[jenny_islander]

IT LIVES! Here's another one for the list:

Heat in a large saucepan:

2 tablespoons olive oil

Add and saute' until softened:

1 cup chopped yellow onion
Chopped sweet or hot pepper, with or without seeds, to taste (I used a bell pepper)

Add and saute' until fragrant:

2 cloves garlic, smashed

Add and stir well:

1 cup long-grain white rice
1 3/4 cups water or vegetable broth
1 cup salsa, any type
(1 cup chopped tomato)

Bring to a boil, stirring often, then add:

1 tall can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 4-5 cups cooked black beans

Cover, reduce heat to Medium-Low, and cook for 20 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes off the heat and serve.

SERVES: Six.
COST: We bought most of the ingredients on sale, so I estimate $5 for the pot.
REVIEWS
Me: YUM. I could have stuffed myself. The salsa added just the right amount of heat and fragrance.
John: Good . . . but here's how you could have made it a real meal with assorted types of meat . . . but he didn't touch the leftover chicken in the fridge either.
Sophia: Doesn't like anything I make these days, so she had an apple for dinner.
Eva: Loved it! It tasted just like some canned spicy bean soup I used to buy (but it was a heckuva lot cheaper).
COMPLETE THE MEAL: Milk--any kind--or for a non-vegan addition, some grated Monterey jack cheese. Fresh oranges.