You may have noticed I was a bit grumpy last week. I would share the reason why with you, but it is long and drawn out and involves a 5 year old screaming hysterically all the way to school and to her classroom about a water bottle. That’s how I started my birthday and it basically set the tone for the rest of the day.
Anyway, the next morning I left for a trip with Bush’s Beans to the most beautiful Paws Up resort in Montana. It’s amazing what a little bit of this…
and this…
can do to help you gain perspective.
I guess I just needed some room to breathe, and I thankfully found it in the hills of Montana.
I can’t wait to share more about my trip to Montana with Bush’s Beans with you, and I will very soon. I have a ton of pictures to edit and recipes to share! In the meantime, enjoy one of my favorite recipes for Red Beans and Rice.
Recipe: Red Beans and Rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 stalks of celery, sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 3/4 chicken broth
- 1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I prefer Bush’s Beans)
- 1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I prefer Bush’s Beans)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 pound fully cooked smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch rounds
- 4 cups hot cooked rice
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and heat through. Saute celery, onions and garlic until tender. Add broth, beans, Italian seasonin, red pepper flakes, Creole seasoning and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove about 1-1/2 cups of bean mixture and mash. Return to skillet. Add sausage; bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes or until bean mixture reaches desired thickness. Serve over rice.
We all deserve grumpy days…especially when a screaming child is involved. You are a beautiful person…inside and out. And, your pictures are beyond beautiful…I mean, you even made beans and rice look pretty! Who does that? You, of course! 🙂
Oh girl! I am so sorry…all birthdays should start and end with smiles and cake!
Boy have I been there before…
Just *looking* at those pictures drew a deep delicious sigh from my chest. Ahhhhhh.
Glad you had such a wonderful time, can’t wait to see the photos!
Ahhhhhh parenting . . . as much as we love our kids, i think it’s days like those that could be used as birth control for any teenager who thinks having a baby is terrific fun . . . i’m really glad you took this trip Kristen – it’s good to have some breathing room with great friends, good food and open spaces!
Oh mammas can relate! We’ve all been *there* with the kidlets. So glad you got to take some time to breathe and laugh and play…er uhh…work. 😉
Yes…room to breathe. That’s exactly what we need every now and then.
Love this simple bean recipe, I can eat up a nice bowl of that with no problem. 🙂
Loved spending time with you…hugs.
Your photos are so beautiful! Love them, and this recipe, and yes we all need time to breathe. I’ve been pretty cranky myself, lately 😉
I’m so sorry about your birthday! The Bush’s trip looks/looked amazing! I loved seeing all of the photos on instagram. 🙂
This looks fantastic. Sorry about the bad birthday–you better have a do-over. 😉
Can’t wait to hear about Montana!
It is always nice to hear that other Mum’s have a hellish time with tantrum throwing kids over things that just do not matter.
Getting ‘away’ from it all for a breather is the best thing to do.
I love the bean recipe. Simple and nutritious. We eat a lot of beans here. Can’t get Bush’s but they are still very good.
That read beans and rice has me shivering in my seat.
Would you spoon feed me?
That’s weird, sorry.
I’m so sorry your birthday started out crummy but I am so glad it ended with a wonderful trip. I can’t wait to hear about details. 🙂
My husband loves red beans and rice and I have been searching for a great recipe for a while. I cannot wait to try this one out!
It only gets better at 13 years old. Ok, I’m lying. I’m glad you had a blast in Montana. That state is so beautiful. Can’t wait to read about the remainder of your trip.
Happy Belated Birthday to you!
Heather
The recipe looks great~
Love the photos you took. Going out and being in a place that looks like that does give you a boost we all need from time to time.
Montana air is so good for the soul. Ought to bottle it. Cheers!
I know very well how a child’s tantrum can start a day off all wrong. I can see why that Montana air made things better!! These beans sound fabulous, and perfect for the colder weather.
Oh my I so enjoyed following your tweets while you were away! Wish I could have been there looked so wonderful! Lovely photos friend! Hugs from Conroe, TX
WHat a beautiful view! I am sure that could get me out of my rutt too 🙂
looks so beautiful in Montana, must have been a wonderful trip. This dish looks great!
Nothing like a little change of scenery to help regain your equilibrium. Love the photo of the beans — beautiful.
We LOVE a big pot of beans and rice this time of year, and these look Fabulous!!! Glad you got a break from the sniffles and sneezes and tantrums going around here!
Well, I’m glad your birthday ended up well! Looks like an incredibly beautiful area. Bush’s Beans rock! I’m glad you shared this recipe ~ looks and sounds great.
Pat
I just put this on the menu for next month! It looks great! Thanks!
Wow. I’ve been drooling over that resort for the past twenty minutes! What a great getaway. BTW, I love Bush’s Beans. 🙂
We’ve all been there! I spent 15 minutes digging through the trash can at the restaurant earlier because my 6 year old accidentally threw away her favorite littlest pet shop toy. Ugh… it still makes me shudder. Glad you had a chance to relax and unwind a little!
The screaming kid episodes are always replayed every now and again in our household. LOL! Although, not really on my birthday (thank God!)…
Your pictures are wonderful…I am having a virtual tour of Montana. I will be trying your recipe this week. Thanks for sharing…
Can you could make that trip to feel better! Bean and Rice? Of course!
I looove red beans and rice, and yours looks perfect!! So glad you had a wonderful time in Montana.
Oh man. I dont know how you did it, but I dont like red beans and rice, yet I am slightly obsessed with THIS red beans and rice. And with figuring out how to make my already dramatic 2 year old not turn into a dramatic five year old. Ah!
Next time you head to Montana, sneak me into your suitcase! It’s so beautiful there!
Oy, great way to start a birthday…at least it ended on an up note!
Yes! Red Beans & Rice sounds like the perfect comfort food for me today 🙂 Thanks Kristen!
Glad you found lots of room to breath. That is so important as parents. Paws Up looks like my kinda deal girl. I gotta get there some day 🙂 The beans look great too.
Hey there….please insert my blog URL in the last comment. Accidentally pasted an email.
Those photos are amazingly beautiful! I’m just going to sit and stare at them whenever I get down 🙂
I hear you! We all have days when we really need space to breathe! Glad you were able to get it… and in such a gorgeous location!
I could possibly live off of beans and rice (and some cake). Loved seeing you again!
Wow. Absolutely beautiful.
Happy Belated Birthday…..
What wonderful pictures, the recipe sounds delicious…
We all need some me time to relax… I am glad you got some.
cant beat baked beans on white rice! Thanks for this splendid giveaway
I just finished eating a big bowl of these red beans and rice, and will never search for another red beans and rice recipe again! This one is IT! So very good! YUM!