Category Archives: Rice

Pilaf!

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I really love rice. I have been a rice eater since childhood. I could eat rice everyday along with broccoli and lentils.

During my teenage years in the 90’s I came across Near East brand boxes of rice in a local neighborhood health food store I used to frequent long before the product hit the major supermarkets and other stores.

Since then, I have loved their varieties of rice. Currently I do not eat them very often as I do not cook with salt and limit my salt intake with foods that contain salt. I have never had high blood pressure and would like to keep it that way as I grow older.

We all need an adequate number of salts and sugars in our body, but I try not to overdo it.

Anyway, last week I had two boxes- one box never does it for me the portion is too small I have to cook two boxes of the contents- of Near East brown rice pilaf.

It was delicious as usual.

Yesterday I purchased two boxes of the original rice pilaf then cooked it for dinner in the evening- and, of course my meal was again delicious as usual!

“Bean Me Up!”

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Rice is a grain I have loved and never tired from.

Of course, there are times when I take a break from eating rice though I am one who can constantly eat this grain on a routine schedule.

I am a lover of beans too and incorporate these plant-based gems into my diet quite frequently.

I like to mix things up a bit.

For a long time now, I have purchased Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup mixture of fresh dried beans.

I buy the 13 bean Jack Rabbit brand of beans regularly also.

There are rich, hearty servings of navy beans, black beans, red beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, baby lima beans, large lima beans; black-eyed peas, yellow split peas, green split peas; and brown and red lentil beans.

Altogether they are extremely high sources of fiber and protein in a daily, or weekly meal.

I crave my rice and beans and they satisfy my hunger pains.

 

 

 

Black-Eyed Peas

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If one is from the south, black-eyed peas may be a favorite staple.

I am a born and raised New Yorker, but my mother’s side of the family came from Virginia (My father’s side of the family who I did not grow up around are from South Carolina. My great-grandmother on my mother’s father’s side came from North Carolina).

I had plenty of that delicious variety of hearty southern rooted grub during childhood on up in my household.

I still love and eat black-eyed peas till this day.

These legumes are so quick to prepare compared to other beans and peas and they are very tasty.

Black-eyed peas naturally come with health benefits that impart adequate nutrition toward one’s lifestyle.

One of the downsides of eating peas and beans regularly is that it can cause a build-up of intestinal gas.

Nevertheless, over time some of our bodies learn to adapt and we experience less bloating and other discomfort.

I remember back in the day my mother’s family used to cook neck-bones with black eyed peas, oxtail with black-eyed peas and stew beef with black-eyed peas or potatoes.

I currently love and eat my black-eyed peas seasoned with pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a little basil over rice.

I never cook with salt.

To me, the flavor of prepared dry black-eyed peas is good enough to go without any herbs or spices added to them.

 

 

 

Mushrooms: A Fantastic Fungi!

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Back in the day, when I was around fourteen, my mother used to buy me this great-tasting yellow-colored vegetable rice from a diner she would frequent.

This vegan dish had tiny cut mushrooms prepared within the variety of vegetables that were intertwined.

Prior to eating this rice, I had only had foods with a mushroom flavor that I enjoyed without the actual particles of mushrooms themselves.

As an adult, I tried certain mushrooms that I just could not tolerate. I didn’t like the taste nor the texture.

 

I don’t know what type of mushrooms that were in the rice years ago or how it was cooked I just know I was able to eat them and chew on them satisfactorily.

Mushrooms are extremely beneficial to one’s health.

They are excellent for brain health, digestive and immune health, heart health, cancer and all-around longevity in general.

I began to take Mushroom supplements years ago. They are wonderful and safe (unless one has a particular allergy)!

If one chooses to incorporate a mushroom supplement into their diet just know to purchase those with the fruiting body extracts instead of mycelium.

 

 

Mushrooms are inherently comprised of mycelium, but supplements made from mushrooms are not equivalent to ones made from mycelium.

The fruiting body of the mushroom contains high concentrations of beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other particular compounds such as cordycepin.

Mycelium is the vegetative bit of the mushroom.

The fruiting body is the bit that grows from the ground. It is able to be harvested.

