Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! In honor of it, we’re bringing back ¡Que Rico! where we’ll be sharing recipes from different Hispanic women every week. If you feel inspired and recreate one yourself, we’d love to see it on IG or TikTok. (Just don’t forget to tag us!)

If the tunes from Victorious were the soundtrack of your childhood, you’re in for a treat (and a delish Puerto Rican meal). We talked to Victoria Justice (she/her), the star of the teen sitcom, who’s entering a completely new era of music. “You can expect a blend of vulnerability and fun,” she says about her upcoming album. “With every song I write, I try to be truthful. I love making music that makes people feel something, but I also love stuff that puts you in a good mood.”

But when melodies aren’t on her mind, sustainability sure is. “I wanna be less wasteful in my daily life,” she shares. “So, I love having a reusable water bottle, carpooling when I can, unplugging devices/electronics when I’m not using them, and shopping secondhand. Oh, and bringing a reusable bag for groceries. The Arm & Hammer Power Sheets are great as well because they’re lightweight, easy-to-use, and don’t require a plastic bottle! Such a win.”

And JIC you couldn’t tell from her socials, she’s got quite the travel bug, too. “I was in Thailand a couple of months ago and it was beautiful,” she says. “There are so many places I still want to go, though! Like Tokyo, Greece, and back to Italy to explore more. The list goes on and on.”

Now, let’s get to that recipe: “I’m so proud to be Puerto Rican. My mom is 100%, so we joke that it’s my better half [laughing]. The dish I’m sharing is my great grandmother’s authentic Puerto Rican Rice and Beans with Sofrito. We had it every Friday growing up, and still do to this day. It’s such a comfort meal for me, and will always remind me of my grandmother who I loved dearly. I hope you love it as much as my family and I do.”