black bean

Chicken, Bacon & Black Bean Quesadillas

By in Main Dish, Poultry 4 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

We”ve been eating these quesadillas for a couple of years now. This is our absolute favourite combination of quesadilla fillings. How could it not be? They”ve got every possible form of goodness in them – bacon, cream cheese, black beans, green chilies, chicken… I”ll stop now before I list off all the ingredients. I love them all!

All of this is just made that much better by the smokiness from the barbecue. In the winter months we do make them on the stove top, so that is a tasty alternative if you don”t have a grill handy.

We”re still in the middle of moving so I”m sharing a recipe that I original created for Smithfield.com a long while ago. If you feel like you recognize the photo or recipe, that”s why! ;) It”s no longer available on their site and I thought it deserved it”s time in the spotlight here on the blog, since we make it so often. Enjoy!

Chicken, Bacon & Black Bean Quesadillas

To make this a little faster you can use leftover or rotisserie chicken. Just sauté the red pepper and add the chicken and spices with the rest of the filling ingredients.

  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces (2 cups cooked)

  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • salt and pepper, to taste

  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 1 (4 oz) can green chilies

  • 1/2 cup spreadable cream cheese

  • 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions

  • 2 cups shredded cheese

  • 8, 8 inch flour tortillas

  • sour cream and salsa, for serving

Saute the chicken with chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper in a bit of oil over medium heat in a large skillet until starting to brown. Add red pepper and saute until chicken is cooked through and peppers are softened. Add black beans, green chilies, and cream cheese. Cook until melted together. Remove from heat and stir in cooked bacon.

Place four tortillas on a clean countertop. Spread with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with green onions and cheese. Top with remaining four tortillas.

Cook on a grill over medium heat for a couple of minutes on each side until tortillas are crispy and cheese is melted. Alternatively you can cook them, one at a time, in a dry skillet over medium heat.

Cut each quesadilla into 6 pieces. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Serves: 4

Black Bean Salsa

By in Appetizers, Condiments, GF Sides, Gluten Free, Snacks 2 Comments Tags: , , ,

black bean salsa

In my search for healthy snacks I came across this recipe. Now, chips and salsa are not really a “healthy” snack but, I am a fan of the fact that this healthy salsa makes for a more filling and nutritious alternative when you get a salty craving. And, depending on what you serve it with, it may just turn into a healthy snack after all.

Tomatoes this time of year tend to be pretty tasteless, so this a great winter salsa since it uses only one small tomato. This type of recipe is highly adaptable. If you don’t like cilantro, leave it out. Throw in some red peppers, if you like. Or use red onions instead of green. Really, it’s not a science. You can literally chuck in whatever suites your fancy. Next time I’ll probably add some chopped avocado and amp up the spiciness by leaving in the jalapeño seeds.

I’m also planning on taking this out of the snack realm by making some to serve at our next taco night. It takes no time to prep and every bit of homemade goodness turns a good meal into a great one.

Black Bean Salsa

For a spicier salsa leave the seeds in the jalapeño pepper.

  • 1 small tomato, seeded and diced
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeds and membranes removed, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 (15.5 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Toss ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. Refrigerate until serving.

Adapted from Whole Living.