Black Beans and Rice

I was looking for something to go along with my Cuban Pork Chops and this looked like it would go with it perfectly.  I wasn't wrong.  But this black beans and rice would be good with many other things as well.  It was very easy to put togther as well.

You probably have all of these things in your pantry.

Add 2 cups broth.  You can use either vegetable or chicken

1 cup rice. Not instant

Drain and rinse a can of black beans

Chop one medium onion

Cook the onion in 2 Tablespoons olive oil and add 1 teaspoon cumin.

Add a little salt

Add the black beans to the skillet with the onions.

Drain a small can of whole kernel corn.

Add garlic either a clove or some garlic powder.

Add 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

When the broth starts boiling on the stove.

Add the rice.  Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes until the liquid is gone.

Then add the rice to the bean mixture in the skillet.

Mix well.

It was a great side dish for the Cuban pork chops.

Black Beans and Rice Recipe

1 cup rice
2 cups broth vegetable or chicken
1 can of black beans rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic minced
1 cup corn
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoon olive oil

Grilled Cuban Pork Chops

Cuban spiced foods are very popular these days.  I found this recipe for pork chops and thought it looked good and couldn't wait to try it.

This recipe doesn't require much.  I did leave off the olive oil in the picture.

You will want to mix up the rub in a bowl.  Start with  1 teaspoon ground cumin.  You can use cumin seed if you have them.

1/2 teaspoon salt

Grind up some fresh black pepper.

Add 1 Tablespoon cracked black pepper.

Zest some lime 

Add 2 Tablespoons of lime zest.

The recipe calls for 1 clove garlic finely chopped.  I added 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.

Mix well.

Add 2Tablespoons olive oil.

Mix well.

Put the rub on both sides of the pork chops.  Then grill.  I used the George Forman instead of firing up the grill.

Cook until juices run clear.

Serve with some black beans and rice.

Grilled Cuban Pork Chops Recipe

2 Tablespoons grated lime peel

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 Tablespoon cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic

4 boneless pork loin

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I have been seeing recipes for homemade seasoning and how they are better for you because they do not have preservatives.  So I wanted to make some Mexican food one night and I had everything to make the seasoning.

It looks like a lot of ingredients but it really isn't that bad.  I doubled the recipe so I could have some left over.  For the purposes of this recipe it is only the basic recipe.

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

The recipe also called for 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano but I didn't have any so I left it out.  I don't think it mattered.  If you do not want it so hot you can go light on the cayenne.

Mix well.  Keep stored in an airtight container.

When using the seasoning for tacos or other Mexian recipes use 2-3 Tablespoons of the seasoning mix.

Stir into the meat well.  Add 1/2 -3/4 cup water to mix.

Cook until the water is absorbed.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper.

Flat, Broke & Busted Potatoes

If the name doesn't grab you these potatoes sure will.  I have done roasted potatoes before but I do think these are my favorite.  I will be making these again.

My bag had mixed little potatoes but you could use just one kind.  I like having the different colors, especially the purple ones.

Salt the water well.

Add the potatoes.  Boil until they are just fork tender. Boil for about 15 minutes.

I pulled out some different seasonings to use on the potatoes.  You can use anything you like as well.

When the potatoes are cooked drain.

Then move to a sprayed cookie sheet.

Here comes the fun part.  You get to smash the potatoes.  I tried with a potato masher but the potato came through the holes.  A glass does better.

Get them all smashed.

I started to drizzle with olive oil but what worked better was to pour some in cup and used a brush to brush the potatoes with olive oil.

They have been coated with the olive oil.

Pepper all of them

Salt them

Season them.

Add a little garlic to some of them.

They are ready to put in a preheated 425 oven for about 30 minutes.

Fresh from the oven.  The bottoms are nice a crunchy.  These are very good potatoes.

Nice side dish.

Flat, Broke and Busted Potatoes Recipes

10-12 red potatoes

salted water

olive oil

minced garlic

salt and pepper

chives

can add sour cream