Blog Archives

Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a delicious treat- especially during the holiday.  The soft hints of cinnamon and nutmeg will please your family and friends. …

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Risotto with Butternut Squash

I came up with this dish a few weeks ago for a beer tasting we were having at the club. This particular risotto recipe is deliciously rich, and may be served as an appetizer, or main dish.

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Vegan Brown Rice Pasta

In my never-ending quest to avoid refined carbohydrates, I’ve come across a few tasty, healthier alternatives- one of them is brown rice pasta. Brown rice pasta cooks differently than regular- it takes twice as long, and often produces excessive amounts of starch in the form of cloudy, bubbly water. This water often overflows from the pot, and is a mess to clean up. Tonight I experimented with cooking the pasta twice. I started with a pound of brown rice pasta. The pasta was placed in a large pot of salted, boiling water, cooked for 4 minutes, then drained. I then re-boiled the pasta in a fresh pot of water for 5 minutes. The end result was a less-starchy product. Try this procedure when cooking brown rice pasta- cooking times may vary depending on pasta shapes.

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Simple Rice Pilaf Recipe

Rice pilaf is a baked dish that usually starts on the stove, and is finished in the oven. The result is a fluffy, flavorful side that goes well with many main dishes.

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Gluten Free

It’s been over a month now, and I still haven’t touched a single slice of bread, bowl of pasta, or pillowy-soft gnocchi. In addition to giving up gluten, I decided to quit eating refined sugar.

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How to Cook Rice

Recently, I’ve been asked my many people how to cook rice. Most people think that cooking rice is easy, but it can actually be difficult. Often the rice comes out undercooked, overcooked, or clumpy; all things you want to avoid. Let’s start with the basics. Regardless of what type of rice you’re going to make, rinse it thoroughly in a pan. As you let the water wash away the impurities, you will notice that the water is cloudy. This is excess starch, and excess starch can cause the rice to become gummy and stick together. Continue rinsing the rice until the water runs clear- this will indicate that you have washed away all of the excess starch and loose kernels. With your clean rice in the bottom of your cooking pan, add enough water to cover, and add an additional inch of H2O. After you have added the water, add a small amount of seasoning (salt and pepper). Put on high heat, and let the rice/water mixture come to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Allow the rice to cook for at least 20 minutes before checking it. Check the kernels by tasting them; they should be firm to the bite, not soft. With brown rice, you will need to let it cook for an additional 20 minutes before testing. Remove the rice from the burner, and let sit covered for 15-20 minutes. Remove the cover from the rice, fluff with a fork, and serve.

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