Starting out

Hello!

I've tried starting blogs a couple of times now, and I've realized why they don't work. Mainly, I think the problem is that I don't like being so serious on the internet all the time. Maybe if I had a theme that I've always loved and actually feel like I can contribute to the world in this way, I would be more devoted to blogging. So this little project, basically a place for me to post recipes and my food obsessions, already seems more promising than talking about international development or global policy. I love doing that too, and if people are interested in that I can try to post about that kind of thing as well. But I think this will be a good introduction to actually blogging on a regular basis. And if you're reading this, hopefully you have some interest in hearing what I have to say about cooking!

As far as today's post goes, I'm going to just outline a really simple lunch that I love to eat after working out. It's really filling and healthy, and incorporates some of my favorite foods at the moment. So here we go!

Lazy black bean soup
2 tsp olive oil
Half of a baseball-sized yellow onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, chopped finely
2 tsp. salsa
1 14.5 oz can plain black beans
Low sodium soy sauce, to taste
1 tsp. Better than Bouillon, beef flavor
1-2 teaspoons light sour cream
1 (realistically speaking, 2) whole wheat tortilla

Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Once you can smell the oil or get impatient, toss in the onion and garlic. Saute until the onion is starting to turn translucent, then add the salsa and stir that around until it looks well incorporated and the mixture looks juicy. Then add the can of beans, liquid and all, and a few good splashes of soy sauce (I like my food salty, it's a Midwestern thing I think) and the bouillon. Mix all of this together well, and simmer rapidly for about 5-10 minutes, or until impatience sets in again. Pour about half of the mixture into a bowl, and add about a teaspoon of sour cream to it, mixing that in. Eat voraciously, scooping some of it onto the tortilla, and then wipe the whole bowl clean at the end with your spoon/tortilla. Serves 2.

This also reheats really, really well, and is something you can toss together for work the night before and take in. I sometimes add in a little lunchmeat ham and omit the bouillon, or use half (or, if it's just for me, 1 whole) jalapeño pepper in place of the salsa. Play with it! Add what you like! The only really critical ingredients are the onions, garlic and black beans. Apple cider vinegar's also awesome in this, especially if you're not using salsa. What I love about this is that it's pretty healthy, and filling/satisfying enough that I really feel like it's an indulgence. Hope you enjoy, and let me know how it turns out!