Vegetarian Asian Lettuce Wraps

This recipe is everything I'm looking for a dinner recipe. It's healthy, frugal, easy to prepare, and delicious.  This was my first time having lettuce wraps and they were good.  If the wraps aren't working though, I think you could just chop up the lettuce and have it as a salad. I thought her idea of serving it with egg fried quinoa was a great idea too, although I haven't tried it.

Asian Lettuce Wraps   from Super Healthy Kids

2 tsp oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp fresh ginger, minced (or substitute dried)
3 cups black beans, rinsed (2 cans or about 1 1/3 cups dry)
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup grated carrot
3 green onions, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped (optional)
one head bibb, iceberg, or romaine lettuce, washed and leaves separated


for the sauce:
4 T soy sauce
4T brown sugar
1/2 t. sesame oil
2 T rice wine vinegar
1/2 t fresh ginger, minced (or substitute dry)


Saute garlic, ginger, carrots, mushrooms and onion in oil, adding water if necessary,  until cooked, about 5 minutes. Add cilantro and beans and stir to combine. In a separate bowl, combine sauce ingredients and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add to saute pan (you may not need all of it) and bring to a boil. Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves.

Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

I don't usually crave chocolate. I frequently crave ice cream and occasionally, especially, if I haven't been eating well, I get a hankering for a big salad with meat on top. But I don't usually crave chocolate.  A couple weeks ago, however, I got a very specific desire to make double chocolate banana muffins. I knew I had seen the recipe before, and I even thought it was a Taste of Home recipe. A quick internet search found it, and oh, it did not disappoint. Craving fulfilled in a big way. I have made these twice in the past week.

By the way, my low carb diet is not going very well.


Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

1.5 cups flour (I use one cup white whole wheat and 1/2 cup all purpose)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 scant cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 and 1/3 cup mashed banana (from 4-5 bananas)
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup mini chocolate chips


Mix dry ingredient together. In a separate bowl, mix banana, egg and oil and add to dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill lightly greased muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.