Remember, even though these make-ahead meals serve my family as Sunday dinner, you can use these menus and ideas any time you have to be away a chunk of time and want dinner basically waiting when you return home. I love opening the door and having good smells meet me.
Menu:
Oven black beans and rice
tortillas, cilantro
guacamole
raw beet salad
(this would be a good place for a dessert, right? we went to a party instead. . .where Ben managed to snag 4 brownies)
Friday:
check the avocadoes for ripeness - pop them in the fridge to hold for Sunday
put frozen black beans in fridge to thaw
make beet salad
Saturday:
thaw tortillas
Sunday morning:
assemble black beans and rice - put in oven on timed bake
Sunday noon:
make guacamole
sprinkle cheese on black beans and rice
set table
chop cilantro
warm tortillas
Oven Black Beans and Rice
Stir together in oven proof dish, approx. 9x13:
1 chopped onion
2 c. cooked black beans
1 c. white rice
2 c. chicken stock
some chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper to taste
Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Sprinkle with cheese and allow to melt before serving. Great served with tortillas or tortilla chips, and all the toppings you like.
And a note about guacamole: I mash an avocado with a hand masher, the zest and juice of a lemon or lime, a little olive oil, salt and pepper, some cumin, and a little chopped onion or garlic. Incomparable flavor. Sometimes I add cilantro or chopped tomatoes.
Oh! I'm so excited to try the Oven Black Beans and Rice. That's one of my favorite go-to, quick, simple recipes in SiS, but it never occured to me to try it in the oven. I think we'll like the rice cooked that way. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteWe also had a simple supper after church Sunday - minestrone soup (reheated) - and went to a party later where many treats were had ;-)
This looks excellent. Being snowbound always makes me hungry for Mexican-type food.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of this! Must try. Does it have to be black beans or could I do red kidney beans do you think? And cilantro? is that parsley or something different. Thanks Margo. :)
ReplyDeleteJacinta, I use dried beans almost interchangeably and don't notice a big flavor or texture difference. I think colored beans would look nicer with the white rice.
ReplyDeleteCilantro has a different flavor from parsley. I associate the flavor with Spanish or Asian foods. Around here, cilantro is a common herb at market. I wonder if Aussies call it something different?
I'm definitely marking this recipe to try very soon. Easy and delicious, what could be better?
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmmmmmmmm.... I'm marking this down! We don't have a timed bake option with our oven so I'll have to make it another time. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you use cooked rice or raw?
ReplyDeleteHi Cyndi, the rice is raw.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Making it vegan for Christmas...Have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDelete