A simple meal, for when your kitchen is still packed in a box.

moving is exhausting.  and expensive, when you didn't own any furniture in the first place.  and then exhausting some more.

without the energy to cook, i have been subsisting on amy's microwaveable meals for the past week.  amy, i'm probably your biggest fan, but i miss eating food with a bit more substance.  plus, the beeping sound of the microwave always kills my appetite a little, as it's the promising sound of lackluster meals to come.

so, tonight i took out the only pan i own and threw in some cheap ingredients, and ended up with my first home-cooked meal in the new apartment.

if, like me, you've been too exhausted lately to cook, or simply have barely any space or utensils to cook with, give this well-rounded meal a shot.  if you can use a can opener, you can make this recipe.  all together the ingredients cost about $17, with plenty of leftovers for future lazy days.

~meal in a fry pan recipe~

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 can red or black beans, depending on your preference
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 & 1/2 cups water
• 1 & 1/2 cups instant rice
• 1 cup shredded cheese (i used a mexican cheese blend)
• optional: 1 lb ground beef, ground turkey, or ground meat substitute 
• highly suggested: a glass of wine or beer as your cooking companion

{step 1}  heat a bit of olive oil in your frying pan, or any other cooking oil you have in the cupboard.  then throw in the onion (and, if you choose, ground meat or fake meat) over medium-high heat until the onions are a light golden brown (or until meat is no longer pink).

{step 2}  throw in the tomatoes, zucchini, beans and taco seasoning.  give them a quick sauté in the pan for a couple minutes or so, making sure everything is mixed thoroughly.  pour yourself a glass of wine for a job well done so far.  you deserve it!

{step 3}  add water.  bring to a boil.

{step 4}  add rice, mix well and reduce heat.  then cover and simmer for five to ten minutes, until the liquid is gone.  while you're at it, polish off your glass of wine.  what else have you got to do?

{step 5}  sprinkle the top with cheese, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit until the cheese is melted.

{step 6}  eat.  should feed at least four monumentally hungry people, or more if you're using it as a side dish.  beautifully paired with wine or beer...and a salad if you're feeling adventurous.

ok, now back to unpacking and lusting after new pots and pans on amazon.  bon appétit!

*this recipe inspired by the recipe i found here .