Rice Pilaf

This is a slightly modified version of the BHG recipe. I love the big checkered BHG cookbook, BTW. Does that make me old-fashioned? Maybe.

Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

• 3/4 c. long grain or basmati rice
• 1-2 (depending on size) clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoon margarine or butter
• 1 14 oz can chicken broth
  
• 1/4 c. tablespoons dried currants or raisins (the raisins are especially good so add extra if you like them)
  
• 1/4 c. tablespoons chopped sweet red or green pepper or carrots
  
• 1/4 c. tablespoons dry white wine, apple juice, or water
• 1/4 t. teaspoon dried basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1/2 c. green onions, sliced
• 1/4 c. tablespoons pine nuts, slivered almonds, or chopped pecans, toasted

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan cook and stir the long grain or basmati rice and garlic in hot margarine or butter about 5 minutes or till rice is light brown.

2. Carefully stir in the chicken broth, currants or raisins, sweet red, green pepper or carrots, wine, apple juice, or water, and basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or till the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the green onions and pine nuts, almonds, or pecans. Serve immediately.

* You can add bacon or ham to this recipe. I kinda like it without. Also, you can use 1 3/4 c. water and 1 1/2 t. chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth.

Weekly Meal Plan

I think my meal plan for this week is going to rock, so I want to share it.  I got almost everything in a desperate last minute web search before placing a FreshDirect order, so there are a few recipes on here I haven't tried yet, but they're all so simple I can't see anything not ending up great!

Pecan Crusted Chicken (Rachael Ray recipe)

     w/ Steamed Asparagus in lemon butter
Creamy Tomato Parmigiano Soup

     w/ French Baguette (using heavy cream in soup instead of sour cream)

Romanesco Broccoli and Rigatoni (Rachael Ray recipe)
Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Thyme Roasted Potatoes

     w/ leftover asparagus

Crockpot Stuffing Chicken

     w/ steamed green beans

Lemon Mango Mocktini

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (don't sue bottled lemon juice. This turns out pretty gross if you used anything but fresh squeezed lemons) from about 11 lemons.
2 cups sugar
5-6 cups water
1 cup frozen mango/strawberry/pineapple pieces + 2 tbsp water

Boil lemon juice and sugar together until sugar has totally dissolved. Add to water and mix well. Chill.

Blend frozen fruit with water until pureed.

Put one tablespoon puree in bottom of martini glass and fill with juice mixture.

Note: I made these for a party and used sugar rimmed martini glasses. To rim glass, wet edge with lemon wedge then invert empty glass into small plate full of sugar. This will dry in 2 minutes and create a lovely effect. Great for special events!