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Black Bean Penne Pasta with Tomatoes

Last week, I made some black bean penne pasta. It was quick to make. But even better, it was good. When I cook, I often share find myself sharing the pictures with mother and son. And in turn, they share their meals with me. The message behind it all is that we share a common bond in doing what is both fun and nourishing to our souls.

This is just one way that we keep ourselves resilient and flourishing: eating healthy meals and discussing what is meaningful in our lives. Maybe your thing isn’t cooking. Maybe it’s knitting, playing chess, boardgames, or cards. Whatever it is that lights you up as a person is what can be shared with others. Sometimes we allow distance to get in the way both inside and outside of having a pandemic. We can get creative in keeping our relationships open. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of stretching outside of our comfort zones in order to make that happen. Stretching isn’t fun, but worth every minute.

Link to Last Post: The Danger of Burnout

Before I give you the recipe for black bean penne pasta, I have to tell you a funny story. I made this pasta before. However, I was doing three other things at the time. Instead of setting a timer on the stove, I figured I would remember. By the time I looked in the pot, the pasta was mush. I didn’t want to waste it, so I doctored it up with ingredients, and put it on top of tortilla chips with cheese, diced tomatoes, and avocado, and I promise you, I was on cloud nine. So, fair warning, unless you want a refried beans effect, watch the time!

Here’s the recipe:

Black Bean Penne Recipe with Tomatoes

Ingredients

  • 2 boxes of black bean penne pasta
  • 4 plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup of avocado oil
  • Garden vegetable pasta sauce-2 jars
  • 3 teaspoons of each:

curry powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, turmeric, basil

Directions:

  • Boil four cups of water with a 1/3 cup of avocado oil.
  • Add pasta.
  • Rinse pasta and place back in wok with pasta sauce, seasonings, and tomatoes.
  • Add the rest of the avocado oil.
  • Heat up for 15 more minutes and enjoy!

Bless ya!

Katina

P.S. Would love to hear how you are keeping your relationships flourishing during times of distance!

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Black Bean Mishmash

Background on Black Bean Fun

With the way that the weather has been within the last few days, it makes one want to snuggle up with a throw and a book, or perhaps a movie, and just relax. Before we get into the black bean recipe, I would like to share a little bit of my reading adventure from the last few months.

I have been reading so many different books within the last few weeks that it’s a wonder that I can keep up with what’s going on in each book.

One book that I am currently reading is entitled, “The Sharper the Knife, The Less You Cry”. Because of taking four years of french in high school, and enjoying every minute of it, I decided to purchase this book at a rummage sale a few months ago. The main character, Kathleen, decides to leave the corporate world, move to Paris, and attend Le Cordon Bleu to pursue her dreams.

There are several different adventures that she has along the way. Some of which involve the relationships between her and her colleagues, her and her boyfriend, and her and her instructors whom she grows to love. This book is filled with French recipes and tons of laughter. Kathleen quickly finds out that life and recipes have a lot in common. As Christians, we are all too familiar with that as well.

Life Analysis

When it comes to recipes, we can have all the ingredients, make the dish exactly as described, and then everything comes out perfect. And such is the Christian life. But then, there are other times that we follow the recipe to a tee, and it turns out a disaster. Perhaps the oil got too brown, we overcooked the rice, or we ended up with meat that was too dry.


God is driving the bus. And we often forget that. Life isn’t a recipe or a secret formula. And although we think we have it all under control, things may fall apart just like the recipe that we knew we followed the directions to a tee. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: 
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

black beans, healthy living, simple meals, mixed vegetables, rice, vegan, vegetarian, eating, food, food photography

Here is the the recipe:

Activity: Making Black Bean Mishmash

Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients:

1 onion

1/4 cup of nutritional yeast

1 can of mixed vegetables

2 cans of organic black beans

1 box of Quinoa w/brown rice & Rosemary

1/4 cup of oil

onion powder -2 tablespoons

garlic powder -2 tablespoons

cumin -2 tablespoons

Directions:

Boil the box of quinoa w/brown rice mixture.

While the quinoa mix is boiling, do the following:

  • Cut up and saute the onion in a skillet.
  • Boil the mixed vegetables.
  • Heat up the organic black beans.
  • Dump all the cooked ingredients into the skillet with the onion, adding the seasonings and nutritional yeast as well.
  • Enjoy!

Here are other bean recipes in case you’re interested:

Simple Beans and Zucchini Soup

Everything Chili

God bless!

Katina


God is driving the bus. And we often forget that. Life isn’t a recipe or a secret formula. And although we think we have it all under control, things may fall apart just like the recipe that we knew we followed the directions to a tee. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)


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Black Beans & Mixed Greens

Background Story on  the Beans

I am sure that you’ve caught on to the fact that there are a lot of beans, legumes, and rice going on here in this house.  One thing about those three items is that they are quick, inexpensive, and tasty when just the right spices are added.  It is so easy to add any vegetable to beans and rice and call it  a day.

After making sure that you have some type of added fat, such as olive oil, avocado, or butter, you have everything that you need for a healthy dinner on a tight budget.  Last week, I featured a recipe using garbanzo beans here.

 

beans, black beans, greens, mixed greens, food, rice, vegan, healthy eating, food, food photography
Black Beans & Mixed Greens

Life Application

On yesterday, I went to my mom’s group.  We are currently studying the book Pierced and Embraced by Kelli Worrall.  After the holidays, we’ll be diving into the study on the book of James by Beth Moore.  The chapter of discussion yesterday was:  Sought Out and Satisfied:  The Woman at the Well.

beans, black beans, greens, mixed greens, food, rice, vegan, healthy eating, food, food photography

This chapter led to a pretty good discussion, as we dived right into talking about all the labels that we give ourselves as individuals, along with the lies that Satan feeds us in regards to these labels.  Jesus made a special trip to meet this woman whose mind was set to fulfill a fleshly need: thirst.  Little did she know that she would receive the everlasting water of life:  Jesus himself.

beans, black beans, greens, mixed greens, food, rice, vegan, healthy eating, food, food photography

I hope that you guys have a blessed night!

 

Here is the recipe:

Activity:  Making Black Beans & Mixed Greens with Rice

Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 35 minutes

 

Ingredients:

Cumin

Turmeric

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

1/2 cup of nutritional yeast

1 1/2 cups of rice

1 can of mixed greens

2 cans of black beans

1/4 olive oil

 

Directions:

  1. Boil the rice.
  2. While the rice is boiling, saute the mixed greens in olive oil, and heat up the beans.
  3. Dump everything into one skillet once the rice is ready, and mix and stir.
  4. Enjoy!