Hello and welcome back to Five Things I Ate! This week, it’s all about my fave budget meal. Read past posts here, and please follow my Instagram, @fivethingsiate. Â
Black beans & eggs plate at Salt & Pepper
2503 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
I had the best fucking beans of my life 😫 in, of all places, Atlantic city, at this tiny cash-only hole in the wall called Salt and Pepper. Now, I don’t have much to say about Atlantic City, because it turns out I forgot to bring my driver’s license. But I don’t really mind, because everything about that place was just so damn good. You know a place is about to impress you when they don’t take card but this was just *chef’s kiss*. It was so good that as soon as I got 2.5 hours later, and found my driver’s license in my purse all along, I went out to the grocery store to buy some beans. So this week’s meal prep is inspired by this tiny little restaurant.
Shortcut black beans at home
I don’t know how restaurants make beans taste so good but probably you need to cook them from scratch. (Send me your recipes! Except I sort of don’t want to lug out the instant pot.) But, if you want to use a shortcut, like me, don’t drain the can.
sautée 1/2 white onion, diced, and 1 clove garlic, minced in oil till soft
add 1 can black beans — do not drain
1 tsp cumin, salt and pepper
simmer 5-10 min, add water if you want it soupier
Cilantro lime chicken breasts at homeÂ
I usually never buy chicken breasts but i’m in my Soccer Mommy cooking era and I saw these at target. To my delight it’s not too dry and very flavor to cook chicken breast like this.
2 chicken breasts (large)
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
black pepper
1/4 packet Sazon
2 tbs chopped cilantro
1 tbs olive oil + more for cooking
Cut chicken breast into cubes. Throw into a Tupperware. Add juice of 1 lime, plus all seasonings and cilantro. Stick in fridge for at least 30min. To cook, grill or heat pan to high and cook until browned on each side. Your timing may vary, so make sure it’s not pink inside (prob 3-5min each side?).
Butter rice at home
2 cups water
1 cup jasmine rice
1 tbs salted butter
salt to taste
20 minutes
rice is life. Recently, I’ve been on a NON ASIAN RICE KICK (?!). The key to making rice is having a nice lil pot with a lid. Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice, butter, and salt and turn down heat as low as possible. Cover and cook for 20 mins without peaking. Turn off heat. Fluff and serve.
Sweet Potato Baumkuchen at Muji (Little Treat of the Week)
Is there anything you can’t get at Muji? I’ve accumulated quite a collection of mugs from there slowly over the course of this spring. I’ve always been tempted by the checkout snacks and I’m glad I finally caved because this lil cake iis excellent. The sweet potato scent is there but not too strong or artificial. It’s perfect with coffee, as are most things in life.
xoxo,
Soph
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