Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Simple Eats

While I am a simple cook, sometimes simple can be so nice. Today I made dinner consisting of brown rice cooked the old fashioned way on the stove top, roasted chicken drumsticks and a colourful black bean and corn salad.



The salad consists of:

  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups of frozen corn kernels
  • 1 medium red pepper, washed and diced
  • 2 stalks of green onions, washed, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 papaya, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 lime

After you assemble and prepare all the ingredients, simply toss them together with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon.


If you like spices, you can add cayenne pepper and garlic. Or, you can add some avocado if you wish. As for me, I left out the spices and used bigger chunks of papaya.

Tip:  There is no need to defrost the corn kernels first. I made this salad while the rice and chicken were cooking.  By the time the main meal is ready to be plated, the corn kernels in the salad are thawed enough to eat.



I am grateful that we in the west can still eat. 
Even if we have no money there are things like food banks and soup kitchens
as long as you are able bodied enough to walk to these places. 

My heart and head are still concerned about the hungry and the 
dying in the Horn of Africa. Please consider your gift today. 
You can find donate buttons on the side of my blog.




14 comments:

Candice Suter.....Sweetstuff said...

Yummo, this looks really good and cheap too! Thanks!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

We take so much for granted, including the safety nets our societies provide. Love your meal.

Urmi said...

Wonderful dish. Looks delicious and yummy. Lovely presentation.
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Diane said...

When we have something we just take things for granted, when it is not available (such as food) life is very difficult.
This meal looks so yummy with all the colour. Take care Diane

Fred Alton said...

Beautiful meal! Having lived in the "Horn", I know that our worst day we have it better than they have on their best day. Their suffering is still untold. I don't understand it at all...but I know it's there. Will we be able to make a difference? We can for at least one person or perhaps for one family by doing as you suggest.

Colleen said...

All these tragedies in the world really make me think about the real blessings we live with...we have food...we have water...we have shelter...(of course I know there are those who don't but most of us are living lives that could be called quite luxurious!) Food and water are so necessary yet so easily taken for-granted. Thank you for the reminder Penny.

And what a delightful looking meal...I think I will try it as I am looking for something new yet simple to try.:)

Have a great day!

Icy BC said...

Sounds heavenly yummy, tasty, and healthy!

Jan said...

Loving the look of that salad.

Yes too true, how much we do take for granted in the West. How much too we have lost in the name of progress. My wish for the people of the West is that those lost and troubled find peace and regain some of what they have lost. My wish for those in other places where life is so difficult in ways we cannot imagine, get relief from their immediate suffering and then just governments who have the best interests of their people at heart.

Am I asking for the moon?

Filipina Ini said...

That looks so yummilicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe...

Joyful said...

@Candy, it was very good. I guess the cost of it will very much depend on where you live. Both chicken and papayas are quite expensive here where I am though I think in some places will be much less costly.

@Pieces of Sunshine, it is really true that we do take so much for granted. We need to support all of our social safety nets and look after our fellow men as best we can. Some day we may need the very help that others need from us. Thank you for your visit and your kind comment.

@Babli, thank you for your visit and your kind words.

@Diane, so true. I hope in some small way we can all remind one another to be grateful for every single thing we have in this life and to ensure we do what we can to help these things continue to be there for those that need them.

@Fred, thank you for the kind remarks. It is so nice when other do "get" just how luxurious our lives really are at even the simplest level of living here in NA as compared to much of the rest of the world. I do believe that if you can help 1 person then you have done a great service. God bless you.

@Colleen, thank you for your visit. I'm so glad that tragedies can help us to live gratefully and do the best we can for others. I hope you get a chance to try out the meal, esp. the salad :-)

@IcyBC, I think you're right!

@Jan, the salad was nice and I love it's colours. It is true we have lost a lot in the name of "progress". But honourable people everywhere can help others get relief when they need it. Prayers can change the world's governments. At least that is my belief so I don't believe you are asking for the moon. Blessings!

@ Filipina Ina, you're very welcome. Thank you for the visit.

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I love the look of your blog. I'm sorry that you have had a loss in your family or friends. Is your mom still ok? I pray you are doing ok and hope you will be replying when ever you can.

Joyful said...

Thank you Heidi for commenting on my new blog look. I'm glad you like it as it is always trial and error. Then I change my mind, lol. I still have to play with the header a bit but it okay for now.

My mom had a close call in May but she is much better now and seems to be gaining her memory and old sense of humour. I am grateful for that. I hope your vision is much better now too!

Brenda Green said...

Penny,
you do a great job at designing your food for a picture and the recipe for black bean and corn salad looks beautiful and good to eat. I will try it! warmly, me

Joyful said...

Thank you Brenda. I really loved the salad. I think you will too!

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