Skip to main content

Red Beans and Rice is Mighty Nice



Monday is traditionally red beans and rice night in Louisiana (because Monday was wash day and it was a no-fuss meal to cook) but we had it last night as our Tuesday night meal (incidentally after a full day of washing!). It simmered on the stove while our Mexican cornbread cooked in the oven and I waited anxiously for Jackie to get home to eat because it all smelled SO GOOD!

Being one of our favorite meals, we all (except Keeleigh, our "discriminating" eater) scarfed it down. I just think it's adorable to see Jathan scooping big spoonfuls into his eager mouth and little Ryland in his highchair grunting for more and more. No baby food at our house! Pretty soon they'll be asking us to pass the hot sauce.

I'm so glad that I found a great recipe that we enjoy so I wanted to share it with you guys.

Here's how I make red beans and rice:

1. Go make groceries. Buy:
  • 2 cans Blue Runner cream-style red beans (You're out of luck if you don't live in LA on this one, I think, so just cream some regular red beans in your blender!)
  • 1 can regular (meaning not creamed) red beans
  • 2 cans chili-ready chunky tomatoes
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • Smoked sausage
  • Rice
2. Cut your onion and bell pepper into long, thin strips. Cut your sausage into 1-inch slices. Put them in a large skillet and cook them over medium heat until your sausage brown and your veggies are tender.

3. Add all the beans and the tomatoes, bring the mixture to a boil, then let it simmer while you cook your rice. Contemplate how utterly delicious this in going to be.

4. Serve the beans over rice. I like mine mixed in with some turnip greens (I just buy the Glory brand in the can.) but Jackie likes okra with his. Whatever floats your boat. We all like cornbread so last night I made some yummy Mexican cornbread to go with our meal.

Here's how I make Mexican cornbread:

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 c cornmeal
  • 1 c buttermilk
  • few shakes garlic powder
  • 1 c cream corn
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 c grated cheddar
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
  • 1/3 c vegetable oil
Crush the jalapeño pepper in the cornmeal. Add the garlic powder, corn, eggs, bell pepper, buttermilk and oil. Heat and grease a large skillet. Pour 1/2 of your mixture into the skillet; sprinkle 1/2 the cheese on it then pour the rest of your mixture and top it with the rest of the cheese. Bake 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Try not to burn your tongue because you're going to want to eat it right away!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Reasons I Should Stay Off Facebook

1. TMI So, I remember the weirdest things but one brief conversation I had over 10 years ago stands out to me. It was high school and like all high school girls I had friends, enemies, and frienemies. One of my then-frienemies (we've grown up since then!) was friends with one of my enemies. Standing by the lockers one day, frienemy walks up and says in reference to enemy something like, "She shares too much information. Sometimes it's almost like, 'Hey, guys. I just farted.'" Of course, at the time I ate this up and laughed at her expense but over the years it's been a little reminder that more often than not I need to shut up. Just shut up. I've often been tempted (and have too often given in to the temptation) to over share. I think the Internet feels far safer than it really is. I need to remember that. 2. Friends...or Stalkers? Speaking of "friends", I have 321 of them. I know that number is much higher for many of you, but ...
10 comments
Read more

I Turned Down a Large Sum of Money.

In Alaska there are lots of homeschooling options. The state has a statute which basically says that if you are a child’s parent or guardian you can educate them. The end. No other requirements, no tests, no reporting. You are their mama and in control (as it should be!) Along with having a private tutor or being a part of a religious private school, one option is to homeschool as a part of the public school system.  Because Alaska is so large and areas can be so remote, homeschooling used to be quite the neccessity. It meant schooling out of a box—correspondence school. Now things have changed and homeschoolers have an entire plethora of options. Here you can join a group (sort of extension of the public schools) and if you meet the requirements, you get money to support your students. A LOT of money. Around $2,000 a child.  I have only homeschooled in Louisiana and Alabama both of which give parents a good bit of freedom. I was nervous about joining a group in which I had to...
2 comments
Read more

Why We're Moving to ALASKA

8 years ago at around this time Jackie was graduating from seminary after 5 years of being in New Orleans. We were excited and full of hope. It felt like after years of preparation our lives were now going to REALLY begin!  The seminary had hosted a sort of ministry fair for students to meet with representatives from across the United States. Jackie talked to me about which state representatives he’d like to talk with as we planned our perfect life out in our heads (HA!). He mentioned Alaska which I quickly vetoed; we thought it would be lovely to live near the mountains somewhere out west—maybe Colorado? Montana? However, I went back and told him to talk to the Alaska guy if he wanted to because I didn’t think it was right that I should tell him no. I don’t remember all the states he inquired about that day. I remember him bringing home a memo pad that said West Virginia on it, and I remember him talking ALL ABOUT ALASKA.  Now when God speaks to me I unfortunately do not have...
1 comment
Read more