Yesterday was one of those days that worked. For the first time in a long while I arrived at 5:30 p.m. with steam left in my head and the ability to connect a thought or two. I had the day off of work and my son had the day off of school. We spent it together, just us.
To focus on his face, his voice, his crazy unstoppable giggle and long drawn out plans for inventing the machines he sees in movies. To do this for hours without feeling torn, without being acutely aware of all the other people and projects that need attention at that moment. It was a luxury.
I made a family favorite for dinner --- black bean and spinach burritos.

It's one of those meals I make when I'm happy. It also makes regular appearances for celebrations, slumber parties (yes, thanks to United Sisters I still have those) and potlucks.
"Boy, you haven't made this in a long time," my husband said, reaching in for thirds.
He's right. It's been too long.

Here's the recipe.
Ingredients
For the bean mixture:
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed well
1 can tomatoes, diced (if whole cut them small)
1 green pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
juice of half a lime
Adobo seasoning
cumin (about 1 teaspoon, I suppose)
I usually add one other vegetable. You can add anything you like.
Some suggestions:
(choose one of the following, or mix but keep the total amount the same)
1 small can green chilies
1 can artichoke hearts, quartered
1 zucchini, diced
1 red pepper, diced
6 mushrooms, diced
minced jalapeno
For the spinach:
1 pound spinach leaves, washed well
2 cloves garlic
olive oil
For the rest:
8 or more large burrito shells
grated cheese, I use Monterey Jack for inside and outside when making it for groups. My own preference is plain soft goat cheese on the inside and a little Jack to sprinkle over top.
To prepare:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In saucepan, sauté onion, peppers and other veggies until soft and starting to turn color. Season with adobo to taste. Add the beans, toss well and let cook down a bit with the veggies. Add cumin and more adobo to taste. Add the tomatoes and lime juice and stir well. Turn heat down and let simmer.
On another burner, coat a deep frying pan with olive oil and heat. Crush the garlic and add to the oil. Immediately after, add the wet washed spinach and toss to coat with oil. Cover and allow to wilt down. You want it a vibrant green and soft.
Turn off beans.
Grate whatever cheese you want to use.
In a large baking pan, put the first burrito shell down and add grated cheese (a few pinches), then spinach (about two fork fulls), then beans (about 1/2 cup). Wrap and put seam side down against one edge of the pan. Continue until pan is full of rolled burritos. You want them touching (so they don't get too crisp), but not so smashed that you can't separate them later.
Sprinkle with cheese in a line down the middle of the pan (so each burrito has cheese on its mid-section).
Bake uncovered for about 20-30 minutes. Don't let it get too brown.
Enjoy.
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