pan.  

Lightly oil the pan with olive oil or coconut oil and get the pan hot.  Pour mixture onto pan in pancake formation.  Once pancake starts to bubble on one side, flip over.  

 
Makes about a dozen medium size pancakes.  Put a little peanut butter on it by itself or add some maple for extra flavor.  They are so good and fluffy!  They are a treat and taste like a dessert.  Enjoy and stay safe and warm today!  

Happy Saturday, Blessings to you all!!

Timeline and Cost of Kitchen Renovation...

Our kitchen is still a work in progress but we have accomplished a lot on our checklist so far.  We are definitely DIY amateurs, which means we fail and learn about our mistakes along the way.  Construction is neither one of our fortes but Nate is a great hubby and will tackle whatever I ask even if he has no clue what he is doing when going into the project.  Since their wasn't any structural revamps to be done, it made the process for us a little easier.  Here is the timeline of our kitchen renovation.  We did it in steps to keep to our budget.

Timeline:

May 2010-  Purchased new stainless steel appliances from Sears.  We were eligible for the new homeowners credit at the time so we were able to use some of that money to purchase these.  We shopped around and found we were able to get the best price for what we wanted at Sears.  We bought the Kenmore Elite floor model of our side by side refrigerator and it saved us over $1000.  We paid $1800.  It had a slight dent on the front but nothing that noticeable in comparison to the money we saved.  We bought a Kenmore gas convection oven for $999, Kenmore dishwasher for $400 and we went with a Whirlpool microwave for $250, since it was less expensive compared to the Kenmore.  This was our largest purchase in the kitchen and we wanted to make sure we bought quality so they would last for many many years to come.

OLD Appliances...

 

New Appliances...

Total for appliances: About $3800 (Largest splurge in the kitchen)

June 2010-  Had a gas line put in for our oven.  When we moved in, it was electric and I knew that I wanted gas when looking for a home.  I find you have more control when cooking with gas and it cooks everything more evenly.  This was a $200 investment and so worth it! 

October 2011- Painted cabinetry white and bought new hardware (handles).  We waited a year for this step because I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what I wanted since it's not a project I want to revisit any time soon.  It was a whole weekend project plus 5 days of letting the cabinetry cure.  We hand sanded every piece of cabinetry.  If it's not glossy it just needs to be roughed up a bit so that the primer and paint will adhere properly.  On a Friday evening we took all the cabinetry off, removed hardware, sanded and wiped down after the sanding process with mild soap and water.  On Saturday morning we primed the back sides of the cabinets first and the entire kitchen.  We set up saw horses in the basement and that was our workshop for the weekend.  We let the primer sit till it was dry and then did the front side.  Later that day we did two coats of white on the back sides and the whole kitchen.  On Sunday we did 2 to 3 coats on the front side and another coat in the kitchen.  Now comes the waiting game.  We let the cabinetry set and cure for at least 5 days before hanging the cabinets and putting hardware back on.  We didn't want to jeopardize our work after all those hours we invested into it.  We did all of this with small 4 inch foam paint rollers.  I bought inexpensive hardware at the time with the intention of upgrading in the future.  We spent $1.00 per knob and reused the old hinges.  I greased up the hinges and wiped them down with an oil spray.  They look good as new after!  Total for hardware: $25.00!

We used Benjamin Moore primer and paint from our local Ace True Value Hardware.  Looking back I wish I had gone with their Advanced line.  We went with the one recommended by the paint specialist which was called Regal Select and their All Purpose Primer.  Advanced was a fairly new product at the time and he wasn't as familiar with it.  From tutorials I have read, it acts like an oil based paint but is in fact water based.  If painting your kitchen, I would highly recommend this.  We bought a gallon of primer for $40 and a gallon of paint in a Pottery Barn color called "Decorators White."  It has a gray undertone when held up next to other white paint swatches which is what I wanted.  We bought sand paper designed for cabinetry and paint rollers for $10.  I had a $5 coupon off on Benjamin Moore paint so I ended up paying $45.  Grand total for paint supplies:  $105.00!

February 2012- Purchased a hanging light pendant from West Elm(here) for over our table in the kitchen.  This was one I had been eyeing for a while and with a 30% coupon, I couldn't pass it up.  It was originally $149 and we were able to get it for $120. 

May 2012-  Purchased granite for our countertop.  This was an investment we knew we wanted to make from the very beginning.  It was just a matter of time.  We decided that each year with our tax return we would put it to good use and do a project in the house that would help build towards equity in the home.  Fixing up the kitchen was our top priority.  We researched counters and went months and months looking at colors and deciding on the type.  I really wanted Quartz with recycled glass but it was way out of our budget (around $80 to $100 sq foot for the colors I liked!!!!).  So we continued to search and found that granite was actually one of our more reasonable options.  I knew I wanted a white base that mimics marble.  We found a local store that had a slab out front which I fell in love with.  It had silver/gray veins flowing through it and I believe the name was called "River White."  I was sold, plus the price was amazing compared to the big box stores.  Little did we know that the process of waiting for it to be installed would be at least 4 months later.  We were able to get it for $55/square foot and normally this exact same stone is $89/sq foot at Home Depot.  We knew it was a deal and didn't want to pass it up.  It was quite the run around dealing with this company but we kept reminding ourselves that we were getting a great price! 

