Black Bean Chicken

I actually adapted this recipe from one I found in Taste of Home. It used all fresh ingredients, and I tried using canned to see if it was still edible. James and I liked it, but the kids didn't. No shocking surprises there.

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chicken (12.5 oz.) drained
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz.) drained
1 can diced green chilis, drained
salt and pepper to taste

(I also added fresh chopped onion and garlic, cooked in olive oil for about 5 minutes)

Combine all ingredients in a pot and cook until hot. Serve over hot rice.

Book of the Week: Masterpiece by Elise Broach
This is a children's book about a beetle who draws and the boy who befriends him. Naturally, all of the grownups think that the boy is the one making the amazing drawings. Together, the boy and the beetle solve an international art theft, all without being able to talk to each other. I read this book out loud to the kids and they really liked it. I'm not sure if I'd have loved reading it just for me, though. There are several random scenes of the beetle family that are really just pointless. And the bad guy doesn't get punished at the end of the book, which is a downside for me because I like kids books where the bad deeds have serious consequences. It was still an enjoyable read-aloud. It was suspenseful without being really scary, and the friendship between bug and boy was really well-done. It reminded me a little bit of the movie "Ratatouille" because they had to find creative ways to communicate. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.