Herbed Lentils - n - Rice (or Barley!)

3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup lentils
1 small onion
1/2 cup brown rice (or barley)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon basil

You can cook it either in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or in a crock-pot on low for about 3 - 4 hours. You add all ingredients together and sprinkle with cheese (optional). Enjoy!

Black Bean Burrito Casserole

8 small flour or corn tortillas (to keep it wheat-free and gluten-free)
2 cups refried beans
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 red onion chopped
2 cups black beans
1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup monetary jack cheese
1 cup enchilada sauce (wheat-free or gluten-free one)
1 1/2 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute the onion in the oil. Cut 5 of the tortillas into strips, about 1/2 inch in width and set aside. Line the bottom of a 9 by 13 casserole dish with the remaining tortillas. Spread 1/2 of the refried beans on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1/2 the onions, black beans and cheese over the refried beans. Mix the salsa and enchilada sauce together. Pour half of the salsa/enchilada over the cheese. Top with tortilla strips. Spread the remaining refried beans, black beans and onions over the tortilla strips. Pour remaining salsa/enchilada sauce on top. Top with remaining cheese. (Or layer as please :)) Bake uncovered for 35 minutes. Let sit. Enjoy!

Baked Ziti

1 pound ziti noodles (whole wheat to stay with the whole food concept)
3 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons milk (unsweetened soy milk works great)

Cook ziti noodles for 7 minutes. Place 1/2 cup sauce on bottom of casserole dish top with 1/2 of the partly cooked noodles, sour cream, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 3/4 cup sauce. Then add the rest of the noodles, sauce and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle the milk over the top. Bake covered for 20 minutes @350 degrees. Then uncover and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!