Island Style Rice and Beans

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained or 15 ounces canned black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 (16 ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350.

2. 2

   In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; saute until golden, about 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add rice and cumin; cook while stirring, for 1 minute.

4. 4

   Stir in beans, tomatoes with liquid, water and hot pepper sauce. Break up the tomatoes with a spoon. Increase the heat to HIGH and bring to a boil.

5. 5

   Transfer rice mixture to a lg. baking dish (11"x7"). Cover and bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 25 minutes.

6. 6

   FOR OAMC: Freeze in a labeled gallon ziploc bag after step 4(after allowing it to cool to room temp.). To serve, thaw in refrigerator, and bake according to directions above.