Okay this is my first post, let's see what crazy things I can come up with! As Sally mentioned, I do want to try more bean recipes and I've got one I'm going to try this week. My kids hate beans but they're so good for you, and less expensive than meat so I want to serve more. I also have a different chicken recipe I'm going to try because it calls for things I have in my fridge that really need to be used up. I'll let you know if it's good or not next week!

So here's what my family will be eating this week (probably, hopefully!):

M - Bowtie pasta with marinara sauce (from the store) and parmesan cheese. Green Beans.
T - Black Beans and Rice (see recipe below)
W - Chicken Mix (recipe below)
TH - Leftovers or Breakfast food (pancakes are a favorite, we usually serve them with sliced canned peaches)
F - I'm going out with my daughter, the boys are on their own. Probably mac & cheese for them.
S - Frozen pizza!

Slow Cooker Cuban Black Beans and Rice (from the Betty Crocker website)

1 lb dried black beans (2 cups), sorted and rinsed
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 large bell pepper, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 dried bay leaves
2 cups diced tomatoes, undrained
5 cups water
2 Tbsp olive or vegetable oil
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp finely chopped jalepeno chiles
1 tsp salt
3 cups hot cooked rice

1. Mix all ingredients except rice in 3 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on high heat setting 6 - 8 hours or until beans are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove bay leaves.
3. Serve beans over rice. Serve with chopped red onion, cilantro and/or sour cream.


Chicken Mix - from my mom's ward cookbook

1 box chicken Rice-A-Roni
1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts
5 - 6 stalks finely chopped celery
2 - 3 chopped green onions
3 cups cooked cubed chicken breasts
Ranch dressing

Mix all ingredients together and add Ranch dressing to moisten or to taste. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.