Cheap Trick

Posted in Vegetarian on January 21, 2009

I did not sleep incredibly well this weekend.

bettyjoan was in town and spent Friday and Saturday night at my place. This was a trip I counted down for; the kids don’t say “da bomb” anymore, but that pretty much sums up bj. She humored me (though I didn’t have to twist her arm to very hard) and partook in fun activities such as cooking, trips to Sephora and shoe shopping. It was a veritable explosion of estrogen.

Of course, there was some drinking. Let me tell you, she looks innocent but the girl can throw back. Even though she accused me of keeping her up past her bedtime, she kept up every step of the way.

This is where sleeping becomes an issue. Now, ya know how when you drink you already have kind of a weird, restless sleep? Well, this isn’t my only sleep issue. If you have been reading here a while, you might remember I sometimes sneak attack spoon my friends. It has happened on more than one occasion and I have an outright complex about it. It is a problem so prolific that while on the phone with Hammer pre-Friday afternoon nap, he felt compelled to warn her: “Watch out, I hear she is a cuddler.”

Now the love I share with my friends is pure and simple and real. I don’t want them scared of waking up entangled in a Lemm pretzel. So, while bettyjoan peacefully slept, I was started awake multiple times by my subconscious fear of holding her ever so gently. While I may need a good hug from time to time, my friends don’t need me attacking them. It really cheapens our relationship when they are constantly rebuffing my advances.

Honestly, the only thing cheap we wanted about the weekend was our dinner. bettyjoan and I issued a little challenge to ourselves to see if we could prepare a dish for less than ten dollars.  She took the appetizers…go check it out. This is what I came up with–it is inexpensive, filling, and tasty. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples so it take pennies to pull it together with great results. I think the fire roasted tomatoes in this are clutch; they add a depth in flavor you cannot find in regular canned tomatoes. I love corn tortilas, but feel free to swap in flour ones. I cannot stop making this–for dinner, for breakfast, for a drunken snack. These are really good. I am patting myself on the back right now.

And this, my friends, was cheap but classy. I will let you choose what one I am…

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Huevos Rancheros

Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons finely diced red onion

1 can diced fire roasted tomoatoes

2 oz. (half a small canned) green chilis

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and pepper

Heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook for about two minutes. Add tomatoes, chilis, cumin, salt and pepper. Cook for about 30 minutes.

Black Beans

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons red onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can low salt black beans (not drained)

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and pepper

Heat over medium heat and add garlic and onions (note–you could throw a strip of bacon in here as well). Cook for about three minutes. Add beans, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes over medium low heat.

To assemble

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 corn tortilla

A few tablespoons Mexican cheese (Mexican cheddar, Monterrey Jack…I used Habanero Jack)

An Egg

Salt and pepper

Heat oil in pan for about a minte over medium-high heat. Add tortilla and cook for about a minute. Flip the tortilla and immediately sprinkle cheese on the tortilla. Allow it to melt a bit, about 30 seconds. Crack egg on top of the tortilla, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and allow it to cook for about 1 or 2 minutes (you want the edges and underside white). Some of the egg may creep off the tortilla, but that is fine. When the egg is mostly cooked, flip the tortilla and finish cooking the egg (about 45 seconds). Remove the tortilla/egg, cover with sauce and serve beans on the side. Garnish with sour cream, more cheese, and cilantro.

PS: Don’t forget to check out So Good this week.