Bowl Filled with Super Good Stuff (Black Bean and Veggie Bowl with Rice and Cashew Crema)

some lists you finish while some just need to be made.

things you’ll need, in list form:

• black beans (cooked with onion, carrot, garlic, jalapeño/poblano, an orange, bay leaves, whole cumin seeds, oregano, salt and pepper)

• rice

• corn (frozen or fresh, salt, lime, tajin or Stardust Dipping Powder from Rancho Gordo)

• roasted cauliflower (or whatever veg with “taco” seasoning: cumin, chili powder, paprika and/or smoked paprika, onion/garlic powder, and whatever calls to you),

• cashew crema (raw unsalted cashews, lime juice, water, salt, Dijon, onion/garlic powder, optional vinegar, and a blender)

• cilantro

• whatever toppings make you happy

• extra limes

I was curious and skeptical about cashew crema. I made it for someone with dairy restrictions. Then, I made it for my own lunch meal prep (twice). It’s delicious and rich and creamy and utterly satisfying. I riffed off this one from Love and Lemons, but I’m also into these variations at Plays Well With Butter.

For the beans, you can simmer canned black beans or do them from scratch. These are “orange scented” which I have seen identified as “Cuban”, but I’m not trying to claim that. They are, however, delicious. I used beans from Rancho Gordo and Joe Yonan’s recipe (also in Cool Beans) for inspiration and then did my own thing (as always and forever)

As with all Bowls Filled with Super Good Stuff, make it your own and then pack the leftovers up for lunches.

incidentally gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and effing delicious.

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Chapter 220

There is a lot to process. You are on a break from the news because it keeps hurting your feelings and making you want to flee the country. Very little gets accomplished while lying in the fetal position, though it is delightfully comforting. When you don’t know where to start, sit down (or stay where you are on the floor), and make a list.

You love lists almost as much as you love eating out of bowls. Both help you practice containment. Usually, your brain tries to contain all the details and then it hurts and sometimes you forget things and it makes you want to eat ice cream, cry in the car, or try something exciting like blacking out.

Sometimes you read the not-news parts of the internet and it gives you good ideas which you compile into lists. Those lists are fun and give you a reason to use all your pens. They don’t need you to do anything other than want stuff.

You want dinner. You want to eat your dinner out of a bowl. Make a list of things to put in your bowl. You want cashew crema. Since you don’t have raw cashews, make another list of everything you want and take it shopping.

Blend raw cashews (1 cup) and water (½ cup) in a blender with a little olive oil (2 Tablespoons) until super creamy. Add the juice from a lime. Taste it. Add more lime. Add salt and taste it again. Add shallot or garlic or onion powder. Taste it some more. Add a little Dijon and/or vinegar because you always want more tang.

Add dry beans to a pot of water along with stuff like onion, carrot, garlic, jalapeño/poblano, bay leaves, whole cumin seeds, oregano, olive oil, and pepper. One list of great ideas said that you should put orange peel or half an orange in with the beans and who are you to question the list? Set the beans to boil for 10 minutes and then simmer until tender. Add salt to taste and then taste some more.

Naturally, after beans come rice. Make some. If you feel fancy, finish the rice with lime juice and cilantro.

Take a vegetable like cauliflower, toss it in taco seasoning, and roast it in the oven.

Thaw some corn from the freezer. Add salt and lime juice. Top with Tajin or cayenne or whatever you have on your list.

Open a jar of salsa or make a quick pico de gallo.

Chop up an avocado or grab some guacamole.

Whether practical, aspirational, or an attempt to place some measure of control on the world spinning out around you, a list becomes a plan and plans always make you feel better. Pile each individual accomplishment into your bowl until your plan becomes a delicious dinner.

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