Charred Poblano Peppers, Tofu, and Black Bean Skillet Burritos

Poblano Peppers for the Win!

What a delight to come home to a new, delicious meal! My dear husband made these scrumptious burritos for the family! What a treat! And made from a plentiful supply of fresh poblano peppers delivered from a friend earlier in the day! He adapted the recipe from various other recipes, linked below.

Here are just a few Poblano Pepper Benefits!

Poblano peppers are nutritious, offering high levels of vitamins A and C for immune and eye health, antioxidants to fight cell damage, and fiber for digestion, and a million other benefits, all while being low in calories. Their capsaicin content may offer pain relief and metabolic benefits. 

The love of a homecooked meal is beneficial to well-being!

Charred Poblano, Tofu & Black Bean Skillet Burritos

Made 8 good sized burritos

Ingredients:

6–10 poblano peppers, halved + seeded

1 block firm tofu, pressed + crumbled

1 can black beans, drained

1 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1–2 cups corn

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp oregano

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari

Salt + pepper

Optional: lime, cilantro, avocado, tortillas, rice

Instructions:

Char poblanos under broiler or on grill until blistered. Chop. Sauté onion. Add tofu, soy sauce, cumin, paprika, oregano. Brown lightly. Add poblanos, black beans, corn, garlic, nutritional yeast. Simmer 5–10 min. Finish with lime, salt, pepper. Serve with rice or tortillas.

Various Poblano Scrambles and Stuffed Peppers from:

Baking Fairy

Minimalist Baker

Simple Veganista

Everyday Plant-Based

Healthy Fudgy Brownies - Simplified!

If you've already tried Peanut Butter Brownies, this recipe won't taste any different. The difference is that THIS RECIPE is EVEN HEALTHIER! I've included some previous text, since it highlights dates!

Like I often say, these are so healthy you could eat them for breakfast! In fact, that is exactly what my 10 yr-old daughter did! She said, "I had to remind myself that these were healthy, so I would stop eating them!" (she actually makes very healthy choices, but that's what she said).

Peanut butter and walnuts are healthy fats, and cocoa has it's own exhausting list of mental and and other health benefits! 

Dates rock! Check out: Dr Greger's endorsement of dates as a healthy food. In a nutshell: a worry is that dates (mostly sugar) may raise our blood sugar, raise our triglycerides, oxidatively stress our bodies, and make us fat. According to recent studies: DATES are FANTASTIC for us! Dates have no effect on triglycerides or weight, and improve antioxidant stress levels. One study proposes that dates may be an almost IDEAL food with their many essential nutrients and health benefits!

Speaking of Dr Greger, this recipe will help you achieve 5 delicious check marks on Dr Greger's Daily Dozen Checklist!

Healthy Fudgy Brownies

1.5 c black beans (or 1 can, drained, rinsed)
3 c pitted dates (60 dates if you're counting!)
2 c walnuts*
1/2" fresh turmeric (or 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 t vanilla
1/2 c ground flaxseed
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa
1.75 c water

In a strong blender, such as a Blendtec or Vitamix, combine ingredients. Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing between, until mixture is smooth. Line a 12x18" baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet. Alternatively, use several silicone pans (Last time I used a 9x9 square pan, a bread pan, and an 8" round pan to use all the batter). Spread batter about a half inch thick on baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 min at 400 degrees F (convection: 30-40 min at 375). Enjoy!

Gently cut while warm, with a serrated knife.

*Walnuts are healthiest, and one of the least expensive, but probably any nut will work!
**water helps with mixing, but if you omit that last cup of water, or some of it, brownies will be less gooey in the middle.

These are delicious piping hot from the oven! SO YUMMY! AND even tastier the next day...if there are any left!

COMMENTS: What is your favorite dessert? Have you tried a healthy version? Is there a recipe you would like me to try to convert, sweet or savory?

