Richardson Waffles

2 cups flour (white, whole wheat, or half and half)
2 cups milk
2 eggs
5 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat eggs until fluffy. Mix in wet ingredients, then add dry ingredients and mix just until smooth.

Savory Black Beans and Rice

This is out of a book I have called "Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family" -- yes,  you can make healthy meals with bacon!

Ingredients:

2 cans (15 oz.) black beans, drained

¼ lb. (4 slices) bacon, cut into 1/2-inch strips

½ to 1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

¾ tsp dried leaf oregano

½ tsp dried rosemary, crushed

¼ tsp dried thyme

¼ tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt

Empty the beans into a medium saucepan. Cook the bacon in a skillet until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to move the bacon into the beans. Use the bacon fat (really! This is what makes it filling and flavorful!) to cook the onion and garlic over medium heat until the onion is clear. Measure the spices into the beans, stir them up, then simmer about ½ an hour to blend the flavors. Serve over hot cooked rice. Dress it up with a dollop of sour cream and serve with orange rounds on the side. Also delicious with a squeeze of fresh lime and chunks of avocado.

Best-ever Guacamole

3 avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed
1 teaspoon salt
juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 diced roma tomatoes or 1 regular tomato
pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix it all up and just try not to eat it all in one sitting. I'm telling you, it's good.

Berry Oatmeal Bars

Berry Oatmeal Bars

1/2 cup  all-purpose flour

1/2 cup  whole wheat flour 

1/2 cup Old Fashioned oatmeal

1/2 cup sugar 

1/2 cup butter or shortening, softened 

1 egg 

3/4 cup strawberry, raspberry or any type jam {not freezer jam!}

1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square pan with foil. In large bowl, mix flours, sugar, butter and egg with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly.

Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture firmly in bottom of pan. Spread fruit spread to within 1/2 inch of edges. {We like jam so I used 1 cup.} Sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup crumb mixture over top; sprinkle with walnuts.

This is why you line the pan with foil. I also sprayed it with a little cooking spray. No stick-age!

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Tamale Peppers

A new meatless (not protein-less) dinner.
*serves 4 (but we had left over filling that we put in tortillas for lunch the next day)
4 medium bell peppers (we like red and yellow best)
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
3/4 cup salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c cornmeal
2 green onions, chopped
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1) preheat oven to 350. cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds. Set aside.
2) In a large bowl combine all ingredients except only 3/4 cup of the cheese.
3) spoon mixture evenly into peppers, and top with remaining cheese.
4) Place stuffed peppers in an 8x8 baking dish. add 1/2 in water to pan (we didn't add water and they turned out great). Bake, uncovered, for 50 minutes or until peppers are tender and filling is hot.

Ginger Glazed Mahi-Mahi

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
• 1 clove garlic, crushed or to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

1. In a shallow glass dish, stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish. If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to marinate.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish from the dish, and reserve marinade. Fry fish for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm.
3. Pour reserved marinade into the skillet, and heat over medium heat until the mixture reduces to a glaze consistently. Spoon glaze over fish, and serve immediately.

We Just tried this recipe, and it is awesome.

Black Bean Salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
1 red pepper, chopped
2-3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
4 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp lime juice
freshly ground pepper
salt

Mix all ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips.