[The Outlaw]

FD:

I used to do the same thing with both the cooked rice and the beans. Now I cook up a big batch of both, let them cool, and fill quart sized zip locks. When I decide to make up a batch of bird chow, I simply defrost a bag of rice or beans or both and add them to the rest of the concoction. I have better control over the portions and less waste, ultimately. And when the mixture is done, I then use the empty bags to save the leftovers for the following day. At my house, there is rarely enough leftover for an entire meal, but usually enough to enhance whatever I'm making. Or, I sometimes add it to my dog's food. She really has an excellent diet, too.