Previous directions (in case this is what you prefer):
In a food processor, combine nuts, dates, spices, beans, and vanilla. Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing between, until mixture is smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine mixture with remaining ingredients (flaxseed, cocoa, peanut butter) until smooth. Optional, add up to 1 c additional water**. Line a 12x18" baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet. Spread batter about a half inch thick on baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 min at 400 degrees F (convection: 30-40 min at 375). Enjoy!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous Gets 9 Check Marks off Dr Greger's Daily Dozen!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous is super easy, nutritious, and delicious! Prepare the dish in 5 minutes and enjoy it all week!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous gets 9 Check Marks off Dr Greger's Daily Dozen!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous

1 cup whole wheat couscous

2 handfuls kale, ripped, stems removed

1/4 cup walnuts, broken in small pieces

1/4 cup flaxseed, ground

6 dates, pitted, chopped

1 cup black beans, in juice

3 Roma tomatoes, chopped

tsp black pepper

1/2 lemon, squeezed

balsamic vinegar (optional)

Start with dry couscous in your serving bowl. Cover couscous in bowling water, top with kale, cover, and let sit for at least 3 minutes (this will cook the couscous!). Chop dates and tomatoes. Combine all ingredients, and enjoy!

Serve with a side of blueberries and a glass of water, and follow your meal with a brisk walk for a dozen check marks from Dr Michael Greger's Daily Dozen!

I'll also share here, one of Dr Greger's newest videos, which by the way made me cry! Tears of complete admiration and gratitude for all that Dr Greger and his nutritional research team do for the health of the world!

BEHIND THE SCENES AT NUTRITIONFACTS.ORG

Barbecue "Chicken" Salad

Use your fresh produce to make this family favorite!

It's a copy-cat of a salad that Applebee's used to serve!

There is my original recipe, with animal-free and sugar-free options!

Here is what you'll need!

Barbecue "Chicken" Salad

Or use meatless chicken pieces (Beyond Chicken is great!)

2 small heads leaf lettuce, such as Romaine, chopped

2 cucumbers, sliced, quartered

2 avocados, chopped

3-4 stalks green onion, sliced

2-3 c frozen corn

1 can black beans, drained

1/3 c chopped dates

1/3 c vinegar, any kind, we use red wine or rice wine or apple cider, and I bet plain would work too!

1/3 c barbecue sauce, omit for sugar-free dish, or find a nice WFPB recipe like My Whole Food Life Melissa's

Chop and combine ingredients, and enjoy!

We make this salad without chicken or cheese, and it's super yummy!  You could too! WHY bother?  READ HERE!

Dates and vinegar are a healthy alternative to barbecue sauce but it's not the same taste. It DOES give the salad a nice sweet taste, and allows you to avoid refined sugar :)

Read about where we got all but the corn and avocados from HERE! (CSA rules!)

Also try Copy-Cat California Pizza Kitchen Barbecue Pizza!

2-Minute Friday Night Dinner*

Celebrate the end of the week with a quick dinner Friday night! Tonight, while you are surfing Facebook, cook some brown rice. When you prepare the rice ahead of time, dinner can be ready in just a few minutes!*

Prepare dinner in a flash!

Mexican Fiesta Bowl

Combine in a large glass bowl:
1 can black beans, drained (or 1 cup of cooked beans from dried beans ~ directions here)
1 cup salsa or diced tomatoes and chilis
1 avocado, cut in chunks
1 cup frozen corn
2-3 cups cooked brown rice (Click here for benefits!) 
Fresh cilantro chopped and lime juice, for extra awesomeness!

Stir it all up, pop in the microwave for a few minutes, and viola! Dinner is done!

For a slow cooker variation, you can put everything except the avocado in a slow cooker, along with lots of water, in the morning. End up with a lovely "tortilla soup" at the end of the day! Top with avocado slices, adding tastiness and nutrition!

The unlikely event of leftovers!

If you would like to see more recipes and tips, "like" my Facebook page!

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell me in a comment below: do you ever "cook" in the microwave? Besides just warming things up, what do you make?