Eat.Live.Blog.

I have been apologizing a lot lately. Apologizing for not returning emails or phone calls right away. Apologizing for being too tired to cook dinner…again. The truth is, this is just a really busy time of year for me, and with it getting dark at 4pm…well, I don’t have to tell you!

This dinner is one of my very favorites for busy, tired nights. It is warm and comforting, and it has protein, grains and veggies. And you can cook it in one pot! It is exactly what the doctor ordered for nights when you are too tired to do more.

The base of the recipe (tomatoes, beans, rice) can really make this whole meal if you don’t have the other ingredients on hand. You can also beef it up if you like, adding additional chopped veggies, and even cooked chicken or sausage.

Recipe located at the bottom of this post.

You know what else can make a busy, tired gal happy….free coffee! For the next 2 Fridays (11/18 & 11/25), stop by any Cumberland Farms for a free iced or hot Farmhouse Blend coffee!

And even better than that…one lucky reader is going to win 1 lb of Farmhouse Blend Coffee, a reusable coffee cup, and 2 coupons for free hot or iced coffee for when the free Friday promotion ends!

All you have to do to enter is comment on this post with what is your favorite “busy day” treat. It can be a dinner, a snack, or even a pick-me-up coffee! All entries must be received by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Winner will be selected using random.or and notified on Monday, November 21, 2011. You must have a mailing address within the continental US to win.

Good Luck! And now, the recipe!

Busy Night Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 14 oz can of any variety of beans (I use black beans)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup uncooked brown rice
• Juice of 1 lime (optional)
• Handful chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• 1/4 tsp Onion Powder (optional)
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder (optional)
• Hot Sauce (optional)
• Salt

Directions:

• Add all ingredients, except hot sauce and salt, to a large pot, stir well
• Add your desired amount of hot sauce (not gonna lie, I use about 1/4 cup…I like it spicy!)
• Turn heat onto medium high
• Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover
• Allow to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Remove from heat, keeping covered
• Let sit for 5 minutes
• Stir and serve! If you have enough energy to get fancy, think about toppings like shredded cheese, diced onions, sour cream…and more hot sauce!