This and That (Oh and I might be losing my mind!)

Here are the top three things on my mind today.
1. Job searching SUCKS big hairy donkey balls!
2. Hello my name is Kim and I am addicted to soda pop. It’s been about two weeks since my last drink.
3. Vegan Black Bean Brownies is something more people should try.

Let’s start with #1 job searching is a very horrible experience. I have over a 100 resumes out there in the world. I have filled out countless applications for teaching, substitute teaching, and well everything else. It’s lonely. It’s boring. It’s depressing.

#2, I keep hearing that pop is bad for you both diet and regular so I decided to give it up. I am drinking iced ginger green tea unsweetened. I like it a lot but it’s not coke. I freakin want a freakin coke! I thought I could stop anytime I wanted but this habit is freakin hard to break!

#3, I know it sounds weird but these are really good and good for you. The recipe I used is a combo recipe off of different recipes I found on-line. For example, one recipe I read called for all bananas the other for all applesauce. I only had two bananas and some applesauce, so I used both. I used oat flour most recipes call for regular flour. Anyway you get the point. Try them. They are healthy enough you can eat them for lunch or breakfast and sweet enough that you feel like you are getting a treat!

2-cans of sodium reduced black beans rinsed well
2-bananas
1-cup of apple sauce
1-cup of oat flour
2/3 - cup of agave nectar
½ - cup of dark cocoa powder
2-Tbsp. of Cinnamon powder
1- Tbsp. of vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 12x8 pan. In a food processor mix everything except for flour until smooth. Stir in flour. Bake for 30 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely before cutting! Enjoy they are good for and if you cut them into 12 squares each square has less than 200 calories.

Spicy quinoa with black beans and spinach topped with salmon and mango salsa

It is no secret that I love cooking. I love experimenting with flavors and coming up with unique combinations. I love Ethiopian, Mexican, and Indian foods. These foods use lots of flavors and spices. They give me inspiration for when I make my own creations. The following recipe I made for Lavender and I the other night. It’s full of flavor and healthy. If you are worried about it being too spicy take out some of the red crushed pepper. If you are looking for a vegan dish, leave off the salmon. This is the first time I created this but I will make it again.

Spicy quinoa with black beans and spinach topped with salmon and mango salsa (serves 4)

Make the mango salsa first.
2 fresh mangos peeled and chopped up
Handful of cilantro
4 garlic cloves minced
1 jalapeño pepper
3 Tbsp. of lime juice
Black pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients and store in the refrigerator until time to use.

Next start the quinoa

1 pablano pepper chopped
4-6 garlic cloves minced
1 cup of quinoa
2 cups of water
½ tbsp. of olive oil
1 tbsp. crushed red pepper
Onion powder and black pepper to taste
Sauté pepper and garlic in the olive oil. Add water and let boil and quinoa and the rest of the ingredients. Lower heat, cover, and let sit for about 15 minutes.

Salmon

1 pound of salmon cut into four 4 oz. pieces
2 tbsps. Of freshly grated ginger
6-8 curry leaves
Black pepper
Rub ginger and pepper on salmon. Place salmon in foil packets with 1 ½ -2 curry leaves. Bake at 425 for 14 minutes.

And finally….

Black beans and spinach
1 can of black beans
1 vegetables buillion cube
1 tbsp. of crush red pepper
½ tbsp. of onion powder
3 cups of spinach
Heat up the first 4 ingredients then add the spinach cook just until the spinach is wilted.

Now put it all together!
Put 1/4 the quinoa on plate, 1/4 the black beans and spinach, 1 piece of the salmon on top and finish with the mango salsa.

Enjoy. Your mouth will be happy.