Holy Friday!  This week flew by for sure which is surprising after vacation - normally I find the first week drags.  Not the case at all for me which is nice.  I got a good amount of work done this week as well which makes me feel good.  I got a pretty decent response from people interested in the “Help the Student Event” I will be running next month.  I cannot wait!  I have so many fun ideas on how to be frugal yet creative in the kitchen.

Guess what is in store for today…. well you already know if you read the title but I thought I would ask the question anyhow.  I know, lame isn’t it?  Oh well that’s me.  Alright, so let’s begin.  Mexican Beef and Bean wrap.  Sound exciting?  Yeah I thought so.

This is super easy and tasty.  I like the cumin in the beef… I find it smells like sweat but I love the flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans
• 1/2 Cup salsa
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1/2 Tsp. chili powder
• 1 Tsp Cumin
• Sliced Bell peppers
• 6 (8- to 10-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 Cup shredded lettuce
• 1/2 Cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• Cherry tomatoes, quartered (optional)

Method

1. Mix beans, salsa and chili powder in 1-quart saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warm.
3. In another sauce pan, brown the beef with the cumin until cooked through, toss in peppers and let cook for 3 minutes. Add the bean and salsa mixture to the pan and mix thoroughly.
4. Spoon about 1/4 cup bean mixture onto center of each tortilla; spread slightly.
5. Top with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes.
6. Fold over sides of tortillas.
7. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: Let’s avoid drying out the meat.  I always use lean ground beef so you have to be careful not to over cook it but at the same time cook it through.  Once it turns from pink to brown you are good to go.  Add the moisture from the beans and peppers and you will be set.

I am off to the dentist today… oh how I love that visit.  Do you find your teeth feel weird after the cleaning… almost loose? But I love rubbing my tongue over them when they are clean.  Do you get your teeth cleaned bi annually or annually.  I am every 6 months.  Enough about the dentist – Have a super Friday and send me a note if you want to participate in Help the Student event!!

Take care

zesty

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening… depending on when you are reading this and what part of the world you are located.  This week has flown by very quickly which is a good thing since I enjoy the weekends so much.  Even though it’s a weeknight, I am going to a comedy show starring Jeremy Hotz.   I am pretty excited as it will be a nice break from the regular routine.

So I guess you’re wondering about the title, Not your average ham and cheese.  I had some Pita bread that I picked up from the bakery and I always seem to have some roasted turkey breast or deli ham in the fridge for a quick sandwich. As I love to use leftovers, I thought I would share a pita sandwich that I put together.

It is nothing fancy but great as a lunch or even a quick meal on the run.  Another great way to kick this up and add a different texture is to grill it with an indoor grill or even on the barbecue.  Basically grill it until the pita browns and the cheese melts.

Ingredients

• Pita Bread
• Ham Slices
• Lettuce
• Parsley (only if you have any)
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Parmesan Cheese ( sliced )
• 1 Tsp. Chili Powder
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard

Method

1. Cut the Pita bread in two and create a pocket like opening.
2. Mix chili powder, mayonnaise, and mustard together to make a spread.
3. Smear inside pita bread with some of the spread.
4. Place all other ingredients in the pita (be gentle).
5. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When using pita bread, if you find it is getting stale or simply not as fresh – a quick technique to bring it back to life is to slightly dampen the bread with your wet fingers and then place it in the oven for a few minutes.

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite Deli Meat?

I hope you have a great Thursday and I look forward to hearing all your answers regarding today’s question.

Take care

zesty