For realsies this is tasty: Mexican Rice Casserole

Hooray - I've been doing a good job keeping my points low.  Went out to a Thai restaurant and had 1 serving of rice (1/3 of your fist) and 3/4 cup of green curry for about 10 points.  (Tried to eat most of the white meat chicken and veggies, and was very careful with the oh-so-tasty-coconut based sauce).


I've also discovered that Chipotle is my friend as long as I get the burrito bowl and scoop out rice over the 2 servings (2/3 c).  Those Chipotle people get so generous with the rice, I easily get 4 servings everytime I go there.  And I don't think it is just because I'm cute either -- everyone gets 4 servings!  Anyway, I get the rice, steak, fajitas, corn, and medium salsa and it's a very-worth-it 13 points!  Oh man I love that steak there -- you can totally taste the lime and yummy spices.  Sigh.  I love my steak burrito bowl.


Anyway, I made this Mexican Rice Casserole for dinner tonight!  This recipe is adapted (like all of the ones on this blog) from ones given to me by friends (credit Melissa N and Marci).  


It's really simple.  I admit I find it annoying to measure things, so I tried to keep it simple.  


Tips: I totally didn't measure out the cumin, cayenne pepper and chili pepper -- I just put some measurements out for people who like to have direction.  1 c of black beans is very close to the entire 15 oz can of drained black beans so I think it is not worth getting your 1-cup measure dirty.  Yes, I used regular fat cheddar cheese - to me, it is so worth it.  I made the brown rice but one of the hints that I got with the original recipe is to go to your local Chinese takeout place and just buy some cooked brown rice -- I bet it's like $1 or something.


Ingredients:
1.5 c cooked brown rice - 8 points

3/4 c salsa - 0 points

1 c black beans - 4 points

4 oz - green chile peppers - 0 points

1 box of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry - 0 points

3/4 c shredded cheddar cheese - 9 points

1 tsp cumin

pinch cayenne pepper

1 tsp chili pepper

= 24 points / 3 servings 

= 8 points / serving

Directions: Preheat the oven 400 degrees.  Combine the rice and salsa with some cumin.  Put 2/3 of the rice mixture in the bottom of the square 12x12 inch baking pan.  Then mix the black beans and green chilis with some chili powder and put that on top of the rice in the baking pan.  Next spread the spinach out on top of the black beans.  Make the next layer the remaining rice, then finally the cheese.

Bake 20 min.