What's For Dinner? Cooking 101

How To Prepare a Meal

1. Where's my protein coming from?
2. How am I going to make it taste good?
   
3. Add alliums (garlic, onions, shallots, leeks)
4. Herbs and spices (fresh tomato w/basil
5. Extras (wine, vinegar, soy sauce, broth)
6. Texture (nuts, sesame seeds)
7. How's it going to look? (feast with your eyes first - add color)
8. How much time will it take?

Black Bean and Corn Salad (Great on Tortillas)

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook onion 3-5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute, or until translucent and fragrant.
2. Stir in beans, chili powder and 1 cup water. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Mash beans until mixture is thickened but still chunky, and some beans remain whole. Stir in 1 cup salsa and corn, and season with salt and pepper. Cool.
3. Preheat oven to 425F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray. Spoon 1/3 cup black bean mixture down center of tortilla. Roll tortilla around filling, and secure closed with toothpick. Set on prepared baking sheet. Bake 6 to 10 minutes, or until tortillas are browned and crisp.
4. Meanwhile, combine cilantro and remaining salsa in small bowl. Place 2 tortillas on each plate and top with remaining salsa.

What? Chili
Protein? Beans
Taste? Onion, Garlic, Olive Oil
Spices? Chili Powder, Cilantro
Texture and Color? Corn
Time? Prepared Salsa (Emeril's Specialty Salsa)