Cutting back…

Today, I treated myself and went out to see the Sex & The City movie. I really enjoyed it…you can read more about it on one of my other blogs, right HERE. The entry may be a bit spoilerish, though, so read at your own risk.

I went alone, to an afternoon show, and got there early. So I walked over to the nearby Rock Bottom brewpub for a beer. They had one of the cable news channels on the TV, and there was something about how much money the travel and tourism businesses have been losing due to high prices for just about everything. We’re talking billions here, for airlines, hotels, and restaurants.

But I still think that with careful planning, it is still possible to take a vacation. There might be other ways where you can cut back, and still not feel deprived. And there are some nice, but cheap hotels out there; you don’t need to stay at the Ritz to have a great time. As long as the place isn’t a fleabag in a skeevy neighborhood, you will be fine. Really, how much of your vacation time is spent in the room, anyway?

One way to cut back on expenses is with food.  Or, more specifically, meat.  There is no law that says that you will die from malnutrition if you don’t eat meat every day.  There are plenty of tasty, meatless dishes that are not only cheap to make, but good for you, as well.

Last night, I made these black bean burritos.  Very tasty!  All you really need to serve with them is a nice green salad.  Black beans have a lot of flavor, and a lot of protein.  And they are cheap.

 For the sauce:

1 14-16 ounce can whole tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup minced onion
1 tablespoon minced jalapenos, fresh or canned, seeded

Put it all in a blender or food processor, and whiz. Set aside.

For the burritos:

8 10-inch flour tortillas
2 cups cooked and drained black beans (canned is fine)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 cup (about 4 ounces) grated Monterey Jack cheese, divided (I tend to use more than that)

Optional garnishes:

1 avocado, diced
2-4 tablespoons minced cilantro

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a skillet and soften the tortillas by putting them, one at a time, heat for 10 seconds on each side. Or cheat and just soften them in the microwave.

Each tortilla gets about 1/4 cup of beans, 1 tablespoon red onion and 1 tablespoon of cheese. Roll them up and arrange in a baking pan, top with the tomato sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese has melted and burritos are heated through. Serve with garnishes, if desired.

Enjoy!

So, why not try incorporating a bean dish such as this into your diet, for at least one dinner a week.  You’ll be eating healthier, and saving money, as well.  And with the money you save, maybe you CAN afford to take a summer vacation after all!

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