Yesterday I began the day with a tall stack of banana whole wheat pancakes drizzled with agave nectar and had a brownie for lunch.  If you’ve ever done this you know that this is a disasterous combination.  Or as my OB said when I was pregnant with my first, ‘Be sure to have a slice of bacon with your donut, Lauren.’  I’m constantly drawn to sweets that serve as a quick pick-me up and have to remind myself that it won’t last and to instead have a ‘power food’ that will get me through the day.

Around 3pm,  I torpedoed into a blood sugar nightmare and finally decided to do something about it.  Enter the black bean quesadilla.

Pregnant women need to have lots of ‘power foods’ such as: cheese and whole grain crackers, egg and toast, quacamole and whole grain tortillas, salmon salad (a favorite of mine) with rye.  Remember that you need 75-100 grams of protein during pregnancy.  One benefit being that your bag of waters will be stronger and will help you have a more comfortable birth!!

We love the black bean quesadilla in this house and I try to make it or a variation at least once every two weeks.  So I thought that I’d share with you my easy and delicious recipe so that when you’ve forgotten your daily protein, you can quickly remedy your sugary blues!

BLACK BEAN QUESADILLA

1. Saute a cut up onion in some oil with minced garlic (1 onion and about 4 cloves of garlic). If you want to add bell peppers do so now, too!

2. Add a can of black beans (the ones soaking in a can quick cooker than dry ones).

3. Add spices: salt, pepper, cumin, curry, cinnamon, coriander (pretty much anything spicy and savory that you think goes in a quesadilla.

4. On med-high, heat oil and lay down a tortilla.  I get these spicy tomato tortillas and they’re delicious!  Top with the bean mixture and a handful of shredded cheddar.

5. Top with another tortilla.  Cook for 2 minutes or so, then carefully flip to cook the other side. Make sure cheese has melted… yum!  Like a super duper grilled cheese sandwich!

6. Slide onto a plate and enjoy with sour cream, avacado, salsa, cilantro… yummmmmmmmm.