Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Rice, rice, rice

I do not enjoy cooking rice. There, I said it!

Brown rice takes so long to cook and I usually forget to start it in enough time to be done when dinner is ready and that just frustrates me. So I came up with a solution: cook a batch of rice in the middle of the day when I'll be home for a while (ie. nap time).

I try to put it on when the boys go down for naps, that way it's done in just over an hour. Then it has time to cool and I can put it in the fridge before the boys get up (hopefully). Then I don't have to think about it until I am working on dinner and all it needs is reheating!

Here's how I do my rice:

2 cups homemade chicken stock
1 cup water
1 cup brown rice

Bring water to a boil and add rice and give it a stir; Reduce to medium for 5 minutes; Then reduce to simmer for appx. 1 hour (depends on where you live - altitude makes a difference). I set my oven timer for 30 minutes, then check it, just by lifting the lid and looking (yes, I know you're suppose to leave it alone, but I find that it takes different times to cook each time I do it.....). After the first 30 minute check, I set the timer for 10 minutes or more at a time and check until it's done. I realize it takes a little longer this way because I let the steam out every time I take the lid off, but it's better to take longer than have burnt rice - ick.

For more kitchen tips, be sure to visit Tammy!!

3 comments:

Sara @ Life With the Two said...

That is fantastic advice! I hate cooking rice, and even though I have a rice cooker, the inside is shot.

(de)Caffeinated Mom said...

My mom always has problems with her rice. I don't know why but I don't mind cooking rice. I like making it ahead of time, though. It does better if you are making a stir fry or something like that. I make this cilantro lime rice and put it on tortillas with seasoned chicken and cheese and then bake them until they are a little crispy. Put a spoonful of sour cream (low fat, of course). They are a hit with my family. My own version of a tostada, I guess. I put lettuce on top of mine, but you know Bryan and anything green! I just told him I am putting him on V8!

valley view farm said...

I have never tried rice with stock... I will have to give it a try!

(I of course would be using veggie stock)