Cheesy Bean Casserole

I was feeling like some Mexican food the other night but I needed it to be quick and easy to make and I needed it to be creamy.  This is what I came up with.  I used this Cheese Sauce Recipe.  I added a bit of turmeric powder to make the "cheese" yellow but you definitely don't need to.  If you do use it, remember a little bit goes a long way!  This was totally delicious and everyone loved it!  We had it with some fruit salad and a green salad.  So good!

Cheesy Bean Casserole

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chopped tomatoes, do not drain
1 cup salsa
1 cup frozen corn, optional
corn tortillas, torn into quarters
Cheese Sauce recipe (below)

Combine beans, tomatoes, salsa and corn in a bowl and set aside.  Make cheese sauce.  Cook until just starting to get thick.  Spray bottom and sides of  a 2-3 quart casserole dish.  (Not quite enough to use a 9x13.)  Cover bottom of dish with tortillas torn into quarters.  Spread half of bean and tomato mixture over tortillas.  Spread half of cheese sauce over beans.  Place torn tortillas over cheese layer.  Finish with remaining bean/tomato mixture, cheese sauce, and then one last layer of corn tortillas.  Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Uncover and spray top layer of corn tortillas with cooking spray or brush top with olive oil.  Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Serve with chopped olives, salsa, cilantro, etc.

Cheese Sauce

1 cup water

2 small cloves of roasted garlic
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp. tahini (the larger amount makes it "cheesier")
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
3 Tbsp. rolled oats
1 Tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. Pour into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thick.  (For this recipe you want it to be more on the "thin" side.  Watch it carefully.  It thickens very quickly!)