So this may seem so obvious and simple that we don't need a 'recipe' post for it ... but I made this meal over the weekend and it was a HUGE hit. My daughter who says she doesn't like anything but white rice *LOVED* it ... her super-picky BFF who barely eats anything *LOVED* it ... and a certain persnickity male friend of mine who bad-mouths all 'pre-packaged' foods *LOVED* it so much that he said it may have been the best thing he'd ever eaten.

EVERYTHING I used was a super coupon bargain

2 boxes Zatarain's Black Beans and Rice
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes w/ onions
1 smoked sausage
chopped onion
chopped garlic
Cayenne pepper
Olive oil/Butter/Margarine

1. Heat onion and garlic in a little olive oil (or butter/margarine) over medium heat till the onion is soft and just starting to brown a tiny bit ... but not so much as to burn the garlic.
2. In the meantime, in a separate pot .... bring rice mix, water and oil/margarine/butter to a boil according to package directions. (I reduced the water by 1/2 cup since I was preparing 2 boxes rather than using the fully doubled amount ... it seems to work better this way. Also, I usually find the seasoning to be a little heavy and salty in these mixes, so I shook one box of the Zatarains in a wire mesh strainer before adding it to the water to remove some of the seasoning poweder.)
3. When the onion/garlic is ready, add one can of black beans & one can of tomatoes and stir.
4. Cut 1/2 of the sausage into small bite size pieces and stir into the beans. Add a little cayenne pepper if you like things spicier.
5. Allow bean mixture to simmer on medium low while the rice mixture simmers on low for 20-25 mintues (per package directions.)
6. When rice is ready ... remove from heat. Continue to allow beans to simmer.
7. Slice the rest of the sausage in half lengthwise and grill in a frying pan or on a George Forman type grill. (of course you could just add all the sausage to the beans ... but my family likes having some well grilled sausage on the side.)
8. Serve heaping bowls of rice topped with the bean ... with sausage and bread (if you wish) on the side. Of course a healthy meal would also include a salad or steamed green veggie ... but we were bad and just ate rice & beans & sausage .... and a few baby carrots.

I know it's all just boxes and cans ... and it was soooo easy ... but honest to goodness it was sooooo yummy.