Light Lunch

One of the advantages of non-work days is the opportunity to make something good for lunch. However, one of the disadvantages of cooking this time of year is heating up the kitchen and the house. Thus, lunch needs to consist of something tasty that doesn't require the oven. Today's solution is a quickie version of black bean burritos.

Start by rinsing a can of black beans. Combine this with a couple of chopped tomatoes, some grated cheddar cheese, salsa, and a couple of dollops of sour cream. Of course, a little extra seasoning like chipotle sauce can never hurt. Spoon the mixture into tortillas, reserving about one tortilla's worth of filling. After rolling them up, put them in a microwave safe dish and spoon the remaining filling over the top. Nuke them for two or three minutes until they are heated through and the cheese melts.

This makes a nice lunch that doesn't require much time, effort, or electricity. One can of beans and two medium tomatoes make about eight burritos - plenty to share with the guys. These little treats have a fresh, summery flavor thanks to the juicy tomatoes. Tomatillos or chopped bell pepper would make a nice addition to this, as would some fresh lime juice. If you are watching the carbs, try mixing up the filling and eating it on a bed of greens instead of a tortilla. (I contemplated just eating my portion straight from the bowl.) If you like the burrito "package" lettuce wraps would also work well. Any way you choose, this is a light lunch perfect for summer Saturdays.