BLACK BEAN SPINACH ENCHILADAS

BLACK BEAN SPINACH ENCHILADAS
thegardengrazer.com

SAUCE:
3C vegetable broth
1/4 C tomato paste
1/4 C flour
2T olive oil
2t cumin
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/4 t chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste

ENCHILADAS:
15 oz can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 1/2 C corn
6 oz baby spinach
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 C cilantro, chopped
2t cumin
3C shredded cheese
8 WW flour tortillas

Make the sauce; in a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add tomato paste, flour, 2t cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.  Cook 1 minute, whisking.  Whisk in broth, bring to a boil.  Reduce to simmer and cook until slightly thickened about 8 minutes. Salt/pepper to taste and set aside.
IN a skillet, quick saute the spinach in olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until slightly wilted.  In a large bowl, combine beans, 2C cheese, spinach, corn, green onions, 2t cumin, and cilantro.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly spray a 9x13" baking dish and pour a small amount of the sauce coat the bottom.   Generously fill tortillas with mixture, roll up tightly with ends tucked in, and place seam side down in dish.  Pour remaining sauce over the enchiladas, coating evenly.  Sprinkle 1 C cheese on top.  Bake about 20 minutes, and garnish with cilantro and/or green onions, optional.

SPRING PESTO

SPRING PESTO

Family Circle April 2013

1/3 C toasted, shelled pistachio nuts
1 bag (6 oz) baby spinach
2 C arugula
2C flat leaf parsley
4 chopped scallions
2 cloves garlic
3/4 C olive oil
3/4 C Asiago Cheese, shredded
1 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
2 lb pasta, cooked and drained

In a food processor, add nuts, spinach, arugula, parsley scallions & garlic.
Blend 1 minute.
With processor running, gradually add 3/4 C olive oil and blend until fully incorporated.
Place in a bowl and stir in 3/4 C shredded Asiago Cheese, 1 t salt, and 1/2 t black pepper.
Makes 2 1/2 C pesto -- enough for 2 lb of cooked pasta.

SAUSAGE BEAN AND SPINACH STEW

SAUSAGE, BEAN AND SPINACH STEW

1 lb dried large white beans picked through and rinsed
8 C chicken broth
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
8 sprigs of thyme
1 bay leaf
1 lb sweet or spicy Italian sausage, casings romoved, shaped into 1/2 inch meatballs
1 bunch spinach, trimmed
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Crusty bread for serving

In a large slow cooker, stir together the beans, chicken broth, onion, carrots celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cover and cook on high heat until the beans are nearly tender; about 3 1/2 hours.  
Place the sausage meatballs on top of the beans.  Cover; cookuntil the meatballs are no longer pink in the center; about 25 minutes.
Discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf.  
Stir in teh spinach then cover and let stand until the spinach wilts, about 10mminutes.
Stir in the lemon juice; season.
Serve with crusty bread.