Rice Plus Anything And Everything

 O ne of the easiest meals to make right now is rice.It's a filling comfort food that can be mixed with anything and eveything. You can mix it with fresh or leftover ingredients.

Instant rice is the best kind to work with , especially if you're a novice home chef.It 's a quick cook and also lower in carbs and calories if you're actually watching your weight right now. You could go for brown rice for a healthier alternative. Keep in mind that that flavor is slightly nutty flavor that may overpower more delicate flavors and spices. The same thing with basmati rice which has a nutty, spicy and sometimes floral flavor.The second question is what do you boil it in? water works the best but if you do want more flavor then thinl any kind of broth, from beef, to chicken to vegetable. This on it's own is a good and easy lunch or dinner. Add some butter and Parmesan and it'a great instant meal.Another good aspect of rice is that you can make two cups just for yourself our five or six for a family meal. It all dpeends on what you use the rice for. A cup is great in leftover soup but if you're making  a dinner, with gresh ingrdients, then use five to six cups.Just gauge it/

What can  you add to rice? Sauteed veggies are good. Think onions, broccoli and mushrooms sauteed in garlic and olive oil. It's a refreshing version of fried rice and made vegetarian by the addition of all these different veggies. You can also add some sliced carrots and peas too. If you want to make it heartier add some chicken , beef or shrimp. These can be sauteed separately or with the veggies themselves. Leftovers like ham or turkey can also be added to any rice dish for a satisfying lunch or dinner. You can add leftover  gravy to moisten it and also give it more flavor.  Repurposed leftovers like cubed sweet ptoatoes, and green beans can be added  if you want or jsut make a stand alone rice dish with these for a tasty side.  Aspicy dish is good on a cold night. You can make a Spanish or Tex-Mex version with the addition of chili or some hot peppers.Add a dash of chili powder and a small can of tomato sauce along with a dash of cumin. If you want toss in  some cooked crumbled beef or shredded chicken for a kind of enchilada feel.

A bowl of rice is satisfying. It's also versatile. Make it anyway you want, with favorite veggies and meats.

Pumpkin Goodness

It may be too early in the year to even mention pumpkins but there is a fun new cookbook that celebrates the gourd. After all, pumpkin is not just a fall October thing.It can be eaten all year round in a variety of yummy savory and sweet recipes

Pumpkin It Up (Gibbs Smith Press)written by Eliza Cross, a well known cookbook writer, is a cookbook that celebrates all things. pumpkin. (Keep in mind that this time of year is the perfect time to plant pumpkin seeds if you want homegrown organic pumpkins in the fall).She breaks the myth of cooking the gourd in the autumn months. The dishes can be made now for any summer feasting.The chapters include basic recipes,beverages and sweets along with muffin and breads.There are also savory recipes as seen in the chapters devoted to soups and stews, sides dishes and dinners. There is even one featuring pumpkin breakfast recipes. Of course there is a chapter on dessert along with one on cookies and bars. Ms. Cross also has two pages on hints as well. They are good, especially the ones advising  when it comes to picking ones from the patch . She writes that it's best to pick out the smaller ones for making pie because they're sweeter and have a smoother texture than the ones used for carving jack-o-lanterns.Also use an ice cream scoop, a serrated grapefruit knife or a melon baller .when scooping out the flesh. One important hint is discerning between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling. The last already has spices in it and could ruin a savory dish if used.Another good fact to know is that the puree freezes well and can last up to nine months in the freezer .

The recipes are varied with a mix of the familiar and the fun. Starbucks lovers will go made for pumpkin spice latte, true to the name thanks to the addition of a cup of pumpkin puree.A perfect beverage for even cool summer nights is the pumpkin spiced cider.Imagine have the healthy gourd for breakfast. You can, thanks to recipes like pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin waffles along with a Dutch  baby, that big pancake from Holland, made delicious with pumpkin and walnut. The savory recipes include the trendy but easy to make pumpkin ravioli along with pumpkin risotto, a mix of Arborio rice, sugar pumpkins and button mushrooms. Due to the squash's mildness it is excellent paired with different meats.It can be paired with turkey for an enchiladas or with chicken and apples for a spin on chicken Kiev.Pumpkins can be used as a side as for fries or baked with Brussells sprouts.It puts a different twist on the traditional fave baked mac and cheese..Of course pumpkin shines in pie and the book has three recipes: the traditional holiday one, but also a chiffon one and a pumpkin cream pie. Then there are the non traditional  ones like the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin tiramisu. Try the pumpkin holes or monkey bread, both livened up by pureed pumpkin. There are the tasty crispies a kind of sweet pumpkin fritter. Candy lovers will lose their gourd over the pumpkin fudge and a spin on Reese's peanut butter cups - with creamy pumpkin filling poured into chocolate cups.

Pumpkin It Up is a great cookbook for pumpkin lovers and for those wanting more nutrition in their lives. It shows that pumpkin is not just for lattes and pies but can be made into tasty pastas and rices along with candy .The cookbook is a true salute to a humble gourd.

The  book comes out in August but you can preorder on Amazon now,

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Retasting Stouffer's

Sometimes a microwave meal is actually good. It s that way with Stouffer's, This is a company that actually  cares about what goes into  its. dishes and strives for a homemade taste. Another plus is that the company makes dishes just for one as well as for a crowd. Any home chef can make a meal for one for lunch and then one of the bakes for the family later on.

One of the Stouffer's meals best qualities is the flavor. The meals do actually  taste like homemade.I recently ate their stufferd peppers and it was exactly like something  I would have made.The stuffing, chopped beef and rice, was perfectly tender and tasty.I love the fact that the pepper had a good bath of tomato sauce. The last was plentiful, easily sopped up with bread. The stuffed peppers also come in the crowd size as well. My meal was part of the Just Me line, where you can get single servings. The line also has also Swedish meatballs which has four meatballs and  a small side of egg noodles and cream sauce.There is ,of course, their signature dish, French bread pizza. which not only makes a quick tasty meal but also a quick tasty snack too.The company has also cashed in on the baked mac and cheese craze creating individual cups filled with elbow macaroni and cheddar. These are great fast meals and can even be complimented with a salad for a  more substantial lunch or dinner. Even breakfast lovers can enjoy a meal for one with bacon and eggs , sausage and eggs and Southwestern scramble..

Another plus is that  the company also has dishes that the other brands don't.They have a Welsh rarebit which is a great weekend dish when you want something fun and hearty.Try  their cinnamon apples either for dessert or if you have a pork roast.One of the best aspects of Stouffers is that they have party sized dishes. This is a boon , especially for the upcoming party season. They have a large lasagna, perfect for an indoor tailgating party. Serve it with Stouffer's chicken enchiladas.It's eight corn enchiladas stuffed with meat and served on a bed of rice.These can be customized , such as a sprinkling if Parmesan over the lasagna or a side of tangy salsa with the Mexican dinner.Another idea is taking two of the family pack meals and also using them. Have a bake fest with the girls . Before doing the  dirty work of pie baking and cookie cutting, treat them to a hot meal of Salsbury steak or chicken breasts. Treat your   pajama party to the spaghetti and meatballs.

Stouffer's is the perfect  brand for those who want good food quick. Heat up anything from their breakfast for one to their party dishes. It's like you whipped up a tasty dish , but without all the stress and mess.