We have restored the natural order of things chili. I love that the elbow mac has ridges. The only place I can find that has these is the Amish run store near us. I was thrilled to see a horse and buggy tied up in front of the store one day but haven’t seen any since then. The sect that operates around here allows the use of tractors so all of the families use a tractor to haul trailers to move goods and people around. The tractors must have a special road gear because they move right on along.

Frozen shrimp and frozen fries make a good start on a fuss-free dinner. The side is easier than those – a can of Niblets corn plus a can of Ro*tel with a dash of rice vinegar and oil. I did make the slaw and the cocktail sauce from scratch.

Jerk seasoned tilapia is becoming a favorite around here. I wondered about a side that would go well with it and took inspiration from this Jamaican rice and beans recipe. I made do with a can of kidney beans and some rice cooked with coconut milk plus water enough to keep the rice/liquid ratio. I used dried thyme, lacking any fresh sprigs and omitted the green onions because I didn’t have enough for more than a garnish. I did add minced onion, the allspice, fresh ginger, and the salt and pepper. I did not use the scotch bonnet/habanero for fear of backlash from Mrs J. I did douse my serving with a mango/scotch bonnet hot sauce.