homemade refried beans

These super easy refried beans are delicious! It's plenty even if you make just half a recipe.

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup finely chopped yellow or white onion
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained, or 3 cups cooked pinto beans
½ cup water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ medium lime), to taste

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained beans and water. Stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash up about at least half of the beans, until you reach your desired consistency. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered, stirring often, for 3 more minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste, and add more salt and lime juice if necessary. If the beans seem dry, add a very small splash of water and stir to combine. Cover until you’re ready to serve.

From Cookie + Kate

world's best blueberry cake

There may be no better cake on the planet. Works equally well with cranberries and orange too. Need to try it with strawberries and rhubarb.

1 cup gluten free flour plus 1 teaspoon of flour (plus more for prepping cake pan) - use Bob's Red Mill One for One
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup (160g) sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon lemon zest, optional
2 cups blueberries, rinsed and drained (if using frozen blueberries, thaw and drain first)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter an 8 or 9-inch springform pan and dust with flour. Or use an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, butter and dust with flour and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Vigorously whisk together 1 cup of flour with baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and set aside.

Using a mixer, beat the butter on medium high speed for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, a couple minutes more. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Add the eggs one at a time and beat until well blended. Stir in the lemon zest if using.

Reduce the speed of the mixer to low and slowly add the flour mixture, beating until smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan.

Combine the berries with the remaining teaspoon of flour and the lemon juice in a bowl. Spoon the berry mixture over the batter.

Bake on middle rack in oven for 45 to 55 minutes at 350°F, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

Carefully slide a thin knife around the edges of the cake to release it from the pan. 

Transfer the cake to a platter, berry side up. Optionally, dust the cake with powdered sugar to serve.

From Simply Recipes