Cheesy Rice and Beans

For that childhood craving of Mac n Cheese and Ranch Beans…. 😋

Nothing satisfies like a meal from your childhood. And something my sister and I grew up on, and for me, was a staple in college, was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with a can of Ranch-style Beans. It’s as terrible to your health as you would guess, oh but that powder cheesy goodness with the sweet-savory-zesty pintos… 🤤 I haven’t delighted my childhood palate in a long long time… until tonight!

Don’t forget your yellow onion 🧅! Mine got left out of the pic. 😞 But not to worry, it made a big appearance in the prep because no successful dish puts onion in the corner. 🕺🏻💃🏻 Keep the onion and keep it savory. ❤️

Trying to keep to a whole foods, plant-based diet 🌱 and incorporating foods that do not trigger my gut inflammation, this recipe satisfies the craving, the gut, and left my husband and I feeling fueled and satisfied. 💛 The benefits of cooking with leeks includes: high in vitamin A and beta-carotene which aids in vision, immunity, and cell communication; high in vitamin K for heart health; higher in vitamin C than an orange which aids in immunity, iron absorption, collagen support; high in manganese which supports thyroid function, hormone balance (good for PMS symptoms), reduces inflammation and a good prebiotic/soluble fiber that aids digestion and gut health. Healthline: Benefits of Leeks and Wild Ramps

The flavor won’t be weak when you use garlic 🧄 onion 🧅 and leek(s)! 😋

Ingredients:
1 cup organic brown rice
1 cup organic veggie broth (no sweetener) or 2 cups if not using bone broth
1 cup organic chicken bone broth (no sweetener)
2 leeks, halved and diced
1 yellow onion,chopped, or 1 Tbs onion powder
2 garlic cloves, chopped, or 1 Tsp garlic powder
5 oz baby kale
3 oz Treeline scallion cashew cheese (half container)
3 oz Treeline garlic cashew cheese
1/2 cup organic almond greek yogurt or whole milk kefir for the benefits of *probiotics*, or almond milk
2 Tsp ground mustard
2 Tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 Tsp smoked paprika
1 can kidney beans(salt and water only), drained
salt and pepper
*See Science Daily: Probiotics could disrupt Crohn’s disease biofilms*
and Healthline: Probiotics for Crohn’s

When those bulbs start to sizzle, you know something good is gonna happen.

Recipe: Cook rice according to instructions using broths. Over medium heat, sauté onion and leeks until browned and wilted. Add garlic, beans, and kale, stirring until beginning to wilt. Add paprika (onion and garlic powder if using instead of fresh) and a dash of salt and pepper, and let heat for half a min. Add cooked rice, cheeses, kefir, mustards, and yeast. Season to taste with salt and pepper, to your liking. Makes enough for two and some leftover.

One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of my bowls don’t come out looking brilliant, and that’s because I don’t keep the ingredients separated for that perfect picture. I might play around with that in the future. But a one or two pot meal doesn’t always come out looking the “prettiest,” and that’s okay! What matters most is that you are satisfied with the results, both creatively and nutritionally. ❤️