Polynesian Style Black Beans and Rice

Put some rice on the boil, I use Uncle Ben's boil in bag brown rice (make sure to salt the water, just like when doing pasta or potatoes, this is the only time you can season the inside of these foods). Open a can of black beans, and empty it, juice and all into a large non-stick pan (you could also use red beans). Add a cup or so of chicken stock. 2 tbl New Mexican chile powder. 2 tbl diced garlic. 1 tbl flour. Now the key ingredient: 2 tbl Virgin Coconut Oil (mine is from Spectrum, I bought it at Whole Foods, and it is solid white oil in a jar) this is what gives the recipe its Polynesian flair! Salt, pepper. Bring to high heat, then reduce to simmer to allow the liquid to cook down, stir often. Add 1 tbl dried basil leaf for sweetness. When the beans are ready, drain the boil in bag brown rice, and stir the rice into the beans. Cut some fresh green onions over the dish, this small extra step really ups the flavor profile. Feel free to top with Jamaican jerk shrimp. Delicious, hearty, and super easy!

Tom Yum Soup

This recipe comes courtesy of my friend Rahim. I can't wait to try it out, and may just run out to the store for a few items right now!

1 cup chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup lime juice
Simmer those first for 15 minutes:

- Either you add your paste (3 cups = 3 tbsp of paste) or you make 'it from scratch, your choice. I won't judge if you use paste.
- 1 1/2 tbsp of red curry paste (this is what makes it spicy, BE CAREFUL!). Can also use 1-2 small red (or substitute green) chilies (depending on desired spiciness), finely sliced.
- Add chicken (bite size) or prawns (raw, shelled) or whatever
- 3 tbsp of fish sauce (I like the Safeway kind, less umm fishy)
- After the chicken is cooked, add shiitake mushroom
- Let mushroom cook a bit, then add green onion
- Add cilantro, and lime wedge for garnish
Rahim makes spicy jasmine rice to go with it, but says you can just eat it with white rice. :)

I noted that this recipe uses no coconut milk or lemongrass, and found out that the soup is often made without coconut milk (by simply replacing the coconut milk with more stock). This keeps it nice and simple, but a quick search on the Internet might inspire you to use those ingredients as well (I have some coconut milk in my pantry, so I'll be trying that). Other nice additions would be sliced red bell pepper, garlic, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and noodles.