Black Beans and Rice Chicken

1 box (7 oz.) Zatarain's New Orleans Style Black Beans and Rice
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite size pieces

Cook beans and rice according to package directions.  During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add chicken.  Serves 4.

Martha:  This is one of the simplest dishes you'll find.  The flavors from the Zatarain is simply wonderful and if you happen to have leftovers, the flavors absorb even more so into the chicken.  I have to say that this isn't one of the healthiest dishes due to the sodium from the package mix but it's so quick to make and the taste is simply heavenly.  Spicy but not hot like a lot of the New Orleans dishes.

Tips:  when breading chicken pieces before frying, take the time to refrigerate the coated chicken for at least 30 minutes.  The chilling sets the crust and keeps it on the chicken instead of in the skillet.

Chicken Black Bean Pizza

1 can (15.25 oz.) black beans, drained
1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
1/4 cup self rising corn meal
2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning Mix
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
Salsa
shredded cheese
Sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour drained beans, onions, corn meal and Taco seasoning into a blender or food processor.  Pulse until completely everything is blended and becomes a 'dough.'  On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper divide bean mix evenly creating 6 flat pizza crusts shaping them with the back of a spoon or your hands.  Bake 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and top with about 1 Tbsp. Salsa, cheese and chicken.  Bake until cheese melts, about 5-10 minutes.  Top with sour cream. 

Martha:  This is such a fun dish to play with.  You can add so much such as black olives, peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and you can also change the meat.  Using the black beans gives you a change of taste from the traditional tacos and you eat it with a fork so it's not quite as messy.  Plus, this is a kid friendly dish since they can actually help create their own.  

Tip:  When removing the skin from your chicken, hold the skin with a paper towel.  This gives a better grip allowing the skin to be removed with ease.