Grilled Corn: Mexican & Jamaican Style

 

This post seems silly with the weather we've been having lately (low 50s and rain) but I know most people still have the warmth of the summer months hanging on longer than we did! With that said I hope everyone is still enjoying the fantastic bounty of corn that hot weather brings. We've been eating it like it's going out of style over here, probably because its seemingly short-lived season ends in October. Through the many ways I've prepared it I found that grilling it and dusting it with spice mixes perfectly compliments the corn's natural sweetness.

Enchiladas

I really love enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, all Mexican food really, but getting it at restaurants usually ends with me wishing I hadn't. The veggie versions are always too onion-y and cheesy for my liking. So making enchiladas at home is something I have been doing for awhile and I have made them like this since I was in high school. I know we are biased but Brad and I think these are some of the best enchiladas ever so try them and tell me what you think!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tostada

I had originally planned on making this as quesadillas but trying to keep the sweet potato pieces and black beans stuck between two tortillas would have been much too difficult. I am glad I did it this way because it was very filling, incredibly simple, and I didn't end up with it all over the floor.  I saw a recipe similar to this in Cooking Light but it required a lot more prep and I just didn't feel like making dough. Anyways...this is a great mexican dish, the smoky-spicy chile powder and sweet potatoes are a perfect combination. The beans add a lot of fiber, which makes it a great option for lunch to hold you over until dinner.
This would be a fabulous burrito or taco filler as well, if you felt so inclined.

Veggie Tacos

 When I decided to stop eating meat tacos were obviously off the list of meals I would be enjoying, right? Nope...I like this delicious taco filler even more than I ever enjoyed the real stuff. It is an incredibly simple meal that is very tasty, colorful, and filling.

Chickpea Burgers

I was seriously tired of black bean burgers and decided I had to change things up a bit. I loved this combination of mexican and mediterranean flavors. The outside of these burgers gets nice and crispy while the inside stays smooth and creamy but definitely does not get gummy. I ate the leftovers for a week and never got tired of them!

Green Beans

Sick of plain green beans? Yeah, me too...
 I tried a few varieties of new flavors and found four that were just right. I opted for Mexican flare when I made them which lends itself to an especially pretty side dish. All of the seasoning options stray just far enough from the ordinary to bring new life to a worn-out standby.

Avocado with Chili and Lime

Avocado seems to be one of those foods people either love or hate, there doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground. My position on the matter? 

I could live off perfectly ripened avocados for the rest of my life and be seriously content. 

Quinoa Chili

Summer is officially over so I welcomed Fall by making a pot of chili.  This wonderful comfort food is given a nutritional boost with the addition of quinoa. Finely chopped mushrooms stand in for ground meat and beautiful yellow corn lends a perfect amount of sweetness to balance the spice.

Black Bean Burger Sliders

This black bean burger recipe is simply delicious and can be adjusted to any level of spiciness you prefer. It is not dry like some veggie burger recipes tend to be (nor does it taste like cardboard, which can be a characteristic of the aforementioned as well).

Veggie Quinoa Paella

I have recently been surfing the internet quite a bit to find new, and as you may have noticed, meatless recipes. I found some really great blogs and this recipe happened to catch my eye as I love traditional paella and have been wanting to crack open my new box of red quinoa for some time now. While there is a long list of ingredients  it turned out to be a very simple one pan meal that made enough for a very hearty dinner for two. Not to mention it was delicious!

Summer Tostadas

This delicious and colorful mexican dish is perfect to split between two people for a hearty dinner or to serve as an appetizer or side at a get together. A crunchy tortilla topped with sweet corn, tender zucchini, and black beans with the bright flavors of cilantro, green chiles and fresh jalapeno is a seriously tasty way to utilize the best of summer's seasonal offerings.

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

On my weekend excursion to Sprouts I saw beautiful dark green poblano peppers and decided I had to make something with them. It needed to be vegetarian for Meatless Monday and I had a fresh container of my favorite salsa in the fridge, a can of refried beans in the pantry and voila this idea was born/ remembered from a recipe I had recently seen. Poblano peppers are very mild and serve as a perfect vessel for this delicious cheesy filling. If you like mexican flavors this dish is for you!

Enchiladas

These enchiladas are just plain delicious and will cure a mexican food craving without all the guilt, they make fantastic leftovers and get better everytime you eat them.