Mexican Fiesta Rice Bowls

03.11.14

These Mexican fiesta rice bowls are the perfect weeknight dinner since they are easy, delicious and healthy!

…I almost have no idea what I’m supposed to say here. Uh, apple? I feel like I haven’t typed or written anything from the heart since I got to Southeast Asia. Which is crazy because I’ve had the most eye-awakening, life-changing, gut-wrenchingly emotional past few weeks, all I can think about is how excited I am to put down how I’m feeling on paper. To pour my feelings, every single one of them, into these stories I post for you all to read. I’ve never gone through so many different emotions in such a short time. I’ve never challenged, scared or surprised myself more in my life. I feel like I left pieces of myself on each portion of this journey with The Giving Lens. I’ve left a chunk of my heart with the girls at COSA, with the humble and beautiful people of the hill tribes in Thailand who served us lunch from their own kitchens and with every single hard-working woman, man and child who allowed me to take their photo.

I’ve left pieces scattered around the stunning landscapes, in the bright aqua sea and oceans and in the rolling hills of Northern Chiang Mai.

This place has changed me, my friends, and I’m dreaming of the stories I’ll tell you when I’m home. I have this vision that all of you will join me for a glass of wine as I regale you with my adventures. Sometimes, I look at myself in the mirror and can’t believe who I’ve become. I’ve experienced so much in this short 28 years of my life and if you told me 8 years ago that I’d be here, I wouldn’t have believed you. To see how far my life has come and how many more journeys and stories I have to tell renders me almost speechless. I’m so blessed beyond measure to have this life and to have such amazing people who read and encourage me.

Now, none of this has anything to do with mexican fiesta rice bowls. I guess my transitions are a little rusty. Well, I guess the bright, beautiful and vibrant colors in this dish can represent the people, food and experiences I’ve had here in Southeast Asia. If you really wanted to break it all down symbolically like that. Or I could just tell you that I haven’t cooked in 3 weeks and this recipe is one I’ve been saving for a rainy day. Or a day when you realize you haven’t blogged in over a week and can literally see the tumble weeds rolling over your neglected website. I guess we can go with any of those answers.

One thing I can tell you is I love this dish. Like the fiesta rice bowls at Taco Bell, these amazing bowls are incredibly easy and are perfect for those days when you want something fresh, something Mexican and something that takes almost no time to prepare. And it’s great when you’re craving Taco Bell and just can’t stomach buying it. Which, for me, is like all-the-time.