Where have you been?!?

And by "you" of course I mean, where have "I" been?

I did realize that I have been neglecting my blogging duties. What I did not realize was for exactly how long I have been remiss. Over a month!! It appears.

Sarah, I agree. That is unacceptable.

So this morning, I am back. We had a great "Mexican" fiesta last night, and I thought that today I should come on and post a recipe.

The following is my recipe for black beans... I usually serve these in a burrito or over rice.

EASY TASTY BLACK BEANS
1 can black beans - drained and rinsed (I don't like the icky stuff from the can)
1 can diced tomatoes - you can use tomatoes + green chilies too (I don't drain these - just dump them in)
1/2 an onion - diced (optional)
1 TBSP olive oil (a little fat helps all the flavors mix)
1tps garlic powder
1tps cumin
1/2 tps ground red pepper (optional... makes it kinda spicy)
salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf

Of course you can adjust any of the above ingredients to suit your own personal tastes; sometimes I add freshly chopped jalapenos. Put all of the above in a pot and cover with store bought chicken broth/stock (veggie broth - ok too). Cook just below a boil while you are getting the rest of dinner ready. I usually just simmer for about 30 min... or maybe as little time as it takes the rice to cook. If you cook it too long... or it looks dry... just add more broth. As I told Christina... this is super easy, so you can't mess anything up. ;-)

Splash some sour cream and fresh cilantro on top, and you've got a semi-homemade side that would make Sandra Lee proud.