I think I could eat one of these turnovers every day for lunch and be quite happy. I’d be grinning like the Cheshire Cat day after day after day. They have everything I love: beans, olives, sweet potato, smoky cumin and crust. Especially crust. I like to make a big batch and put half in the freezer.
Serve with salsa and/or cashew sour cream. If you’re not into making your own dough, use vegan puff pastry. Or go super simple and stuff whole wheat tortillas with the warm filling.
One year ago today: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread
One year and one day ago: Lickety-Split Banana Pecan Upside Down Cakes
Pinto Bean, Green Olive & Sweet Potato Turnovers
Makes ~6
Crust:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup garbanzo bean flour
1/4 tsp. cumin
pinch salt
1/4 cup coconut oil (do not melt)
1/2 cup vegan shortening (I use Earth Balance)
~6 tbsp. ice cold water
Filling:
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 16 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cooked sweet potato (I roasted mine)
1 4 oz. can green chiles
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1/8 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 cup green olives, chopped
salt & pepper, to taste
Make the crust:
In a food processor, combine the flours, salt and cumin. Pulse a few times. Add the coconut oil and shortening and process until you get a fine-chunky mixture. With the processor on, slowly pour in the water and process until the dough gathers in a ball. Remove and knead a few times then divide the dough in half and cover each portion with plastic wrap and chill until firm.
Make the filling:
In a large bowl, lightly mash the pinto beans and the sweet potato. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Set aside until ready to assemble the turnovers. I made the filling a day ahead and kept it in the refrigerator.
Assemble the turnovers:
Line two baking sheets with parchment and preheat the oven to 350F.
Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rounds – I used a small saucer and got three rounds per piece of dough. Probably one could get more, but I only like to re-roll the dough once. Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheets.
Scoop up a couple of tablespoons of the filling and place off-center on a dough round. Brush the edge with water and carefully fold one side of the dough over the other; crimp with a fork and then prick a few holes in the tops of the turnovers. Proceed with remaining rounds. If desired, lightly brush the turnovers with nut milk. There will be leftover filling – time to get creative.
Bake the turnovers for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately or allow to cool, wrap well and store in the freezer for later.
The Incredible Hulk (as a smoothie rather than a juice) and Sweet Potato Nachos from Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight, by Chef AJ. Today is your last chance to enter the 
A few years ago, before Kel and I became vegetarians, we had a terrible episode in North Carolina. We really, really wanted barbeque, but somehow, barbeque joints eluded us. After meandering far off of the highway, we came into a town that boasted two places, but it was Sunday, and only one of them (the less famous one, apparently) was open. So we pulled in, our stomachs growling and our mouths anticipating good southern barbeque. That was our first mistake. Our second mistake was ordering the Brunswick stew. What came to the table was simply warmed up…slop…straight out-of-the can. It was horrible to look at and even more horrible to eat. The barbeque wasn’t much better. That trip cured us of seeking that particular type of meat and it wasn’t long afterwards that we gave up meat altogether.
1/4+ cup or so of vegetable broth (for sauteing)
A good friend of mine shared the link to this easy recipe for “refried” beans prepared in a crock-pot and it was so good, I had to further spread the word. After 6-8 hours, the ingredients meld together to form a creamy, savory low-fat concoction (no lard or added fat/oil) that is blissfully happy next to or stuffed into vegetable burritos, on top of whole grain tortilla chips or under brown rice. Sprinkle on some chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes for extra goodness. My tweaks were to add a can of diced green chiles, a splash of Bragg Liquid Aminos, coriander, chile powder and vegetable broth.
2 cups dried pinto beans, rinsed