Trying Something New

I had big plans for dinner tonight.  Plans that included kneading dough and forming it into biscuits.  But then the ants showed up in SWARMS again today, consuming my kitchen counters, windowsill, sink, and medicine cabinet.  So my plans changed.  Since my stovetop was spared from the teensy, but very annoying creatures...the stovetop is where I stuck.  Please keep in mind I am not a measurer....so measurements can be adjusted per your liking.  Here's my newest creation:

Mimi's Taco-Licious Chicken & Rice

Ingredients:

1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 cup water
2-3 chicken bouillon cubes
EVOO
1 heaping Tbs minced garlic (or a couple cloves)
1/4 green pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1/4 yellow onion, diced
2 cups jasmine rice
1-1 1/2 cups frozen yellow corn
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 Tbs Taco Seasoning (give or take)
4 chicken thighs (or breasts, or whatever you prefer)
EVOO
1 tsp minced garlic (1 clove-ish)
Salt
Pepper
Taco Seasoning
Mexican Chili Powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray baking sheet with Pam (or other cooking spray).

Bring diced tomatoes, water, and chicken bouillon cubes to a boil in a large saucepan.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat EVOO and garlic on a medium-high heat.  When hot, add in diced onions and green peppers.  Saute until softened.  Add to boiling liquid mixute, then add in rice, corn, black beans, and taco seasoning.  Add a little more water if needed.  Bring to a boil again, then cover and reduce heat.  Let cook for 20 minutes.

Defrost chicken if needed.  Heat EVOO and garlic in the skillet you cooked the veggies in.  Using a basting brush, apply a little garlic-oil out of the pan onto one side of the chicken.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, taco seasoning and mexican chili powder and rub into chicken.  Place face down in hot pan and repeat the seasoning onto the other side.  Sear both sides of chicken on a medium-high heat for about two minutes.  Place onto baking sheet and bake for 10-ish minutes, or until cooked all the way through.

My husband ended up inviting a co-worker over for dinner tonight, so fortunately my experiment was a success and they both enjoyed it.  Monkey kept saying "mommy, mommy" (which apparently is his word for "nummy" lately...he calls me "mama" not "mommy") as he picked out all the corn and beans to eat.  Two-year-olds are picky eaters, what can I say???

If you happen to give the Taco-Licious a try, lemme know what you think, will you???  Happy cooking!