Sweet Potato and Black Bean Barley

Happy Fall! Normally we never experience fall on the first day of fall as we are usually in late summer heat. Today, however, there's a tropical storm in the Gulf and we are getting strong north winds with much cooler temperatures. Last year on this same day it was 95°, upper 90% humidity, and sticky south winds blowing in the low 20mph. Today, the temperature was only 75°, upper 70% humidity, and dry north winds in the low teens. What a difference. Too bad summer is scheduled to return in two short days. Until then fall foods! To start out the fall fest, Barely Pilaf with Sweet Potato and Black Beans.

Modifications Made:
Scallions were reduced to half cup.

Scaled for Likability: Great
Finding meatless meals that are filling can be difficult. Meatless meals like stir fry and lo mein are great and healthy and easy to make but an hour after eating both table counterparts are rummaging in the pantry, the fridge, the freezer. Three hours after dinner the pantry, fridge, and freezer doors were all quiet and closed. What is better is the fact the filling meal was so healthy, easy to cook, and versatile.

Omission of the lime, garlic, comino, and cilantro for finely chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, and a dash of nutmeg would be a great way to swap flavors from Mexican to fall.

Edit Sept 24, 2020:

Leftovers were warmed up in a skillet on low and served for lunch with a side salad and was the barely was not sticky, the beans were not dry, and the sweet potatoes were not chewy in texture. Glad the full recipe was made.

Papas a La Mexicana (Ranchera)

It is a crying shame that there are six hens and not a egg in sight. What am I supposed to do with homemade ranchero sauce? Thankfully with a few quick searches of the internet a recipe from my hometown newspaper was discovered: Papas Ranchera . Not once in the thirty years I lived in my hometown did I ever eat at a local food joint serving papas rancheras. No time like the present to remedy this cultural dish. Because this recipe is hidden behind a paywall (grrr...) I have included it here for you: Servings: 4-6 Ingredients: 1 pound potatoes, diced 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 large onion 1 1/2 medium tomatoes 3 jalapenos 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup juice from canned tomatoes Instructions: Fry potatoes in vegetable oil until lightly browned (about 4-6 minutes). Saute onions, tomatoes, jalapenos until soft. Add garlic powder and salt. Add tomato juice until vegetables are covered (may need to add water). Bring to a boil and then add po...

Better Than Campbell's Old Fashion Vegetable Soup

Went to the store with the hopes of gathering fresh produce for soup. With more than 45 people in line for two packages of any meat product and the produce section containing only avocado, orange, and most randomly, strawberries, I settled upon canned soup. Well not canned soup since that section was still void of food, too. Instead soup made from canned goods as the canned vegetable section had been mostly restocked. Soups like this 15 Minute Vegetable Soup are ideal in dire food situations such as current times. Modifications Made: Plain petite diced tomatoes omitted, frozen carrots instead of canned, green beans and corn undrained, peas omitted (gross, nasty little pods), one cup celery, three cups diced potatoes, one can tomato sauce, two beef and two pollo de tomate bouillon cubes, six cups water. Once onions were softened, carrots/celery/potatoes/juice of green beans and corn, sauce, bouillon cubes, water were added and allowed to simmer until carrots almos...

So Sad Cake Brownies

Oh my word how does a space as small a pantry becomes so disorganized? And in such a short time, nonetheless? While reorganizing the four 2x4 pantry shelves yesterday a golden back of the box recipe was discovered. Milk Brownies. Replacing yogurt for milk or applesauce for oil, these are commonplace alternatives. Milk for water in a box brownie, this had to be tried. Stat. Modifications Made: Per the box, 1/3 cup milk replaced 1/3 water. Half cup of chopped walnuts were added along with two tablespoons of Hershey chocolate syrup. Because why not. Scaled for Likability: No, Thank You The milk was fine, the extra chocolate was fine. Walnuts could have been doubled. The problem was the brownies themselves. I accidently made cake brownies with two eggs instead of fudge brownies with just one brownie. So sad. These were given to the neighbor who prefers cake brownies. If the neighbor liked fudge brownies (they are the best kind) these wo...

Eating Waffles

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