June 2012- Purchased Farmers Sink from IKEA.  This was one of my dreams on my checklist when owning a home.  I knew that if we were having new counters installed now was the time to take the plunge since they would be cutting the granite to fit.  I researched farmer sinks for months and found they were extremely expensive.  When walking around at IKEA last Winter one of the sinks caught my eye.  It was a modern version of the farmers sink for a fraction of the price.  I found that the cheapest sink at Lowe's for a one basin was a minimum of $600.  I was able to purchase a 2 basin Farmers sink at IKEA for $299!!!!!!!  I wanted to do a dance right then and there in the store.  I have to say, this sink makes a statement in our kitchen and it's usually the first thing people comment on even before the granite.
Total for sink with taxes = $325.00

September 2012-  Granite and sink installed and new faucet.  The installation was included in the granite price.  On the day of installation, my hubby and his dad removed our existing counters and the company we purchased them from installed the granite and sink.  This was one thing we knew we were not cut out to do ourselves.  Sadly, just this week we read in the newspaper that the company we purchased our granite from is under investigation because the owner (who was in our home) is no where to be found and he has left many hanging without an answer.  Thousands of dollars have been paid for work that has not been done.  My heart feels terrible for those who are waiting for an answer and there may never be one.  Now we realize why the granite was so cheap.  It is a sad story and we sit here thankful that he didn't take our money and run as well.  Our granite has a story to tell now!  It was at least $1000 less than if we had bought it elsewhere so we could justify spending that amount.  And I believe it ups the value of our home as well so it is money well spent.  Granite Total= $2600.00 Faucet= $200.00 (from Lowes).

October 2012-  Removed old fluorescent lighting over the bar and spray painted the handles/hinges black. Replaced drawers with updated pulls which I had been wanting to purchase for a while.   I bought Rustoleums Matte Black spray paint and painted the handles and hinges.  Handles look fantastic and hinges look great except for the wear from the cabinets opening and closing everyday.  I don't mind the brass showing through because it gives it an old/aged look.  At some point I'd like to buy new hinges, it was just too expensive at this point in the reno since they are at least 3.00 a pop and I need 2 for each door.  That definitely adds up and someday I will replace them.  For now, I am pleased with the results. I sprayed the hinges with 3 coats on one side, let it  cure for 2 days and then did the other side.  it really makes it all flow together now!  Total for spray paint and new drawer pulls= $30.00.

November 2012- Installed Subway Tile Back Splash. $140.00 (See Here).

Grand Total for Kitchen Renovation to date = $7500.00. This # may seem like a lot but I think we were able to save on many areas and in the long run I believe it has brought the value of our home up.  Plus, it is where we spend most of our time, so for us it was worth EVERY penny! You really can transform your kitchen on a small budget.  I watch these renovation shows on HGTV and kitchens are always the priciest redo in the home.  I am happy with the price we paid.  We may not have been able to do it all at once, but in the long run, we are thankful and so is our wallet :)

*To do projects left on the kitchen checklist:

1. Crown molding on the top of cabinetry to make the cabinets look custom built (have the molding, needs to be installed).
2. Molding and wooden feet on the bottoms of cabinetry to make it look like custom furniture.
3. New light over the bar.
4. New light over the sink.
5. New black hinges.
6. Barstools for bar.
7. Wood Farmers table for eating area and bench/chairs
8. Natural fiber/jute rug for eating area

The above list is certainly a continued work in progress and as we put money aside we will tackle the next item on the list.  Will continue to post updates on our kitchen journey and if you have questions on any details of the process please feel free to contact me!  Any kitchen plans in your future?

Brightening up the Kitchen with Subway Tile!

Happy New Years everyone!  

Now that we are back from some time off with the hubby, I will be blogging more often.  In this post I will give you a step by step guide to the process of our back splash.  This was a project that for little money (compared to what it could have been), made a HUGE difference in the overall feel of the space.  I have been looking at ideas for the past year trying to make sure I knew exactly what I wanted.  I knew once this puppy was up, it was never coming down.  I loved a lot of the recycled glass looking tiles, but for some reason I kept coming back to the simple white subway tile.  The one thing that's a plus is its neutral, classic and pretty much timeless for most people. It actually made the kitchen feel bigger because the white now extends from the counter to the ceiling.  All the white could seem very sterile and cold, but I think in this case, it did the complete opposite.  It feels bright, airy, fresh, and super happy.  Now onto the good stuff.   We made sure we set aside an entire weekend for this process because there were several steps along the way and we encountered a couple hurdles.  We sent the boy off with the grandparents and tiled the weekend away!

