Kale and White Bean Soup

a bunch or a bag of kale, cut into bite size pieces with the stems and ribs removed
2 15-oz cans of white beans
finely diced onion
minced garlic
chicken or vegetable broth
salt and pepper

Saute onion and garlic in a small amount of broth. Add remaining ingredients and cook until the kale is soft. Add salt and a generous amount of pepper. Can add cubed or shredded chicken breast. Top with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Huevos Rancheros, Ham Hash, Refried Beans, Salsa, and Mexican Rice

Ham hash:
ham steak
golden potatoes
white onions

Cube ham steak and remove connective tissue and excess fat. Leave some fat for frying. Dice onions and potatoes. Pan-fry in Dutch oven until browned. Add olive oil if needed. Salt to taste. Set aside while cooking the Huevos Rancheros.

Huevos Rancheros:
corn tortillas
refried beans
fried eggs
salsa
queso fresco

Prepare refried beans and salsa in advance. Heat the salsa on low in a saucepan. Heat corn tortillas in a frying pan, with or without oil. Keep warm by wrapping in foil in a warm oven. Fry eggs, and crumble queso. Assemble tacos/tostadas beginning with the corn tortilla on the bottom, then spread a layer of refried beans on it. Place a fried egg on the beans. Top with a generous amount of hot salsa, and sprinkle queso and chopped cilantro on top. The ham hash is a traditional side. Mexican rice could also be eaten on the side.

Omit ham and bacon for meatless.

Refried beans:
1 1/2 cups dry beans (pinto or black, as desired)
3 cups of water
1-2 teaspoons salt
1/2 white onion
bacon fat
cumin to taste

Add the beans, water, and salt to the Instant Pot. Use the bean setting, and turn off to let cool until the lid can be removed without switching to "vent". Remove the excess liquid and save. Dice the onion and saute in the Instant Pot with the bacon fat. Add the beans and blend/mash with a potato masher, blender, or food processor. Add the excess liquid as needed to achieve the desired consistency. Mix in a dash of cumin and salt as needed to taste.

Salsa:
2 15-oz cans of good quality diced tomatoes, such as San Marzano or fire-roasted tomatoes
1 1/5 lemons (can use limes, but if fresh fruit is unavailable, use a smaller quantity of vinegar rather than jarred juice)
1+ jalapenos (use at least one without adding the seeds for mild, but don't omit, or the flavor of the salsa won't be right)
1/4 t minced garlic
2 T minced white onion (fresh)
2+ teaspoons salt
fresh chopped cilantro (reserve some to top huevos)

Add one can of tomatoes to a blender, and squeeze in the lemon juice. Dice the jalapenos, and add with the garlic and onion. Blend and add 1-2 teaspoons of salt. Taste for acid and salt balance. If the flavor of the salsa is bland, add more salt and taste again. If still bland, add acid, and taste again. Keep going until it tastes good. If it tastes acidic, but the flavors aren't distinctive, just add salt until the taste is right. A lot of salt is needed to balance the sweetness of the tomatoes and bring out the flavors- don't hold back. Add the second can of tomatoes and balance again. By adding the second can towards the end, there is a buffer if you add too much salt or acid and the salsa doesn't get overblended unless you want a smooth rather than chunky salsa. Add chopped cilantro if desired. The salsa can be made a day ahead to let the flavors blend more.

Mexican rice:
1 cup long grain white rice
2 T oil
4-8 oz canned tomato sauce (can use tomato paste, but keep in mind it is more concentrated)
2 cups warm water
1 t chili powder
2 t calde de tomate tomato bouillon
1 t minced garlic

Mix the warm water, tomato sauce, and tomato bouillon so that it is ready to add to the rice.

Brown the rice in oil in a nonstick saute pan with a lid, stirring constantly. When golden, add the liquid, chili powder, and garlic, and bring to a boil while mixing. When it is boiling, remove from heat, and put the lid on the pan. When the burner has cooled to low/simmer, put the pan back on the burner. The rice should cook with the lid on for 20 minutes. 

When the 20 minutes is up, remove from the heat, and fluff. If desired, add peas and finely diced carrots, or tomatoes. Finely diced onions can also be browned with the rice. Allow to sit 10 minutes, and then serve. The key to the restaurant flavor is the tomato bouillon.

Christy's Chili

Ingredients:

1 onion
several stalks of celery
several cloves of garlic
equal amounts of:
 -carrots
 -bell peppers
 -zucchini
 -tomatoes
 -other desired vegetables
1 can of tomato sauce (14 oz)
ground beef
pinto beans
spices: salt, chili powder, cumin to taste

Saute one onion, celery, garlic. Chop and add other vegetables (carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, whatever else you have that might be good). Add one can of tomato sauce. Schronk (blend with immersion blender) until chunks are gone. Add ground beef and stir. Add beans. Add spices. Cook until done. Eat with corn chips.

Minestrone

• ¼ lb. bacon or ham, diced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 6 cups light stock or broth
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 head Swiss chard, shredded
• 4 tomatoes, diced
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 15 ½ oz can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 16 oz can kidney beans, drained
• 1 cup macaroni or vermicelli
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 T parsley, chopped
• 2 T oil (olive, preferably)
• Parmesan cheese (no sawdust)

In a skillet, sauté the bacon until browned. Stir in onions and garlic and cook until onion is golden. Place mixture in crock pot with remaining ingredients except macaroni and seasonings, parsley, oil, and cheese. Cover and cook at low heat for 6 to 8 hours. Add macaroni, salt, & pepper. Turn heat to high heat; cover and cook for 30 minutes or until macaroni is done. At serving time stir in parsley and oil. Top each bowl with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Chili

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 1/2 cups chopped onions
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 1/2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled butternut squash
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed, drained
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
• 3 cups (packed) coarsely chopped Swiss chard leaves (from 1 small bunch)

Preparation

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté until tender and golden, about 9 minutes. Add squash; stir 2 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cumin. Stir in beans, broth, and tomatoes with juices; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in chard; simmer until chard is tender but still bright green, about 4 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle chili into bowls and serve. If camping, enjoy with this cornbread.