International cuisine

Mexican Night

Appetizer- Black bean hummus

Beverage- Spring Blue Moon

Ingredients

• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon tahini (roasted sesame seed paste)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small jalapeño pepper, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
• Dash of crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Dash of ground red pepper
• 1 (6-ounce) bag pita chips (such as Stacy's Simply Naked)

Preparation

1. Place garlic in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add lemon juice, tahini, cumin, salt, black beans, jalapeño pepper, and crushed red pepper; process until smooth. Spoon bean mixture into a medium bowl, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with ground red pepper. Serve with pita chips.

Recipe from Cooking Light

Entree- Blackened fish tacos

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup thinly sliced white onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 4 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 1/2 ripe peeled avocado, thinly sliced
• 4 lime wedges

Preparation

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth. Combine jalapeño sauce and onion in a small bowl.

2. Combine paprika and next 6 ingredients (through ground red pepper); sprinkle evenly over fish. Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

3. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Divide fish, onion mixture, and avocado evenly among tortillas. Serve with lime wedges.

Recipe from Cooking Light

Dessert- Puff pastry filled with strawberries and raspberries topped with cabernet chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Chinese Night

Entree- Fried rice with steamed chicken pot stickers.

Both courtesy of Trader Joe's frozen food aisle.