The Beans and Rice Experiment: Day 1

I’ve accepted the challenge that was given to us at Church on Sunday.  For one week, I will eat beans and rice at each meal to remind myself that most of the non-free world lives on this type of existence diet every day.  At the end of one week, those of us who are participating in the experiment will donate what we would have spent eating out or what we saved by not buying our usual groceries this week. 

If you’d like to join me in this experiment, click here for more information. Recipes and daily devotionals are provided to offer some encouragement and creativity.  If you have a favorite beans/rice recipe, please share it with me.

Sunday’s lunch and dinner was Black Bean Quesadillas.  I’ve eaten this over the years on “veggie night”, and it is delicious. This was a good choice to start this experiment with. I found it in my Vegetarian Times cookbook. Here’s the recipe for 4 people:

• (1) 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed;
• 1/4 cup of chopped green or red tomato;
• 3 Tbsp of chopped fresh cilantro;
• 12 black olives, pitted and sliced thinly;
• (8) 6 inch whole-wheat tortillas (or rice tortillas to keep with the theme of rice and beans);
• 4 oz shredded jalapeno jack cheese (or colby & monterey jack cheese)
• 32 spinach leaves, stemmed and shredded finely
• 1/4 cup of hot (or medium) salsa
• small container of sour cream (optional) 

Mash the beans in a large bowl.  Stir in the tomato, cilantro and black olives. Spread the bean mixture evenly onto 4 tortilla shells. Sprinkle the cheese, spinach, and salsa and top with the remaining tortillas.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the filled tortillas on an ungreased baking sheet and bake until the cheese melts (about 12 minutes).  (Or cook them on a cast-iron skillet over a medium heat, turning once until the cheese melts).  Cut into wedges and serve hot. You can top with a dollop of sour cream, if you like.

I am a little concerned about what breakfast will look like this week.  I may instead do a breakfast burrito with egg beaters and cheese and a tortilla shell.  Do you have any ideas?

I’d love your support via comments below, or on Twitter (find me @loritwilliams) where we’ll be using#eatlessgivelife to keep the conversation going.  Or feel free to send me your favorite beans and rice recipe on my Facebook page.  Perhaps you know of a breakfast casserole with beans and rice and cheese and eggs?

Eat Less, Give Life!