I’m going to brag on Louisa for a tiny bit before sharing her post today! Louisa has recently joined the food team at Chatelaine (Canada’s #1 magazine) where she has been writing posts and starring in super informative videos. It’s fun to put a face and voice to the writing! Pretty amazing, right? Now… Louisa is here to share another great recipe:
I got such a great response to my post on tips for cooking for one that I thought I would expand this with a series of recipes. My next few posts here will include a simple recipe meant especially for one person – let me know if you have any requests in the comments. Getting back into the kitchen is a great way to kick off a healthy spring and get back in the swing of things after that dreadfully cold winter. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite budget-friendly, simple dishes: Beans and Rice.
When you’re cooking small batches of recipes, you’ll find that you’ll end up with leftover ingredients. For example, with this recipe you’re only using one cup of black beans, meaning you’ll have some leftover black beans in the can. You’ll also have some leftover crushed tomatoes. Having this in the back of your mind, it’s important to make a plan ahead of time about what you will do with these leftover ingredients so you’re not wasting food (and money).
This is one of those dishes that is really versatile. Depending on your mood you could serve this with chicken or a salad. Sometimes I even like to put it into a tortilla and have a burrito for dinner. This recipe for beans and rice makes enough for two servings, so you can bring some for lunch the next day (remember how important it is to pack your lunch?).
Beans and Rice for One
Guest post by Louisa from Living Lou
Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
½ cup long grain rice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup black beans (from a can, drained and rinsed)
½ cup crushed tomatoes
½ cup water
cilantro, for serving
Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium high heat.
2. Add rice, stirring to coat in olive oil.
3. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir to coat and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
4. Stir in in black beans, crushed tomatoes and water. Turn up heat and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20-23 minutes or until liquid has been absorbed and rice is cooked.
6. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
For more healthy recipe inspiration, follow along on Twitter and Instagram!
Congratulations on your job at Chatelaine, Louisa! Depending on how many fellow Canadians (I'm also a transplant Ontarion, at that!) have read this post, a lot of people probably have no idea just how amazing that is.
I love that this recipe is easy, quick, and vegetarian. I would love if you could keep the veg recipes coming, or provide substitutions to make recipes with meat vegetarian. Thanks!
Somehow yesterday felt like a week, last month was last year, and last year was a decade ago… but then time is simultaneously going by so fast too. The past ten weeks have gone by in a blink! Everyone warns you it goes by fast and they’re not wrong…. The days are long but oh how I wish time would slow down a bit? Or that maybe I could bottle up a tiny bit of these precious boys at every stage so I could revisit them down the road 🤍
I have grown to LOVE baby wearing. Not only do I think it’s such a nice and cozy way to bond with baby, it’s also incredibly practical, especially when you have a toddler to keep up with too! The @wildbird aerial carrier was a treat for myself- and I’m so obsessed with it. 👶🏼 Leave a comment “wildbird” and I’ll DM you the color I have as well as my personal review of it (including some troubleshooting tips).
Some top level things I like; - it’s easy to put on! - it’s so, so comfortable (for me AND baby!) - the little flap is seamless and provides extra support while baby naps and privacy when we need/want it
This affordable rechargeable LED lamp is cute and then made even cuter with this wicker lampshade! 💡✨ No cords needed- just charge and place wherever you want. (Will be extra perfect for dining outdoors this summer!) 💫 Comment “lamp” and I’ll send you links to the LED lamp ($38 for a pair!) and the lampshade (available in a few styles- including a darling blue).
Not really in the mood to be in photos right now, but I keep telling myself I’ll want to look back on these moments and remember them. (Right?!) when I look at these photos in 10, 20, 30 years…
I hope I remember Jack “rescuing” Rory from a windy tent, not how I stood in front of my closet with tears in my eyes.
I hope I remember watching Jack roll down hills and play hop scotch and scoot down the sidewalk with his besties, not that I caught a glimpse of my reflection and didn’t recognize myself.
I hope I remember sitting outside with my friend happily watching our kids play (while watching the minutes until bedtime tick by), and not that I spent too much time zooming in and examining every new wrinkle on my face.
I hope I remember the pure joy of these early warm days with my little family whom I love so much 🤍
The weather is warming up and I’m feeling slightly more comfortable in my skin every day ☀️ Here’s what I wore last week as a mom of two. I have a two and a half year old toddler and a two month old so I need outfits I feel good in, can chase a little guy around in, AND that I can breastfeed easily while wearing. 🔗 Leave a comment with “OUTFITS” to get links to every outfit I wore!
This room is so very special 🤍 The little cars sprinkled everywhere (watch your step!). A tiny sock, never two, peeled off and tucked somewhere hidden away. Piles of books that grow almost as quickly as the little boy who sleeps here. Outgrown pants and shoes to grow into mingling in the closet. Often messy, and a little cluttered, but a little boy lives here. 🚘☀️🐶📚🧸
(Rory is still in our room, but eventually the boys will share. I can picture their little twin beds already!)
About ten days ago, I noticed that today’s forecast was looking WARM. I told Mike, “We’re walking into town and sitting outside and I’m getting a beer. Put it on your calendar.” It ended up being warmer than forecasted (almost eighty degrees!) and let me tell you, it delivered. Today felt like the beginning of The Season™: dinners al fresco, beers/fries/ice creams, and late bedtimes. Indulging in it all because the kids are only getting older and we’re the grownups (somehow) and we get to make the rules ✌🏻
Dress is @tuckernuck & sweater is @kiltecollection
@pennylinndesigns and I hosted a “learn to needlepoint” class this past weekend and it was everything ✨ Needlepoint has been such a bright spot in my life over the past five years- and it’s gotten me through some difficult times. Because it’s helped me so much, sharing this hobby with others has turned into a mini life mission of mine. To sit in a room (my beautiful office space designed by @clare.sull!) with pro stitchers and needlepoint newbies alike was one of my dreams come true. I loved seeing women chatting, meeting, and bonding over this beautiful craft 🪡 Honestly, the needlepoint world is (sadly) filled with a lot of gatekeeping and competitiveness; this weekend proved that it doesn’t have to- and shouldn’t- be this way! It’s for EVERYONE. Whether you’ve never picked up a canvas in your life or you’re working on heirloom stockings for your family, there’s room for everyone at this table.
📍 Leave a comment saying “needlepoint” and I’ll send you my go-to resources for getting started with needlepoint!
Mmmm, this looks so healthy and delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
https://lartoffashion.blogspot.com
looks delicious
http://loving-evelyn.blogspot.ro/
This sounds delicious!!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Beans and rice is one of my favorite meals! Can't wait to try this recipe!
xo
Alex | Mrs. Mason Dixon
This looks so simple and yummy! I love the idea of eating it with chicken or in a tortilla…maybe even with chicken in a tortilla 😉
xoxo, SS
The Southern Stylista
yummy, but are the black beans supposed to be cooked or raw before going into the pot?
Hi there, the black beans are cooked from a can. Will clarify in the recipe – thanks for your question. Let me know if you give it a try!
Looks delicious and fiber filled!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Congratulations on your job at Chatelaine, Louisa! Depending on how many fellow Canadians (I'm also a transplant Ontarion, at that!) have read this post, a lot of people probably have no idea just how amazing that is.
I love that this recipe is easy, quick, and vegetarian. I would love if you could keep the veg recipes coming, or provide substitutions to make recipes with meat vegetarian. Thanks!