Dan is going to be so proud of me! I'm actually updating with a recipe!

ingredients:
(2) 15 oz cans of red kidney beans, drained
15 oz can of diced tomatoes
green pepper, diced
medium onion, diced
1 c. white rice
teaspoon minced garlic
franks red hot sauce (to taste)
Cajun seasoning (to taste)

prep time: 10 min
cook time: 20 min


directions:
boil 2 cups of water and add rice to cook.
in a large skillet, saute the diced pepper, garlic, and onion until tender and browned. add drained beans and diced tomatoes in juice to the sauteed vegetables. cover and simmer on medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 4-5 minutes. add franks red hot and Cajun seasoning to desired taste while simmering. when cooked, add rice and stir mixture together. serve and enjoy!


the directions for this recipe are left somewhat vague intentionally. there is a lot of room for experimentation. i found the combination of franks and the Cajun seasoning in my cupboard to work very well, but you may substitute any hot sauce or other seasoning for a similar outcome. I'm not from Louisiana, so I'm not sure that this recipe would satisfy the traditional southern beans and rice protocol, but i found it to be delicious. the recipe makes a ton so make sure you have plenty of mouths to feed! I'd estimate at least 6-8 servings.

So, normally, we do a lot of cooking and stuff and we either make up recipes, or combine different recipes and pray it works out. But I have to say, we have found a recipe that we love and we want to share it with you. It's from Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis. The recipe is call Mini Italian Pub Burgers and is delicious :). Really, I just want to post it so that way the next time I want to make it, I'll know where it is :).

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 1/4 pounds ground chuck
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated Parmesan
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 9 small ciabatta rolls, sliced in 1/2
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 9 slices (4 1/2 ounces) Taleggio cheese
• 9 large basil leaves

Directions

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.

Place the garlic and parsley in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the ground chuck, Parmesan cheese, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Pulse until ingredients are combined. Form the mixture into 9 patties. Place the burgers on the grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes each side.

Brush the cut side of each roll with the olive oil and toast on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly golden.

To serve, place 1 mini burger on the bottom half of each of the rolls. Place 1 slice of Taleggio cheese on top of the burgers. Place the basil leaf on top of the cheese and cover with the top half. Serve.