The Lady in Redd

A newlywed's exploits into marriage, responsibility, and the kitchen.

Rice August 4, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jackie Archer @ 3:22 pm

Yes…Rice.  Growing up, we used the boil in bag variety, so I’ve never had any experience in cooking rice…from scratch.  ;-)   My cheapness got the best of me and I decided I wasn’t spending several dollars on a couple of 2-serving bags anymore.  Darn it!  I was going to learn how to cook rice!  After a few bad batches of rice, and some (*ahem*, unsolicited) advice from the hubby, I can tell you how to cook rice!

Tips

Remember 1 and 2.  That’s 1 part rice to 2 parts water.  Making 2 cups of rice?  Use 4 cups of water.

Salt your water.  Like pasta, rice is going to absorb what it’s cooking in.  We’re generous salters in our house, but use what you’re comfortable with.

Rice vinegar.  To be honest, I’m not totally sure this makes a difference, but I used it in the first successful pot of rice I made, and I haven’t strayed since.  I use about 1/2 teaspoon for 2 cups of uncooked rice.  A little goes a long way.

Leave it alone!  Rice doesn’t like to be bothered.  Once your water has come to a boil, you can stir in your rice, but only for a few seconds!  After that, stick a lid on it, turn the heat down to low, and don’t peak for at least 20 minutes.  Rice usually takes about 25 minutes to cook.  Stirring your rice while it’s cooking will leave you with gritty rice that doesn’t taste fully cooked.  Unlike pasta, it does NOT want to be stirred!

When it’s done, fluff with a fork.  We throw a little butter in with our rice as soon as it’s finished cooking.  I haven’t found any dish that can’t be improved with a little butter.

 

Crock Pot Tex Mex Chicken August 4, 2011

Filed under: Recipe — Jackie Archer @ 2:58 pm

Easiest Crock-Pot Meal EVER

Ingredients
2-3 chicken breasts, uncooked (frozen, even!)
1 can black beans
1 can yellow or shoepeg corn, drained
1 jar salsa
2-3 cups cooked rice (white or brown)

Directions

Place chicken breasts in the crock pot.  Pour the salsa, drained corn, and black beans (sauce and all) over the chicken.  That’s it.  Put the lid on your Crock Pot and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.  Plan on starting the rice about 25 minutes before you want to eat.  When you’re ready to eat, just spoon the chicken concoction over the rice.  The chicken is fall-apart tender; you won’t even need a knife!

Goes wonderfully with Jiffy corn bread.

Don’t let the photo turn you off. The first recipe I tried had you put the rice in the Crock Pot as well, but the texture was just off. This is a delightfully simple meal…and the prep couldn’t be any easier!



 

 
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