Meatless Monday

Having a meal sans meat is quite out of character for me.  You could put it up there with...a month without shopping {sigh, currently experimenting with this}.  But, if Oprah can do it...so can I, right?!  Right.  Thanks to my favorite food blog, A Hint of Honey, meatless Monday went off without of a hitch!  I didn't even wish I had that extra side of protein.  I won't say that this will become a Monday tradition, but every once in a full moon, a few more legumes can't hurt! 

So last night it was Zucchini, Corn, and Black Bean Quesadillas.  Let me tell you, they are to die!  Pepperjack cheese, chili powder, and cilantro make these far more interesting than the name leads you to believe.  Give them a try, mes cheries.  You will want to pair with some lemon broccoli (double veggies will, of course, make you feel extra smug for having made such a health conscious meal) and an ice cold vinho verde. 

Delicioso!

Zucchini, Corn, and Black Bean Quesadillas

INGREDIENTS

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 small zucchini, finely diced

1 tsp. chili powder

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

fresh cilantro, chopped + extra for garnish

8 medium whole wheat flour tortillas

12 oz. Pepper Jack cheese, grated

sour cream, for serving

salsa, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeno and cooked until softened. Stir in corn and zucchini. Season with chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until the zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the black beans to warm through.

2. Preheat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place a tortilla on the skillet and sprinkle with cheese. Spread several spoonfuls of the filling over the cheese. Sprinkle with cilantro. Top with more cheese and a second tortilla. Cook, flipping halfway through, until the tortilla is crisp and golden brown and the cheese has melted. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Slice and serve with sour cream and salsa and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Makes 4 quesadillas.

{Recipe via A Hint of Honey}