Shredded Chicken and Black Beans

This is the good stuff. I make it all the time. Super cheap, super easy and super fun.

Here is what you need:

1 lb dried black beans, prepared according to the directions on the package
1 32 oz can diced tomatoes
2 big chicken breasts
1 green pepper
2 jalapenos
1 cup frozen corn
1 bunch cilantro
1 onion
butter to fry in
salt, pepper

The first step is browning the chicken. This gives you flavor and flavor is fun. Melt the butter over medium high heat in a big skillet and then brown the chicken for about four or five minutes on both sides. You do not need to cook it through.

Turn down to medium heat and add the can of tomatoes and then the onions, green pepper and jalapeno all chopped. Bring this to a simmer and cook covered for about twenty to thirty minutes or so, you want the chicken to be quite well cooked.

It's done when you can relatively easily break the chicken up w/ a spatula:

At this point, I generally let it cool, uncovered for about twenty minutes. It just makes it easier to shred. Though if you want, you can go ahead and shred it w/ forks right away.

I don't much worry if it's perfectly shredded just get it into nice bite-size pieces. Nobody is going to complain. Once you're at this point, you can serve this stuff over rice and it's great but I prefer the more protein-centric rout and mix it up w/ a package worth of cooked dried black beans. I also add a handful of frozen corn and a bunch of chopped cilantro.

At this point you'll want to put it over medium heat to bring it back up to serving temperature. Season w/ salt and pepper and you're good to go. I just plop this unceremoniously into bowls and eat it up.It's not fancy, it's fun!