I'm as busy as anybody I know, this time of year. I need some quick and easy lunches for the family, without breaking the bank.
This is black bean sandwich spread on a slice of whole wheat bread. It doesn't look like much here, but it's a tasty alternative sandwich filling, and just pennies per sandwich (under 5c per 2-tablespoon serving).
Last Saturday, lunch was an every man for himself affair. I set out sliced bread and a tub of this sandwich spread. We all helped ourselves. Making our own, and using simple and pre-seasoned ingredients (like the salsa), is a real time saver for me.
When I have cooked beans, salsa and oil, plus a food processor, this is a cinch to make.
I dump some cooked beans (I like black for this spread) into the food processor. Add some salsa and a drizzle of oil (olive or vegetable, depends on how thrifty I'm feeling in the moment). Process, taste, add more salsa or beans, as desired. I sometimes add a pinch of salt (again depending on my mood, sometimes I want it lower sodium, other times I'm in the mood for something saltier).
If I'm making sandwiches for to-go lunches, I'll spread the bread with a thin layer of butter, to prevent the bread from absorbing too much water from the spread. In a pita pocket, bean spread is delicious with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, grated cheese and/or sour cream, chopped avocado and sliced olives.
This spread freezes well, so I make a large batch, divide into containers large enough to hold a week's worth of spread, and freeze until needed. Just thaw and use.
We do eat a lot of beans in our house. I'm always on the hunt for new ways to use beans. Do you have any favorite ways to prepare them?
