Perfect Rice

People don’t realize how unhealthy it can be to eat fast food for lunch everyday. Even if you have a healthy diet otherwise, eating out everyday can be so fattening it completely cancels out the healthy foods you eat. Why not start a new routine? It’s really not that tough, in fact it may just be a matter of getting use to using a rice cooker.

Start by preparing a big batch of brown rice (brown rice is much better for you than white rice because it still contains the fiberous husks). Next stir fry some meat and vegetables with a bit of soy sauce and terriyaki sauce. Choose a white meat, such as chicken or pork. For the veggies, you can pick anything you like. I like to use zucchini, bok choy and water chestnuts. Next, divide the rice and stir fry mixture into tuperware containers. It’s easy to make enough to last you for about two weeks worth of lunches. Making your own lunches is not only healthier for you - it will end up saving you money as well.

This delicious Crockpot chili can be made with ground turkey or ground beef.  I’ve tried dozens of crock pot recipes, and this one definitely takes the cake… or the chili if you prefer.  It’s great for cookouts, for dinner parties, or just as a hearty meal.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 16 oz. can strained pinto beans
½ cup chunky salsa
2 tsp. chili powder
½ cup shredded cheese
¼ cup chopped black olives
Sour cream to taste

Over medium heat, brown your meat in a large skillet with the onion.  Transfer the browned meat to the crockpot with the rest of your ingredients, and mix for a minute or two.  Cover the crockpot and set on low for five to six hours.  Serve with a spoonful of sour cream, shredded cheese, and olives.  Serves about 3-4! 

Here’s a scintillating recipe with a unique draw; this is fried rice, that isn’t fried!  It’s intended to be cooked in a rice steamer, and for all intents and purposes, falls under the category of rice cooker recipes.  But you wouldn’t know this rice is made in a steamer. 

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups calrose rice
½ cup diced bacon
1 ½ cups frozen peas
2 scrambled eggs (chopped up)
3-4 diced onions
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 tsp. fresh ground pepper

Directions:

Steam your rice according to the rice steamer’s directions, and while this is happening, place all your other ingredients in a large bowl.  Once the rice has been steamed, spoon it on top of the other ingredients and let sit for three minutes, then stir well, and serve!