"I Don't Want To Cook Dinner" Chili

my own lazy ass recipe

olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 garlic, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon or more dried cumin
1 tablespoon or more chili powder
1 avocado, sliced

EXTRAS if you have the time or inclination to make the meal a little more robust/healthier...
1 green pepper, chopped
10 baby carrots cut up
frozen corn, rinsed

heat oil add garlic and onions stir until clear (add green pepper, carrots & corn here too)
add tomatoes & beans
heap in spices add as much as you think you like
stir and simmer for an hour or so - can be less if you have been procrastinating about starting dinner. been there before.

make some rice or quinoa to serve with chili.
cover with shredded cheese (or ye old nutritional yeast) and avocado to top off this lazy chili.

Black Bean Tacos with Mango Cabbage Salad

yet another recipe adapted from Today's Parent. easy. fast. yummers.

TACOS
olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can plum tomatoes
1 red pepper
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
salt & pepper
2 avocados

heat oil add onion and garlic until soft
add beans, tomatoes red pepper, chili powder, cumin salt & pepper
stir for about 5 minutes turn to low

put in warmed taco shells, top with avocados, cheese/nutritional yeast and mango cabbage salad.

MANGO CABBAGE SALAD
olive oil
juice form one lime
2+ cups shredded cabbage
1 mango cut in small pieces
1/2 cup cilantro

2 tablespoons sour cream * optional to make this a coleslaw
1/2 red onion * optional

mix all in a bowl.
done.

Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Sauce

adapted from Today's Parent magazine. every month this mag gives me a really easy recipe that actually tastes good. for some reason - maybe the nice pictures? - i always feel like i can do it. these are confidence booster recipes for the kitchen challenged. also do you know about spaghetti squash? co cute. so magical. so fun!

2 large spaghetti squash
olive oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cans plum tomatoes
some dried oregano
fresh basil chopped
salt
pepper
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar *
parmesan cheese **

* i skip this no biggie
** i use nutritional yeast because dairy makes me CRAZY. nutritional yeast is a super option whenever you need to grate some cheese on a dish - chili, pasta, etc... however whenever  i make grilled cheeses for the kids i die a little bit inside because there is nothing like a classic gooey grilled cheese - sad face.

preheat oven to 400F
cut squash in half rub it with some olive oil
place face down on baking sheet lined with foil
cook for 45 mins. with a fork scrape the awesome spaghetti strands of squash into a bowl. magical right?! add salt & pepper

while the squash is in the oven you should be making the sauce...
heat some olive oil in a pan add garlic and onions
once the onions are clear add the cans on tomatoes, oregano basil salt and pepper
simmer for approx 30 minutes until it gets a little thicker
so easy

eat it.

Simple Sesame Grilled Chicken

from an alive magazine that i think i found in my building's laundry room giveaway. a place of constant inspiration.

1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons tamari sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ginger, shredded
1 clove of garlic, crushed
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts *
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted **
1/4 chives, chopped ***

*i only had a package of boneless skinless chicken thighs it was good
**put in pan, turn on heat medium swirl around until they start to get, well, toasted
***did not use, maybe next time

mix it all together.
add chicken. marinate in fridge for an hour or two.
broil flipping a few times until chicken is cooked NOT pink (gross)
sprinkle with sesame seeds.

i served this with some brown basmati and a salad. high fives all around.