I've had some wild rice in my pantry for way too long...and it's time to use it up! I like wild rice...but not "all" wild rice. Meaning I don't like to eat just wild rice as a side dish...even when it's flavored well, cooked in stock, etc. It has a "harsh" taste, if you will. So when making this pilaf, I decided to do a combination of brown rice and wild rice...to "tame" the … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken
This was one of those meals that sorta came together and ended up "balancing" perfectly. I started out with chicken and pineapple in the slow cooker. Then as dinnertime drew closer, I decided that rice would be a nice complement, and found a side of the red cabbage apple slaw in the fridge! (How to Shred Cabbage here.) Voila! Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Pineapple … [Read more...]
Smothered Okra with Chicken and Rice
When Steve and I lived in the Dominican Republic, one of our favorite side dishes was smothered okra. I would go into the fruit and veggie market and get a pound of fresh okra. I'd grab some peppers and an onion, then I'd probably pay $1 for it all...maybe $1.25, and I'd be on my way. Eddy was my market man...and he always gave me a great deal! Nothing had prices on it, but … [Read more...]
Easy Fried Rice
This is a guest post recipe from Connie. My family of 10 loves this recipe. There are so many ways to prepare it by adding different vegetables and meats, that we often vary it by what we have in the fridge. The "must haves" for this recipe are simple - just rice, eggs, and soy sauce. Then you can add any other veggies or leftover meats that you have available to round out … [Read more...]
Chicken & Black Bean Burritos
If the tortillas were larger, this would remind me of Freebirds. With a backwards F. If there were fresh cilantro mixed into the rice, or fresh guacamole to put on top, this would remind me of Chipotle. Either way, you can't go wrong with these...super simple. Super cheap. Super yummy! But before we get to the recipe... Tacos v. Burritos. What's the main … [Read more...]
Red Beans and Rice
I've been wanting to whip up Red Beans and Rice for a month or two. Ever since I picked up Creole seasoning at the store to make Jamie's Cajun Meatball Stew, really. I turned to the one man who could help me make the best Red Beans and Rice with what I had on hand. Emeril. We're on a first name basis...because well, he's on a first name basis with everyone! So, Emeril has … [Read more...]
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Pearled Onions
My December "clear out the pantry" challenge continues. Tonight in the form of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Pearled Onions. I pulled a whole chicken from the freezer and cooked it in the slow cooker on Saturday. My plan was to then use half the cooked and shredded chicken for this soup, and the rest for BBQ chicken sandwiches for lunch yesterday. I also saved the broth … [Read more...]
Stack-E-Up-Es (or the Polynesian Buffet)
Just before Thanksgiving, we had the pleasure of eating dinner with Christan, her husband and her 3 girls. (It was so lovely being in a "hormonally balanced" place. 3 boys. 3 boys. All the estrogen and testosterone totally cancelled each other out. But really, it made for a loud and rambunctious evening.) Christan shared this in an email before we headed over. I was … [Read more...]
Curried Turkey Salad
Our Thanksgiving dinner, like most Americans, consists of a buffet that includes too many heavy dishes. And on Thanksgiving Day, I allow myself to indulge. However, I try to make up for that indulgence by using the leftovers to create healthier and lower calorie meals. I will make quite a bit of turkey soup and freeze it to use later on hectic evenings. I also use the … [Read more...]
Brown Rice with Black-eyed Peas and Greens
So black-eyed peas...they're kinda plain. It's like they're crying out for help! Crying out for zest and zip!!! And what better ingredients to help than mustard greens and some zesty jalapeno diced tomatoes! You'd never have known these were black eyed peas in this dish! Let me show you how it's made. Serve it over … [Read more...]