We arrived home from our vacation around 5:00 this evening. The fridge is nearly empty and the pantry is down to bare essentials. After being away for almost two weeks and spending nine hours in the car today, the last thing I wanted was to eat out. So I dug through the pantry and pulled together a simple, satisfying meal from convenience items.
These four ingredients became a quick, makeshift dinner in no time.
Heat a little olive oil in a pan, add pre-cooked rice and canned beans, and warm gently. Sprinkle Italian seasoning (or your favorite herb blend) and you have a five-minute meal that’s simple and comforting.
Don’t be misled by the title—this isn’t an elaborate dinner. Still, having a few convenience staples in the pantry made it easy to pull together something that hit the spot in an emergency. A big bowl of rice and beans can be surprisingly satisfying when you’re tired and short on time.
Now I need to tackle unpacking and laundry, but first I might give myself a little break and watch an episode of The Bachelorette. No judgment—laundry can wait until tomorrow. I’ll be back soon with some real recipes and more ideas for quick meals you can make from pantry staples.