Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Quick Cilantro Lime Green Chili Rice

The past few weeks have been crazy busy.  Every spare moment has been spent preparing for our annual fundraiser for the Batten Disease Support and Research Association.  Our very dear family friends have two children afflicted with this horrible disease and it's something that, while exhausting, I am very happy to be a part of it.  

Because I have been so busy, I haven't been cooking, which means I also haven't really been eating right either.  I can definitely tell that a couple weeks of eating foods I shouldn't have really started to take a toll on me.  I'm tired, achy, and feel run down.  I joked with a friend that I should probably go to rehab for a month and get treated for exhaustion just like all the celebrities.  A month of sleep, massages, yoga, and healthy foods is just what I need.  

Unfortunately, I am not a celebrity with tons of money, and my insurance will only laugh at me if I try to get a 30 day spa retreat covered, so I just need to get some focus, learn to say "NO," and put myself first (I'm not good at doing that AT ALL). So that means lots of cooking, menu planning and eating at HOME.  It's so easy to stop and get take out, but that gets really expensive and has way too many things in it that I shouldn't be eating (and lots of things NO ONE should be eating either).

One of my favorite quick lunches at work is Chipotle.  It's the better choice if you have to get lunch out, it's gluten free if you don't get tortillas, and it's easily customizable to your diet restrictions or your mood.  I usually end up getting a burrito bowl without cheese or sour cream for a yummy gluten free, dairy free treat.

Last night, when I was making our weekly Taco Tuesday dinner, I decided to try to make one of my favorite Chipotle Menu item: Cilantro Lime Rice.  I already had some pre-cooked rice, so it only took me about 5 minutes to make this tasty side! I love green chilies, so I had to add those as well.  It was so yummy and I will be making this often!



Quick Cilantro Lime Green Chili Rice

2 cups cooked rice (I like the frozen Trader Joe's rice in microwaveable pouches, or leftover rice would work great)
1 4oz can diced green chilies
juice of 2 limes
 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tsp. coconut oil

Heat rice. Add rice, green chilies, lime juice, cilantro, and coconut oil to a sauce pan, skillet, or microwaveable dish.  Heat over medium heat (or 2-3 minutes in the microwave) until warmed thoroughly.