Low Fat Refried Bean Wraps

I always have a few cans of refried beans stashed away. They are a great protein source, side dish and if you buy the lowfat version, healthy. I love the nonfat lime chile refried beans but my new favorite is black bean refried beans. I love black beans and I will choose them over pintos or kidneys any day. I also have a favorite recipe for those cans of refried beans. I am still looking for more good ways to use refried beans in recipes. They are a pantry staple. And please don't tell me about the famous refried bean pie. I have heard it is delicious. I am just not brave enough to try it yet and I really am a big fan of fruit pies. So I don't really want to try refried bean pie. On the other hand, I love these roll-ups. I have used them for years as an appetizer for potlucks. I always get requests for the recipe.

Last week I tried them with my new fave black bean refried beans and I ate the whole thing for lunch. It was a tasty low fat meal that was a nice change from my regular lunch diet of salads. You can adapt this recipe from one to six wraps.

I am going to give you the directions for one. It is an easy no-cook recipe that can easily be doubled or tripled.

Flour tortilla

2 TB non fat or low fat black bean refried beans or chile lime refried beans (heated)

2 TB Low fat or non fat sour cream

1-2 TB of salsa

2 tsp chopped olives
1 green onion

1 Tb of shredded cheese (optional)

Layer ingredients in order on top of tortilla. Spread each layer to within an inch of edge. Roll tightly and chill for at least 10 minutes.

For an appetizer roll tightly in plastic wrap and chill at least 1/2 hour. Remove and slice into 2 inch slices. Serve.

Lunchbox Tip/ Peanut Butter Chocolate sandwiches

Pantry Storage Suggestion: Nutella. Every pantry needs at least one bottle of this stuff.

Are your kids already suffering from lunch box burnout. I make my kids lunch everyday almost and frankly it was time to make an easy meal that would bring a couple lunch time smiles to my kids' faces. So, I did it. I unveiled my, until now, secret jar of that heavenly chocolate/hazelnut spread, Nutella. Yep. I have been hoarding this little treasure in the pantry all to myself until now. So, this is not a recipe it is just a reminder how delicious Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches can be and that you are guaranteed to be Mom of the Day if you share your secret stash. Homemade bread makes this sandwich even tastier. Of course, now I really have to hide the stuff because they were instant addicts. And that stuff is not cheap. I wish we could buy this stuff in bulk somewhere. Now that I have to share it is going to disappear much faster. I am definitely not sharing my stash of Hershey's dark chocolate with pomegranate bits.

And just so you know that I am now wasting your time with an easy tip you probably could have figured out yourself here are a couple other Nutella goodies.

Just in case you are a die hard make it yourself cook here is a recipe for homemade nutella

And for a grown up Nutella sandwich try Velveeta Ain't Food's Wabanini