Beans, Beans, and more Beans

I had Beans and Rice for lunch today. It's not a dish I usually serve when it's over 90 degrees outside because it's a hot, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal better suited to Antarctica than Hell. But ... it's also a dish that's easy to fix and only takes one pot and I was too lazy to cook yesterday - and yes, I also had it for lunch yesterday.

When I fix authentic Red Beans and Rice, I use the recipe out of the New Orleans Junior League cookbook, River Roads Recipes. I have a friend from New Orleans who claims the three fattest ladies in the world live on her street because the world's best cooks live in Louisiana. She's the one who recommended the River Roads book and I have found no reason to doubt her.

Yesterday I used my own recipe, the unauthorized version of Red Beans and Rice. I'm going to share the recipe with you, but don't give it to any southern cooks - they'll die laughing.

Dump 1 can of Red Gold Petite Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies (Hot) and 1 can of Chili Beans (or Joan of Arc Red Kidney Beans) in a large pot, add 1/2 - 1 cup liquid (to be more specific at least enough water, broth, or vegetable juice to equal twice the amount of rice you plan to use). Bring this to a boil and stir in 1/4 - 1/2 cup uncooked white rice (depends on how much rice you have and how much you want). Turn heat down to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is done. Serve in a bowl and top with shredded cheese.

This unauthorized version can be served with crackers, corn bread, or tortilla chips. If it gets thick enough, you can wrap a tortilla around it and serve it as a vegetarian burrito. Just throw in some chopped onion and celery with the tomatoes and beans if you want more vegetables or you can serve them raw on the side. (Sprinkle the onions on top and use the celery sticks as a salad.)

Besides being easy to fix and clean up (just one pot!), this is a healthy dish. It's low in fat and high in fiber. Because you use beans with rice, you have a complete protein and the tomatoes count as one vegetable serving.

Sometimes I throw a little Polish Sausage or Kielbasa into the mix. Then it's a Creole, Mexican, Polish dish and it's every man for himself.