Orange Rice Pilaf

February 6, 2017 By

It’s citrus season here in the Phoenix, AZ area.  So when a friend offered me a bag of  beautiful oranges,  I said “yes and thank you.”  

This rice isn’t hard to make but it tastes as if you’ve been slaving all day.  Below you will find stovetop directions as well as making this in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Orange Rice Pilaf
Serves 6
A delicious rice with a light orange flavor and the crunch of almonds.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup chopped onions
  2. 1 Tbsp butter
  3. 1 cup long grain or jasmine rice
  4. 1 cup chicken broth
  5. 1/2 cup orange juice
  6. 1 tsp fresh orange peel
  7. 1/4 cup sliced or chopped almonds
Instructions
  1. STOVETOP
  2. In a skillet, saute onions and rice with butter until golden brown (3-5 minutes). Add remaining ingredients; heat to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes.
  3. INSTANT POT
  4. Set to Saute. Place butter and onions and sauce until golden brown. Add remaining ingredients (except almonds). Lock lid down. Set to Manual for 4 minutes with an Instant Release. Stir in almonds.
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 My favorite things to have on hand for this recipe:

Zester

Juicer

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Strainer

Another idea:  Adding cooked chicken or shrimp to rice takes it from side dish to main dish.

Let me know if you give this a try.  I’d enjoy hearing what you thought.

Deliciously Inspired includes affiliate links for beneficial items.  If purchased through link, it may generate a small income which is used for the expense of the site.

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Filed Under: Main Dishes, Sides Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cranberry Beans

August 31, 2015 By

My grandma was known in our family for cooking and one of her specialities was the way she cooked pinto beans.

Cranberry Beans - plated

Part of the fun of spending the night at my grandparents was getting to choose what we had for dinner.  My usual request was pinto beans and cornbread.  Of course grandma used bacon grease but here is my take using an heirloom bean called Cranberry Beans.  I think they are better than pinto beans – they cook even, tender, creamy and work well on top of salads, as a side, and in burritos.  I placed a link below on where they can be purchased.

Beans
A lovely cooked bean that can be used as a side dish, in soups, burritos or chills.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 of a bag of cranberry or pinto beans
  2. Chicken or Vegetable broth
  3. Kombu, optional
  4. Garlic Powder
  5. Onion Powder
  6. Cumin
  7. Salt
Instructions
  1. Sort beans by placing on cookie sheet and remove any rocks.
  2. Place in a large bowl and cover with water. Cover with syran wrap. Let sit on the counter overnight.
  3. Drain the beans and rinse
  4. Place beans in large pot and cover with broth filling an inch above beans. (Note -- do not salt or season beans until the end)
  5. Add a slice of bread size of kombu (seaweed). This will help reduce the gassiness of the beans. Kombu can be purchased in the asian section of most grocery stores.
  6. Get boiling and then cover and turn down to a simmer for 2 hours.
  7. Remove kombu as much as possible. There will be some pieces that are too small too remove.
  8. Continue cooking until beans are tender.
  9. Add seasonings to taste.
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Cranberry Beans - bag

Cranberry Beans - presoaking
Presoaking Beans

Cranberry Beans - soaked
After soaking – All plumped up

Cranberry Beans - Kombu
Kombu is dried seaweed and often used to decrease the gas that beans can cause. This amount of Kombu will last a long time.

Beans are a wonderful source of fiber and high in antioxidants.

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Easy Peasy Lentils

April 11, 2014 By

The last few weeks have been full of activity – a trip to Washington to visit my aunt, a tweaked back, presenting at a local church, and work.  I shared this recipe this week when I had the privilege to speak at a Mom of Preschooler’s group in Chandler.  Before I left I promised I put this dish on the website.  It is so easy but I understand that sometimes it is helpful to have pictures of the products and the steps.  So here you go ladies.

I really enjoy cooking  but sometimes when life gets busy it’s nice to have some “go to” ideas where much of the work is already done.  This is one of those recipes.  It takes minutes to put together and provides so many options.  I have used products from Trader Joe’s but I’m sure there are other similar options for this combo.

Lentil - Easy - Ingredients

Here are the ingredients:  Cooked Lentils – Bruschetta Sauce – Feta Cheese  (Note:  Cooked lentils can be found in the produce section of Trader Joe’s)

Lentil - Easy - Mix

Open the packages – drain some of the juice from the Bruchetta sauce and pour into large mixing bowl and combine well. I use my fingers to breakup the lentils before adding other ingredients.

Lentil - Easy - Bowl

Place in bowl or storage container.

Here are a view ideas for this mix:
A cold side dish
A warm side dish
Chicken or meat can be added for main dish
Add to a tomato soup or minnestrone soup for added flavor
A green salad topping
A filling for a wrap (lettuce or tortilla)
A dip for crackers or french bread

Lentil - Easy - Trenches
One more idea – add some scrambled egg for some added protein

My back is feeling better (so grateful for my chiropractor, Ronda Carson in Tempe.  I’ve taken a few days off from exercise but today I trying my first workout.  I plan on doing an interval program with 10 minutes of elliptical and a circuit of The Workout Mama’s routine below.  I’m hoping to do 2 or 3 rounds but we’ll see – I’m going to listen to my body.

WM Tri and Bi Workout

Be good to yourself.  Eat what fuels your body so you can heal and have the energy you need to accomplish today’s tasks.  Move your body – it wasn’t meant to sit as much as we do.

 

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