Recipe Rursday: Chris' Sofrito Bean Burritos

Way back when Chris was 'courting' me, he made mushroom & sofrito black bean burritos for me for dinner. Soon after, at my request, he made an entire tray for me to eat all week. How could I not go out with him? The key ingredient in this dish has always been the sofrito that he throws in with the black beans. The final results are other worldly (unlike unicorns, which may have been from this world).
Sadly, I cannot include the precise proportions in Chris' dad's sofrito (shown above), since it's due to the hand of the master. But I do know that it includes a combination of recao (also known as culantro), green bell peppers, white onion, garlic, olive oil, and cilantro. I also know that while it resembles Goya's Recaito in appearance (as a green base/paste), nothing compares to this family recipe.
[sidenote: If you're looking for mild or subtle flavor (or, if you're my father & your favorite condiment is ketchup - love you, dad), don't bother investigating further. ]Basically, the black beans are cooked up with the sofrito (Chris' recommendation: don't be shy with it) until the beans have reduced a bit. Then load them into tortillas with cheese & avocado. We normally use shredded cheddar, but sometimes it's a use-what-you-got day. They're ready to eat, but you can also fill a casserole dish & bake them with cheese on top. The sofrito goes with everything, including soups & our favorite, beans & rice.

The Gorgeousness of Fall

This weekend our friends, Jared, Kimberly, and little Rowan, drove up from nyc for a visit. Saturday night, we caught up, made plans for a podcast (to replace the Ricky Gervais show), and examined the likelihood of hypnotism revealing past-lives. Rest assured, my friends, I am not alone in my crazy theories about unicorns and psychics. Rowan proved to be beyond cuteness and maybe the most jovial little-one I've ever come across. His continual laughter? Incredibly charming. Made me want to stop being so serious all the time. Between unicorn rides.Sunday we lucked out with gorgeous weather & perfect timing for a drive out to the orchard we visited last fall. We had a picnic, walked through almost the entire orchard & pumpkin patch, and ate raspberries right off the vine. Never a fruit more sweet. Too bad for my fruit-phobic partner. More photos to come...

Paper Toys Return

Download, print, cut, & fold here: Ready Mech.

Halloween: Freaky (album cover)

Latest crafty project: a mini-album of Halloweens, new and old.

Buttonwoods Beach

On a rather gray, rainy day, Chris and I drove off to find tiny beaches in Warwick. Somewhere along the way we got lost, but we did find one park/beach. I'm pretty sure this is Buttonwoods Park Beach (in Warwick). We never found Oakland Beach. Or we did, and I have them mixed up. Either way, we saw people clamming, fishing, and witnessed a beach overcome with snails (below). Thousands and thousands of snails. Crazy. Too much 'nature' for Chris, but I love being at the water.

Reason 257: Loves PR

This morning: "Whatever you do, don't watch Project Runway without me..."

I'm a lucky woman.

Spinach (& Roasted Red Pepper) Lasagna

There are as many ways to make a vegetarian lasagna as there are vegetables. I recently switched up my go-to lasagna and it turned out great. Here are the layers:
1. No-boil Pasta. Chris puts sauce down first. I just spray the dish.
2. Ricotta Mix (Ricotta + Parmesan/Romano, for bite + 1 egg + Spinach). Steam the spinach, squeeze out any water, & chop before adding.
3. Roasted Red Peppers (drained) from the jar, or you can make your own roasted peppers.4. Shredded Mozzarella.5. Tomato Sauce (homemade or out of the jar).
6. Repeat. ...pasta, sauce, then top with mozz. & parm.
-----------
Cover with foil & bake for 50 min. at 350F, followed by 5 min. without foil. Let cool for 10-15 min. before cutting. The lasagna can be prepared & refrigerated (up to 24 hrs.) before baking, but if you do so, add 20 min. in the oven. Looks rather Christmasy, no?

High Heeled Shoes

Anyone who knows me well knows that I do not own or wear high-heeled shoes, on principle. I have a pair of boots that take me (maybe) an inch off the ground, but I live in flats and stylin' sneakers. I cannot explain the fact that I brought *these* puppies home--they're sooo Sarah Palin. I'm either getting old (and thus losing my refuse-to-participate-in-objectionable-cultural-practices attitude) or the gorgeous fall weather made me do it.

Palin Paper Doll & Mail Day

Fold US Candidate (found through How About an Orange) lets you print out & fold up your favorite candidates. I thought Palin would be the most appropriate for our paper doll needs. Note: She's holding lipstick. Here's my final product:And two lovely things arrived in the mail: A package of Hambly products that I won in a drawing (the new line is gorgeous) and the first copy of my birthday subscription to Real Simple from Anne & Ashley (thank you!), which I'll be tearing through promptly.

Happy Friday

Happy Friday.

Upholstery Drool

My crush for the day: this cute upholstery re-do at J. Caroline Creative.

Glowy Avocado

Taken 9/24/08.