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I've been cooking things very simply, and enjoying them a lot more. I find I don't crave the elaborate stuff I used to cook. Plus I feel better when I cook simple foods.

Here's what I made for dinner tonight, it was amazing. If you don't feel comfortable cooking your vegetables in parchment paper, you can try a corningware dish if you want.

Sorry I don't have a picture, it dissappeared into my belly before I thought to do so!

It takes a while to cook becuase you cook beans and then use the cooking water to cook rice. Really while the rice cooked I just did other things. That's how I like to cook. Put things in the oven or stove and then forget about them!

Best veggies ever.

1 ¼ cups red kidney beans, soaked overnight, then rinsed.
Add them to a pressure cooker and cover with a couple inches of water.

Add to this:
One smallish carrot, cut into three
One celery stalk, cut or broken into thirds
1 onion, peeled and cut in half
A couple of bay leaves
1 or 2 peeled cloves of garlic
1 habanero (trust me!)
A spring of fresh thyme (nothing compares!)
A little salt

Bring all this to a boil and cook for 30 minutes at full pressure. When done, carefully pick everything out.

Use the cooking liquid to cook your rice. You can also add a spring of fresh thyme to your rice as well, it will taste awesome! Once the rice is done, remove the thyme.

Veggies:
2 green peppers, sliced thin
2 carrots, sliced thin
1 head of broccoli, cut into large chunks
2 spring fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried)
2 2-inch pieces of fresh rosemary
A couple springs fresh thyme
Salt and pepper
Parchment paper
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Mix the peppers and carrots together.

Get four large pieces of parchment paper, and cut then so the corners are rounded. Then fold it in half.

Divide the carrots and peppers between two pieces of parchment paper. Add a spring of rosemary and oregano to each. Add salt and pepper to taste.

In the last two pieces of paper, add the broccoli. Add a spring of fresh thyme to each and salt and pepper to taste.
Twist the edges of the parchment paper tightly so they make a sealed pouch. Stick these on baking trays and bake for 20-25 minutes. They will be well done. Discard the herbs.

Mix the veggies with the beans, and serve over the rice.

The habanero will not make this too spicy. In fact it will add a really nice spicy flavour. Habanero is my favourite.

If you really love heat, you can mince a jalapeno and throw it in with the rice.