Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 As a homeschooler, I am concerned about many things for my children. What will they study? What math curriculum (or not) is best? When should we work on essay writing? etc... But, there is an even more crucial subject that we cover everyday and can put the house in an uproar if it is not completed, and that is "lunch." After a busy morning of homeschooling, we all get very hungry. The "What's for lunch, mom" question begins to fly around the room. It would often be met with a response like "Make some sandwiches" or "Have some yogurt and fruit." As my children have grown and are still growing, they are not thrilled w/ the aforementioned answers to the "What's for lunch" conundrum. I came across a brilliant idea to help answer the question with a satisfying response. This answer was easy on the wallet and acceptable to the palate. Beans and Tortillas! Directions on how to have a great lunch that is healthy, delicious, fairly simple, and inexpensive: Place pinto beans in a crock pot w/ enough water to cover by 3 inches. I normally use about 5 cups of beans. Soak overnight. When you get up in the morning, turn the crock pot on high (check to see if you need to add more water. Sometimes the beans absorb much of the water). Cook for about 3 hours. Check for doneness w/ a knife by breaking a bean in half. If tender, they're done. Warm your tortillas. We do this by either wrapping a stack of tortillas in foil and placing in the oven on 375 degrees until warm (about 15 minutes), warming them one at a time on a hot cast iron skillet, or popping them in the toaster one by one for a more crisp tortilla. Make sure to watch them carefully in the toaster. They can burn quickly if you are not careful. While tortillas are warming, drain cooked beans in a large strainer. Put beans in a bowl or back in the crock pot (turn on low). Mash the beans and add a shake of onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, & a dash of salt. You could also add a small can of chopped green chillies for more flavor. Take note to add more of the spices if you use more beans. Keep taste-testing to get flavorful results. Prepare any desired toppings (i.e. lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, etc.) . We stay very simple. Serve mashed beans in tortillas and top w/ your choice of the above. That's it! This is our favorite lunch. You could also serve freshly prepared raw vegetables on the side. If you have a capable child to prepare this lunch, that is very helpful, too! Prepare a large amount of beans so you will have enough for more than one day of lunches. Just heat them in the crockpot that morning. I purchase our tortillas at a Save-A-Lot store for 99 cents a package (10 tortillas). I buy the tortillas with the least amount of ingredients listed as possible to avoid all of the preservatives and chemicals. These are normally refrigerated due to their perishable nature. For those of you skittish to any prepping, feel free to use canned beans! If your children do not like beans, you have my sympathies. Blessings! Camy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Okay, not exactly a reply, but I saw the cutest lunch for kids the other day. Someone had taken a hot dog, sliced it vertically almost to the top into eight "legs" leaving the top for a head. Made some "eyes" somehow, and plopped it down on a plate as an octopus. Served with mac n cheese/green beans. Made me want a hot dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 We've only got one child, so it's really just the three of us.....but it sure would help out on a busy softball week! THANKS for the recipe and the step-by-step directions! We'll toast you with tortillas when we make them next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Thanks for the easy lunch idea! I have a large amount of pintos I need to use up so this is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missplacedalaskan Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 We have done the hot dogs at camp this way...but we have cut both ends into 4 "legs" and then roast them on a stick through the middle. We called them "spider dogs". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 That sounds good! I would add into the crock pot that morning a quarter of cup of brown rice. and 1/2 cup extra water. :) Beans and rice go sooooo well together (taste and nutritionally!) and if your kids are not brown rice lovers and prefer white, the taste difference in the pot of beans is completely unnoticeable! BTW, "beans and tortillas" are called burritos! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenwillow Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 I am ALWAYS looking for crockpot recipes, and my kids will LOVE this! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat in black Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Thanks for posting this Camy. Now that we are down to one kid, I have forgotten how to cook for a crowd and have so much trouble when all the grown kids come home with spouses. This is exactly what I have needed for a meal idea. And it will leave my time free for grandbaby play. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Gee, now i'm hungry! I should do this more often for lunch.... my kids will demand homemade tortilla's though (really, very easy to make). :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in AR Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 I have some pinto beans just itchin' to get in the crock pot, so this will be perfect for this week. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shougmom Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Camy, Thank you for sharing this recipe! I've been looking for healthy, cheaper meal options and this was a big hit for all four of us! :) Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenKitty Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Sounds great! Thanks for the recipe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shanna Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 my kids will demand homemade tortilla's though (really, very easy to make). :D uh no they are not!!! I have tried multiple times and can still not get them to come out right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Okay, not exactly a reply, but I saw the cutest lunch for kids the other day. Someone had taken a hot dog, sliced it vertically almost to the top into eight "legs" leaving the top for a head. Made some "eyes" somehow, and plopped it down on a plate as an octopus. Served with mac n cheese/green beans. Made me want a hot dog. Is this it? It's called redneck calamari. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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