Wednesday Refried Black Beans & tortillas $3.45

Today is Ash Wednesday - for the Catholic friends among us, it's a day of both fasting and abstaining... fasting from food is currently practiced as 2 small simple meals and 1 small dinner. All with the objective of fulfilling your minimalist food needs, not satisfying your every hunger. Abstaining is what most non-Catholics observe us doing - not eating meat on Fridays... well, we also do it on Ash Wednesday, and throughout the triduim (commonly known as Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the three days after lent comes to a close but before Easter Sunday) - many folks fast througout the Triduim as well.

Enough about the religious practices of the Catholics among us - let's get on to the food...

Refried Black Beans

1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil .10

1 Tbsp. Garlic .05

1 can Black Beans, undrained .59

2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning Mix .10

heat oil to hot, add garlic - heat until savory - about one minute, then add black beans and taco seasoning mix. Mash the beans with a wooden spoon or potato masher until the consistency desired - heat to desired temp (water from beans will both evaporate and soak into the bean "mash").

Top with thick salsa (1/2 cup) and cheddar cheese (1/2 cup) and heat (covered) without stirring until cheese melts - you may place in broiler or oven if your pan is oven proof (no plastic handles!)

Homemade Tortilla Chips

1 package flour or corn tortillas (like for quesadillas or soft shell tacos) .98

olive oil spray .10

salt

using pizza cutter or scissors or knife, cut the tortillas into either wide strips (1") or triangles, whatever you prefer... place on a baking sheet without touching - spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray, then salt to taste. Place in 400 degree oven for about 8 minutes, remove, flip chips, and return to oven for another 5-8 minutes until desired browness is acheived. They will crisp up outside the oven, so do not over cook!

I'm also making a spanish rice type of dish - just for fun since I'm already messing up the kitchen.
I've added:

1 8-oz can tomato sauce .49
2-3 Tbsp. diced mild green chilis (from a little can) depending on taste .39
1 cup rice .40
2 cups water
1 tsp garlic salt .10
1/2 tsp cumin .10
1 tsp. sugar .05
Total $3.45
mix all ingredients in a medium covered sauce pan, heat over medium high heat to a boil, reduce heat to low simmer - simmer covered for at least 20 minutes until rice is plump.