Now…this should really be under the site “Jo and Jen Create” as it was created many many years ago (we think about 10) by me and Jen when we were living together in Coventry.  It is called “Mess in a Pan” because that’s what it looks like…a mess…in a pan.

We created it one night when we fancied some stuffed peppers but were far too lazy to wait an hour or so for them to bake in the oven.  (See, I’ve always been this impatient!).

“What about if we just get all the ingredients and then cook them in a pan?”, we thought

“I don’t see why that wouldn’t work, you put bits of all of it on your fork to eat anyway…!”

So we tried and mess in a pan was born.  It’s been a special part of our diets since then, we often share pictures of “MIAP” as its become known with each other.  Its proper comfort food I assure you, perfect for when you are feeling a bit fed up and in need of something to cheer you up.

Now bear with me on this recipe, everyone I’ve ever told this recipe to thinks that it sounds entirely sensible…until a certain point…but I promise you that it is worth it!

Ingredients (for 1 person)

• 1 rasher of thick-cut bacon (or two of ordinary thickness)
• 1 green pepper
• 50g white rice
• 50g Ssicy Mexican cheese (chilli cheese, mexicana, that sort of thing)
• 3tsp Spicy Italian Seasoning (I use the schwarts mix)
• 1 small can of Spaghetti Hoops (yep, that’s the bit that gets most people, they switch off and don’t bother trying it, please don’t be one of those people!!!)
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Start by putting cooking the rice (I use the microwave, it takes 7-10 minutes ish)

2. Whilst the rice is cooking, chop the bacon and the green pepper and frying lightly in a pan (ideally the green pepper will still want to have some “bite” to it)

3. Once the rice is cooked, at it and the spaghetti hoops to the pan and stir well until they are all mixed together.

4. Add the Spicy Italian Seasoning (check that 3tsp is enough,sometimes I add more!) and the Spicy cheese then stir through again.  The cheese should be a bit stringy.  If it is looking a bit thick then add a splash of water until there is a nice coating on the rice

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste

6. Put in a large bowl, find somewhere to hide and enjoy a moment of comfort!

Well that’s how I do it anyway, although I’ve also tried using red pepper and chorizo instead of green pepper an bacon to “posh-it-up” a bit (or when I didn’t have any green pepper in the house and needed a “fix”!)

I hope you enjoy if it you do try it!