Mushroom and Black Bean Casserole

Normally when I hear the word casserole (hot dish if you are a native Minnesotan, which I am not) I cringe. I think of tater tot casserole which breaks just about every food rule I have, the mixing, the touching and the weird looking canned vegetables. But… casseroles are making a come back and they are much better than what you used to eat as a kid!

I came across a mushroom and black bean tortilla casserole in Everyday Food and figured it would make an interesting, quick meal and maybe even a good breakfast. When I got home from the gym at about 8:30 I got cooking a nice hearty breakfast for a cold, but not that cold since it was almost 30 degrees at 8 am, January morning.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1 lb mushrooms (I used baby bellas and buttons)

2 garlic gloves, minced

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Salt/Pepper

1 15.5 oz  can black beans, rinsed and drained

8 corn tortillas, halved

2 cups salsa

4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 400. Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet, add mushrooms and cook for 7 minutes. Add garlic, cayenne and season with salt/pepper. Add black beans and stir to combine, cook about 2 minutes.

Place 5 tortilla halves in a 2 quart baking dish, top with half the mushroom mixture, 1/2 cup salsa, and cheese. Add another layer of tortillas, mushrooms, salsa and cheese. Top with remaining tortilla halves, salsa and cheese. Cover, bake for 10 minutes. Remove cover bake for an additional 5 or until cheese is browned. Cut and serve.

This was a pretty good breakfast dish and I could see pairing some scrambled eggs with it for an easy weeknight dinner or brunch idea. I have lots of leftovers for the week since my roommate doesn’t like mushrooms or beans  

A sliced pear on the side with a little cinnamon and dark chocolate peanut butter was a nice end to my meal. Nothing like chocolate for breakfast.

Todays 30 for 30 in 30

Taking the time to cook a good meal for myself and to sit down and just enjoy some quiet time and good food. I like being a morning person and having gotten a lot accomplished before 10am, a good workout, the dog feed, a nice meal cooked and I am off to shower