Vegetarian Fiesta with Cashew Sour Cream, Black Beans, Strawberry Pico de Gallo and Handmade Tortillas

Vegetarian Fiesta
Sally found the basis for this meal on www.bluezones.com  where living longer and eating better go hand in hand.  This is so darn taste-filled you simply don't miss meat!  Except for soaking cashews and watching a pot of black beans simmer, this really isn't a long, drawn-out affair.

Cashew Sour Cream
Expensive, but worth every penny!!!  Think of other things this concoction will go on!

3/4 cup Raw Cashews
3/8 cup water,  plus water for soaking
1/2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Pinch of Salt

Soak the cashews overnight covered in water.  Or boil up water to cover and soak them for an hour.

Combine the cashews with the other ingredients and take it all for a whirrrrr in your blender.  Makes about a cup of fabulousness!

Fiesta Black Beans
Spices and things add a nice touch to plain old beans...

1 cup Dry Black  Beans
3 cups Water
2 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
1/2 cup diced Onion
1/4 cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
1/4 cup diced Green Chile of your choice

Bring the water to a boil, add the spices, red bell pepper and half the diced onion.  Simmer for about 40 minutes until beans are tender.  Reserve 1 cup of cooked beans for the recipe, and store the rest in the fridge or freezer for later.

With a fork, mash some, but not all of the reserved beans.  Add to the beans the reserved onion and diced green chile and toss to combine.

Strawberry Pico de Gallo
Don't have strawberries? Try a bit of mango or even blueberries.  Make this while other things are cooking/soaking...

1/4 cup diced White Onion
1/4 cup diced Tomato
1/8 cup diced Green Chile of your choice
4-5 large Strawberries, diced
3-4 Tbsp Lime Juice

Stir ingredients together and chill.

Handmade Tortillas
The last thing you make, just minutes before eating, are the tortillas.  If you don't have a tortilla press, you can still make tortillas by using a pair of foil-covered 1x8 boards 8" long and pressing manually.  Or you can try placing the masa between pieces of wax paper and using a rolling pin.

2 cups Masa Harina flour (no substitute here)
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1-1/2 cups warm tap water

Combine the masa and baking soda, then with a fork stir in the warm water.  If the dough doesn't quite come together into a stiff mix, add another tablespoon of water until it does.  Cover and rest for 5 minutes.

Knead the dough a minute or two to help it come together more. Divide into 8 pieces and roll each into a ball.

Heat a large heavy skillet or griddle pan smoking hot.  DO NOT oil or grease the surface.

Cover the plates of the tortilla press (or your boards) with squares of wax paper.  Place a ball of dough between the pieces of paper and p.r.e.s.s. until the newly formed tortilla is about 6" in diameter and less than 1/8" thin.  Carefully peel the tortilla away from the wax paper and lay it on the hot griddle/pan.  Cook the tortilla for 30 seconds on each side, remove from the pan and stack on a plate. 

Cover with a towel to keep the cooked tortillas warm, and continue pressing and cooking until all 8 tortillas are done.

Put everything on the table and call your partner to dinner!


Golden Beet Soup
I had these beautiful beets hanging around and wanted to do something different.  This is my take on a Golden soup.

1 Leeks sliced into half rings
1-1/2 lbs Golden Beets, peeled and cut into wedges
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced large
1-2 Yukon Gold Potatoes, no peeled, cubed
1/2 cup Carrot slices
Bragg Organic Sprinkle Seasoning tm
6 cups Water (less sodium than "no sodium" vegetable broth)

Saute the leek in a bit of EVOO, add all the other ingredients and simmer 1-2 hours.  Served with nice crusty garlic bread.