I’m very blessed to have a mom and mother-in-law who are both great cooks, and I’m constantly asking for their recipes and trying to soak up their tips. They make cooking seem so easy! For me, the constant challenge is to find meals that appeal to both kids and adults.

Well, here’s a good one. My mother-in-law makes this one every now and then, and it’s always a hit. She calls it simply “Black Beans and Rice.” It makes a beautiful spread if you’re feeding a group of people, and it’s especially nice if you’re in the position of needing to feed both vegetarians and meat-eaters (as in our case.)

In pretty serving dishes, sit these out as a serve-yourself buffet:

One big platter of cooked white or brown rice
One bowl of cooked black beans
One platter of cooked, sliced sausage
Small bowls of condiments: grated cheese, chopped onion, diced tomato, salsa, and sour cream
Green salad, to be served as a side dish

On the table, place big bowls of tostitos and fritos, so people can serve themselves while they’re seated and talking.

What makes this meal great is that adults can add the salsa and onions and make it spicy, while kids may go for more cheese and skip the salsa. The black beans are healthy and full of fiber, but the sausage is also filling for those who like it. You could also add tortillas and roll up the rice, beans, and cheese inside. Salmon or chicken could be substituted instead of sausage.

This meal is just plain fun, and it’s so much better than eating out at a restaurant.