Blog Housekeeping

CUBAN BLACK BEANS and BROWN RICE

❋ You're getting a bonus blog post this week, plus a recipe. I've been doing a little blog housekeeping. First I want to take a minute to thank all of you readers for visiting here. As I've told you before, for some technical reason I can't fix, I cannot reply to any of your comments. And that makes me sad. But please know that I read every one of them. I LOVE reading them. And I feel like I know you now. 

To the frequent commenters, Barb, Chloe and Jane, I like to think you've found something useful here. To those who sometimes respond by email—Mellie, Becky, GoodnightGram, and another Jane—I am so happy that you stay in touch. And then there are those who let me know they've read this via text message from time to time...Mary, Missy, Angie, Betsy, Carol, Kathie, Teresa, Tally & Whit, Ann and Joanne. I DO know you! And it delights me that you keep coming back. 

You know the danger of naming names is missing someone. I'm sure I did. Know that all readers are appreciated...whether you comment or not. 

❋ More blog bonus info....don't forget to use those foods you've stashed in the freezer. Right now the feeling is that those frozen meats and casseroles are a safety net if something becomes hard to find at the store. Surely we have passed through the worst of that, haven't we?

Just remember that unlike money in a saving account that (very) slowly grows if you don't touch it, frozen food does not get better with time. If packaged properly most things are good for quite a while—but not indefinitely. Remember to use that food. How sad it is to find something pushed to the back of the freezer and forgotten. (Sometimes I keep a freezer inventory. I should all the time.)

Last night I made Cuban black beans and rice for me. Daddy-O likes meat. Surely there was something stashed deep in the freezer for him. I found Italian beef that needed to be eaten. (It was quite the international dinner, wasn't it?) We both ate the rice along with roasted veggies. And we were both happy. The beans were crazy easy and delicious. I'm looking forward to the leftovers.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS

2 teaspoons olive oil
1-1/2  cup chopped red onion
1 red bell pepper, diced
1-1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (15-oz) cans black beans
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped red onion for serving
I lime, cut into wedges
cooked brown rice

Heat oil in a large nonstick skilled over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6-7 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and oregano, stirring to mix. Cook another 30 seconds. Stir in beans (with their liquid) and water. Simmer for 5-10 minutes to let flavors blend. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar.

To serve, spoon beans over brown rice and sprinkle with chopped onion. Squeeze a lime wedge over each serving.


❋ Did you notice? Our new granddaughter (4 months old now) finally has a blog name. I had thought maybe I could shift the other names around and let her become Baby Girl and find a new name for granddaughter #3. When I happened to mention that to that particular granddaughter (6 years old now) she instantly protested! "NO! I'M Baby Girl. I like that name." To be honest I had no clue she was even aware of this blog. But then she constantly surprises me.

So here on the blog this newest baby girl will be called "Little Lady." That's pretty close to what her parents often call her. Glad I took my time with this. The problem, like most problems do if you're patient, solved itself!

❋ I've spent the better part of my morning catching the recipe index up. I discovered that I had not added a new recipe in months. The index is not the most efficient, I'll admit. But it does work. The other option to find a recipe is to use the search box (the little rectangle with the magnifying glass) at the left top of each blog post.

For all I've said we've done nothing for a long time, going back through four months of blogs prove otherwise. Even thought we have been in stay-at-home mode, it looked like a lot of living happened during that time. That made me smile. It also proved how short my memory is. I had forgotten about several of the recipes. And it's only been weeks since I made them!

❋ And the final bonus blog info today....do as I say, not as I do. At least a million times I've written, "Be sure to label and date food before you put it into the freezer." But this one snuck by me.

I have absolutely no idea what this is or how long it's been in the freezer. It's thawing now, so all will be revealed soon. This one is headed for the trash, though. It could be years old. Don't let this happen to you.


Stay healthy, people!