Beans and Rice

Looking for a cheap meal using stuff I had already, I pulled this one out of the air. The whole family loved it (except the 2 year old, but she rarely eats anyway, so I take her opinions with a grain of salt).

Cook up 2-2 1/2 cups dry rice.

Heat about 2 cans of kidney beans and add Mexican seasonings to suit you. Use a large pan, as you will add all the rest of the ingredients later. I had some home cooked beans in the freezer (which are FAR cheaper to make than buying canned. More on that later).

Stir fry an onion and a red bell pepper and add to the beans, (but use whatever you have on hand and what would taste good to you). Add a cup or so of frozen corn. When the rice is cooked, add that to the bean mixture.

That's it! Offer toppings such as avocados or guacamole, cheese, yogurt, corn chips, and hot sauce. It's colorful, cheap, and nutritious! Not to mention the taste!

This is an allergen-free meal as well. Also, some chicken or sausage would taste great for the meat eaters.

Now, about those beans. A much more economical alternative to buying canned beans, is to cook up a large batch in the slow cooker on low for about 8-10 hours, depending on the bean. Chick peas take much longer than, say, black beans, so you just have to keep an eye on them toward the last couple of hours. You should also check the water level to make sure there is enough. Let them cool a bit and put them in freezer bags in quantities that suit your needs, and store in the freezer. Don't throw away the bean water! I freeze this as well and use in soups. It's packed with nutrition and flavor, so don't waste it.