Slow Cooker Black Beans

Slow Cooker Black Beans

Hello my wonderful darlings!

Today I am sharing with you my recipe for slow cooker black beans. As a vegetarian, I find the majority of my protein diet to be infiltrated by an army of legumes with sergeant commander major black bean.

That being said, these wonderful creatures make their way into at least 3 dinners a 2 lunches a week depending on my schedule. After scouring store after store for canned black beans in my budget I came up greatly disappointed with a poor selection full of sodium and BHA.

Yum.

So I dived head first into the world of purchasing dry beans with little to no knowledge on how to actually cook said beans. Let the adventures begin!

After tons of research and even more trial and error I found this wonderful way to make enough beans for my human household of one to last through all my wonderful cravings.

To begin split the bag of beans in half. Yes half. As the only human and therefore only individual allowed to consume beans (sorry pup) I noticed half of a one pound bag is ample enough for me to eat before going rancid so there are no sad trips to the trash of forgotten leftovers. Also for this slow cooker recipe you will need…a slow cooker

Lets Begin!

Ingredients:

½ pound dry black beans

3 cups water

¼ large onion

1 clove garlic

A few sprigs of oregano, parsley, and cilantro

Start by giving your dry little legumes a quick rinse and sort out any stones peels or other undesirables. Next pour them in to you slow cooker.

Then, chop (roughly) the onion and garlic to release oils of flavors and add to the beans.

Next, pour in the 3 cups of water and top with the fresh (or dry) herbs.

Stir up and let sit for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low

Enjoy!

These beans create a delicious sauce perfect  for black bean soup, over rice, succotash, whatever your heart desires. The fresh herbs bring out the depth of the black beans without adding too much flavor to prevent a wonderful marriage in any savory or spicy dish (I haven’t tried sweet but if you have a recipe share away!) Feel free to double the recipe to fit the serving size of a typical family unit just double everything but the time.

Be sure to check the beans periodically to stir and prevent from burning. Also check the beans 30 minutes prior to being done to see if the skins start to peel back if so, they are completely ready for munching!

Enjoy your legumes!

Comment below if you have any tasty black bean recipes to share or your favorite way to nibble this delicousness. Also stay tune for more black bean recipes as I will be documenting most everything I cook this month!

A special shout out goes to Lindsey Johnson of Café JohnSonia for inspiring this recipe with their way to prepare dry black beans!

http://cafejohnsonia.com/2013/02/how-to-slow-cooker-black-beans.html

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Hello, 
If you haven't been on Google today, or maybe you just didnt notice a small white ribbon beneath the search bar. This ribbon stands for a cause that is very dear to my heart. 

ORANGE DAY

In July last year the Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign proclaimed every 25th of the month as Orange Day. Initiated and led by the UNiTE campaign Global Youth Network, worldwide activities implemented on this day by UN country offices and civil society organizations strive to highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), but every month.

Under the heading ‘Safe Spaces for Women and Girls’, this year the UNiTE campaign is focusing its Orange Day activities on highlighting recommendations of the agreed conclusions of the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) which took place in March this year. In April, UNiTE focused on ‘Safe Work Places for Women and Girls’, in May, ‘Safe Homes for Women and Girls’ while in June, Orange Day coincided with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26^th) and the campaign focused on‘State Custody and Care as Safe Spaces’ . In July it drew attention to ‘Cyber Space as Safe Space for Women and Girls’ while the theme for August was ‘Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Conflict’. Ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child (October 11^th), the theme in September was ‘Safe Schools for Girls’ and on October 25 the UNiTE campaign highlighted‘Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls’.

NOVEMBER 25: ORANGE THE WORLD IN 16 DAYS!

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. From 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, we want your help in a huge global action to ‘Orange the World in 16 Days’. Raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Engage your community, local or national government, members of law enforcement or judiciary, young people and the media. Share your actions with us by posting images and messages on our Facebook wall and your Twitter using the hashtag #orangeurworld. Find out more about how you can participage and orange your world!  

 For further information about Orange Day, please contact Anna Alaszewski, UNiTE Campaign Coordinator, anna.alaszewski@unwomen.org and visit http://saynotoviolence.org/16days2013

So today I am challenging you to go orange and do all that you can to help end domestic violence against women

6 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign that began in 1991. From 25 November, the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, International Human Rights Day, the campaign calls on individuals and groups around the world to act to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

Orange the World in 16 Days!

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign has proclaimed 25th of every month as “Orange Day” – a day to take action to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls. Activists from around the world, governments and UN partners have organized Orange Day actions calling for safety from violence at homes, schools, work places and public spaces.

From 25 November to 10 December, we want your help to make these actions bigger, bolder, and global. We want to Orange the World in 16 Days.

This year, 16 Days of Activism is even more special for Say NO – UNiTE as it marks our next step to build our biggest momentum yet, exclusively on social media. We are counting on you to raise a tsunami of actions on the online platforms you like best. You can count on us to amplify them on social media.

And here is what you can do!

Raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Engage your community, local or national government, members of law enforcement or judiciary, young people and the media. Did you know that governments of 60 countries have announced national commitments to end violence against women and girls? Is your government among them, and have the commitments translated into action? What needs to be done to stop violence against women and girls in your community? Here are some event ideas from us. Share your actions with us by posting images and messages on our Facebook wall and your Twitter using the hashtag #orangeurworld.

• Organize a panel event in your university, or a talk show with your broadcaster or community radio station.
• Orange your streets with a flash mob, or walk against violence! Wear orange and carry posters and banners to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.
• Organize an Orange Concert with your local musicians and encourage them to promote messages to end violence against women and girls through their music. Invite local women’s organizations to speak about the issue and distribute information about existing laws and services.
• Organize a film screening or host a “Orange the World” party at your home! Check UN Women’s video libraryor Say NO – UNiTE YouTube channel for films.

Like the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/529558507135152/?previousaction=join&source=1

And post a picture of you wearing orange!

Cheers.

The Color Run 5K!

Greetings earthlings!

A few days ago my family and I decided (without training first) to run a 5K Color Run to benefit the Pink Hill Education and Wellness Center. 

It WAS GREAT.

To start the day off we showed up to the race and finished signing forms etc and were given a bright white t-shirt with the sole mission to color it. 

What was awesome about this 5K was that it was a fun run where runners can walk as much as they need to. We entered the race as a family and all 5 of us completed it in heavily colored glory.

Before the Race

My dad after finishing his first 5K ever at 47 with no previous training,

Skylar and I crossed the finish line together (before the rest of the family) and volunteered to spray color at the runners.

My parents at their proudest rainbow glory.

Overall it was tremendous fun and raised money for a great youth running program out of Pink Hill. It was a fantastic day of color and sweat but we each finished the race with one less thing on our bucket lists!

If you have ran a Color Run let me know! I want to see your Rainbow Brites!

Dont forget to check out my links for more Elfin Awesome and stay tuned for the launch of the official Elfin Website!

Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ElfinAdventure

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elfinadventure

Email: elfinadventure@gmail.com

Instagram: @Blue_Owl78