Microwave Black Beans and Rice

So after a long period of being too lazy to go down to the supermarket (it's a mile away and it has been dipping into the 30's recently), I finally went. My friend Emily and I decided to go after our vegetarian nutrition class, which is conveniently on that side of campus. I had already prepared my go-to cheapskate shopping list:

• Pasta
• Pasta Sauce (whatever is on sale, this time Prego)
• Canned Black Beans
• White Rice
• Brown Rice
• Cous Cous (a new addition)

I also picked up some pomegranates and limes because they were on sale, and I freakin love pomegranates. Anyway, when I got home, I decided to combine my new foods to see what I could make. I already had some leftover brown rice in the fridge, so I made black beans and rice with cheese. And man oh man, it was good.

I looked up a bunch of recipes for black beans and rice online and took bits and pieces from each one to make it microwave friendly. Obviously you need the microwave rice cooker, or another method of cooking rice.

I'm anemic, so I'm always looking for easy ways to get iron. Black beans are a great source for that, as well as for protein. You can use white rice instead of brown, but brown has more fiber and is generally better for you. I keep my shredded cheese in the freezer so it lasts longer, and it works perfectly fine. I think this recipe would benefit from some chili powder or cilantro, as well as some hot sauce. You can customize it however you'd like.

Here's the recipe:

Microwave Black Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 T butter

15 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)

Juice from half a lime

1/4 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:

1. Combine the rice and the butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes, or until the butter is melted. Take out of the microwave and stir together.
2. Combine the beans and the lime juice in a bowl and mix well. You will only need half of the beans, so save the rest for later. Put the beans on top of the rice and top with the shredded cheese.
3. Microwave for 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Take out of the microwave and stir together.
4. Eat.