Materials Needed:

• Cement board (for those who are tiling over a painted surface.  This was recommended by the associate at Lowes.  We used 2 pieces, around $10 each).
• Subway Tile (comes in a box for $22 and we used 2 boxes.  There are 100 tiles per box at 22 cents each.  We had a few to spare at the end even after some mess ups.)
• Wet tile cutter (thankfully we have one of these thanks to Nate's dad, but I believe you can rent them at one of the big box stores.  This was totally Nate's doing because me and saws don't mix well.)
• Floor and Wall Adhesive (we used the Tec Invision white adhesive in a big tub that was already mixed.  all you have to do is spread it on.  This product was $11.97 at Lowe's.)
•  
• Grout (Make sure when grouting over shiny tile that you use a grout that is smooth without texture (unsanded) because the granuals in some grouts will scratch the surface of the tile when applying.  We used a Laticrete product in a bright white because we didn't want any contrast.  We wanted it all to blend.  We bought a small box that you mix with water and we still have some left over.  I believe it was between $10 and $15.00).
• Tool to apply the adhesive and grout.  We already had these on hand from a previous project. 
• Large sponge for wiping tiles after grouting and bucket for water during this step of the process.
• A level, permanent marker to mark the measurements on back of tile, and measuring tape.
• If changing out electrical, like in our case, we did this before tiling.  We had cream outlets and covers and wanted to change it all to white to match the back splash.  We bought 2 surge protectors that were around $12.00 a piece (for by the sink) and 3 regular ones that were $1.00 a piece.  We bought 3 outlet plate covers and 2 outlet/light switch combo plates.  These were all around $1.00 a piece because we bought the basic ones for now. 

Application Process: 

If changing out electrical outlets because of color, do this first.  Make sure you turn off the electric before tackling this step so you will want to do this when you have daylight.  Thankfully Nate had done this before so he knew what he was doing.  If you question this step, you can always watch a video on you tube or have someone help you.  I was his assistant and helped pull out the wires and hold it while he rewired.  Teamwork makes this whole project much easier! 

If working on top of a painted surface, we were told to use cement board because adhesive and tile doesn't adhere well to a painted surface.  We knew the extra money in the long run would be worth it.  The cement board is quite heavy and cutting it is a job. This step does not need to be perfect because it will not show once the tile is on.  You just want to make sure your wall surface is covered.  When cutting it, make sure you take into account that you will have to have cutouts for the outlets as well.  Adhere this to the wall with drywall/cement screws.

Now the fun begins.  This is when the tile starts to go up and you have to go quickly in small sections as the adhesive dries pretty quick. We started in the center of the wall and worked our way out on both sides.  The hubby and I got into a groove where I applied the adhesive and tiles while he cut and measured for the most part.  I encourage you to use a level along the way to make sure your lines are straight and even, we failed to do this in a couple spots and up close you can tell.  Once it is complete its hard to see, but it never hurts to be overly cautious as you go.  We also used 1/8 spacers in between each tile so all the spaces would be exactly the same.  This made it much easier.  Once the tile was complete (about a 6 hour process for us) we let it sit for 24 hours before applying the grout.

Mix your grout up and apply.  Nate applied the grout.  You will want to follow instructions on your product to see how long it says to sit before wiping it with sponge.  I believe ours was 15 to 30 minutes, so I worked in sections and removed the grout residue.  I did this about 3 times throughout the kitchen.  You will see that the film will slowly recede as you continue to wipe.  I would wipe a small section, wring out sponge in a bucket of warm water and proceed.  I changed my water several times because it gets gross.

 
Put outlet plate covers on.  We had to use a product that helped to pop the outlets out from the wall, since they are no longer flush with the wall because tile is much thicker.  They have 2 options.  We used the green plastic tabs that you fold to the thickness you need.  You can ask an associate at Lowe's or Home Depot and they will direct you to them.





Seal your tile from staining.  This step we have yet to do but we will do it soon.  I believe many tutorials encourage you to wait on this step to let the tiles and grout settle completely.  

If you had to use cement board, you will notice the edges of where your tile stopped is out from the wall by at least a 1/4 of an inch.  We plan to buy a thin trim piece of wood, cut it to fit and paint white to match the cabinetry.






 


Sit back and admire your handy work !  I love how shiny the tiles are.  I hope to get some lighting underneath the cabinets and it would make them glisten that much more.  This area to the left is a small space by the fridge.  We decided to tile the space to make it feel finished even though its off to the side by itself.

Total cost of project = Around $100 for the back splash itself.  Ours was a little more because of changing out the electrical outlets.  Also, if you don't have to use cement board, than your cost will be cut as well.  The subway tile is a great choice if you are trying to do a back splash on a budget.  I was looking at some glass tiles and they were around $13 a square foot.  If we had gone this route, it would have been very expensive.  I am pleased with the result and would encourage anyone to use subway tile if they are in doubt.  And remember subway tile comes in all different colors so you don't have to stick with white!  

If you have any more detailed questions on the project, feel free to connect with me and I'll try my best to help you out.  My hubby and I are no pros and we are definitely learning as we go, but that's the fun of it, right? :)  Any of you out there planning to do a back splash soon or have you done one recently?  Love to hear if you have any tips!