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Showing posts from January, 2009

Optimizing Flavored Rice Mixes.

Those flavored rice packets are on sale all the time. We could buy those same spices and rice separately, but with all the sales on elaborate rice, it's often cheaper just to buy the packet. There are so many possibilities. You can add any kind of vegetable you want. Meat. Beans. A mixture. Easy. All in one pot. Frozen veg add at the beginning of the package directions cooking process. The best part. You don't waste any nutrition. Any juice emitted by the veg into the water is absorbed by the rice. Lentils are great. They take about 20 minutes to cook and require about 1.25 cups of liquid per 1 cup of lentils. Start lentils and rice at the same time. Adding the appropriate amount of extra of water to the package direcions to hydrate your amount of lentils. Adjust any additions according to how long your rice packet directions specify for cook time. Add can beans like garbanzo beans in the last five minutes of cooking the rice. Be sure to thoroughly rinse canned beans.

Fix a Bad Steak

Got a tough steak? Don't waste it. I've had more than my fair share of steaks that I cooked exactly to my perfect doneness only to discover they were chewy and tasteless. No problem. Here's an easy remedy for bad steak. Let the cooked steak cool thoroughly first. In the fridge. Slice thinly. As thin as you can. Heat a pan on medium and coat the bottom with low fat Italian salad dressing or plain olive oil. Add slices of steak. Salt and pepper generously if using plain olive oil. Do not crowd the pan. Cook slices in batches if you have to. As you remove heated pieces place them on a foil tented plate to keep warm. You can also cook any veggies you want in the same pan. Frozen or fresh. Once your done cooking your steak slices lower the heat a little. Low medium. Add a few tablespoons of water and cover. Cook fresh for 3-5 minutes. Frozen 5-7 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Your chewy steak will be tender and flavorful. Your veggies will be healthy and tasty thanks to the lef