Beans and Rice Experiment: Day 2

For a recap of Day 1 and what this Beans and Rice Experiment is all about, click here.  

If you’d like to join me in this experiment, click here for more information. Recipes and daily devotionals are provided to offer some encouragement and creativity.  If you have a favorite beans/rice recipe, please share it with me.

I went shopping yesterday for this week’s challenge and was surprised I was able to get a week’s worth of groceries for $37.00.  It helped having some of the supplies already on hand from past shopping trips, but I still purchased two full bags of food for $37.00.

For my Day 2 recipe, I decided to try a Beans and Rice Breakfast casserole I found online.  Click here for the ingredients; directions for the recipe are found here. I made the casserole in a 9 x 13 pan but didn’t double everything as suggested in the recipe. Instead I followed the recipe with these modifications: I added a can of (drained) diced chili tomatoes, I used 4 eggs instead of 2, and it called for 1 cup of cooked rice so I cooked a cup of rice which yields 3 cups and used all 3 cups in the recipe.  I baked the casserole and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator, so I could just microwave it in the morning for a quick breakfast. I also shredded a bit more cheese on top of the individual serving before microwaving, and added salt to taste.  If you like it spicy, try adding salsa or taco sauce on top before serving, or use chili tomatoes with jalapeno’s in them or dice a hot pepper into the casserole before baking. This is a very hearty breakfast and can easily feed a family of 4 (or you may have leftovers if your portions are smaller).

Later in the week, I’ll be sampling this Beans and Rice Breakfast Bowl:http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2009/03/bean-and-rice-breakfast-bowls.html

My son is being selective about this week’s meals and when he doesn’t want to try one of the bean and rice dishes, he is fending for himself by making things I already had on hand, such as cereal, frozen pizzas, microwave meals, and mac and cheese. I plan to donate the other $100 I typically would have spent for a week of groceries. Our church is taking up a collection on November 17th to feed people locally and globally, through a variety of projects. Here’s a video that demonstrates how even a small donation makes a big difference.

Share your comments below, or on Twitter (find me @loritwilliams) where we’ll be using #eatlessgivelife to keep the conversation going.  Or feel free to send me your favorite beans and rice recipe on my Facebook page.

Eat Less, Give Life!