Green Beans with Turkey Bacon

Green beans and bacon, it doesn't get much simpler than that. Here is a easy and delicious side dish. For your next meal.

Ingredients:

1 bag of frozen cut green beans

4 slices of turkey bacon, cut into small pieces

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon creole seasoning

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized skillet cook turkey bacon until it is crispy, set aside.

2. Heat the same skillet to high heat and add in the oil. Once the oil ripples add in the green beans, stir them frequently to prevent burning.

3. Once all the frost is gone from the green beans stir in all of the seasonings and cook for about 5-7 minutes until they are tender but not mushy, toss in the bacon and turn off heat. 

Serve hot and most of all, Enjoy!

Flour Tortillas

Making you're own tortillas at home is not as complicated as you may think. Now when I say "very warm water" I mean as warm as your hands can handle safely without burning yourself. Using bacon grease will give your tortillas a better flavor then using just shortening or just lard etc. still tasty is a website that shows different foods shelf life. I use it for everything because I like to make extra food for leftovers and for last minute meals from the freezer.

Makes about 28 5in tortillas

Ingredients:

5 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon bacon grease

1 tablespoon lard or shortening

1 1/2 cups very warm water

Directions:

1. Stir flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in grease and lard once it is completely combined add in water a little at a time, mixing with your hands, once dough is combined knead on a floured surface until dough is elastic. Spray the same bowl with a nonstick spray and spray the top of the dough, place a clean towel on top and rest for 15 minutes.

2. Divide the dough into halves and then into 28 golf size balls, pat down and keep them on a floured surface with a damp towel to keep the dough from drying out while rolling out the dough. Roll the dough balls with a rolling pin to desired thickness and size, I like mine about 5 inches in diameter.

3. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and cook tortillas until bubbles start to form, then flip the tortilla and cook, pressing down on the bubbles. They are done when brown spots are on both sides, wrap them in a clean towel to keep them warm.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for longer shelf life.

Mashed Pinto beans

Need a side for your Mexican food nights? This is a great and super easy recipe for mashed pinto beans and it is so much better than the canned refried beans, no extra oil! Pair with Salsa Mexican Rice.

Ingredients:

3 cups dried pinto beans

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 small can of green chiles

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 large onion, peeled and halved

3 1/2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 chicken bouillon cubes

7 cups of water

Directions:

1. Toss everything into a large slow cooker stir to combine. Cover and turn on high for 7-9 hours. Check back every few hours to make sure there is enough water, add more if needed.

2. Pick out onions and strain beans, save the liquid return beans to slow cooker and mash them with a potato masher adding small additions of liquid until the beans are your desired consistency.

Serve hot with Salsa Mexican Rice

Garlic Bread

The best garlic bread ever!

Ingredients: 

1 loaf of soft French or Italian bread, sliced length-wise and spread open

1/2 cup Smart balance spread softened

1 head of garlic, with the base cut off

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

1. Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap; pour olive oil over garlic, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and wrap tightly upwards. Put on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, let it cool. You know it's done when the garlic is soft

2. To a medium-sized bowl squeeze garlic to release cloves; mash them until rather smooth. Combine with all other ingredients until well blended. Spread the mixture on both halves, transfer to a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes, leave the oven door partially open.

3. Slice and enjoy!

Basic White Jasmine Rice

Here is the way I make sticky rice. For every 1 cup of rice you add 1 1/4 cups of cold water.

Ingredients:

1 cup long grain jasmine rice

1 1/4 cups water

water for washing the rice.

Directions:

1. Rinse rice under cold water, keep changing the water until it is clear, about 3 times.

2. Pour rice into rice cooker then pour in the water, let it sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes close the lid of your rice cooker and set it to cook.

3. Once rice is done turn your rice cooker completely off, fluff rice with a fork.