 

Rice And Beans

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Whether it’s kidney, pinto, white, navy, lima (green in particular), green (string beans), peas (black-eyed) or green (string beans) beans are a wonderful tasting high-protein food. They taste great alone or enhanced by other combined meals.

The most complimenting dish, of course, is the many variety of rice and bean preparations.

White, yellow, brown or red (mixed with tomato sauce) rice specifically dressed and spiced up in numerous flavorings set those beans and peas off fantastically, especially when beans and peas create a saucy textured gravy/infusion to additional combination foods when cooked to an extended tender.

 

 

Vegetable, Pasta, And Grain Meal Preparations

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I had white rice and corn last night for dinner. I love rice and corn!

I sautéed the corn in a lovely sweet and tangy dressing before covering it over the rice. Corn tastes so good mixed in with rice; peas, beans, and broccoli also go delectably well with all types of rice.

Vegetables bring out the best in rice and I don’t normally eat my rice cooked with salt either. The vegetables themselves usually give my rice its own nice complimentary flavor.

Vegetables bring out the best in many other dishes too.

Vegan/vegetarian lasagna is also an inviting meal that could include broccoli and whatever other vegetables of choice that may add to a fabulous dinner. Lasagna pasta crafted and baked with broccoli, shrimp, and vegan cheese is another great idea for the ever-tempting appetite!

Some individuals even like spinach or numerous other types and blends of vegetables and/or tidbits in their vegan or vegetarian lasagnas.

Grains, pastas and vegetables are such great combination foods when designed together effectively.

Ah, Delicious!

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Last night I prepared white rice and breaded shrimp for dinner. I boiled my rice to a nice firm texture and I baked my shrimp to a nice firm juicy crisp.

Over my rice I drenched a tasty marinade consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil and spices.

It was one of those meals that once in a while come out just perfect, and I enjoyed every bite until I had gotten full.

Biscuits And Soup

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I love biscuits. I love them plain, I love them buttered, and I love them stuffed with any hot or melted delicious preference of choice.

Biscuits make great appetizers to the experimentive and creative mind.

Soup is another versatile meal. We can have soup with biscuits as well as with crackers.

Soup is a wonderful flavoring to dress over foods as a gravy, and it is a delectable adornment, giving certain dishes a pretty appearance.

I would frequently pour my garden vegetable or minestrone soup over white rice, or mix the rice into a hot pot of soup once both foods were done. It turns out to be such a good meal that I’ve enjoyed for years.

Curry Rice And Chicken

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Last night I colored my rice with curry powder, not too much, because I’m not fond of food too spicy, just enough to give my rice a nice yellow tint.

I added some rosemary, basil, and thyme, then boiled a separate pot of two chicken thighs lightly salted and peppered.

I like my chicken, shrimp, and fish once in a while as I predominantly eat vegan.

Last night I ate pollo pescetarian and I healthily enjoyed myself.

Yellow Rice With Herbs And Spices

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I cooked and ate three plates of yellow rice that I prepared earlier this afternoon.

I colored white rice naturally with turmeric spice. I added oregano, cumin, thyme, parsley, garlic, onion and plant butter to boil along with the rice to give it a flavor.

I didn’t put in any salt as some may prefer.

The yellow rice came out nice to my liking I love all kinds of rice anyway, even plain white rice. Brown rice tastes good too if seasoned and crafted well.

Next time I am going to mix some vegetables along with the dish. Green peas, corn, and broccoli taste great mixed with yellow rice and rice pilaf.

Toast

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I went and did some more grocery shopping early yesterday morning. I needed to pick up a few items such as two loaves of bread, a bag of rice, another tub of butter, and other things.

I had to settle for Earth Balance brand of non dairy, non gmo, olive oil buttery spread which is also good (I just love their vegan non dairy white cheddar cheese puffs), for when I run out of my other tub of plant butter.

I also wanted to purchase a half a gallon of vanilla soy milk but my brand was all sold out.

I love toast and made a bunch yesterday when I got back home.

I use to make a french toast for someone where I’d crack an egg into a bowl, pour in some milk, then mix up the contents until the yolk was textured, then I’d dip in a slice of bread to get it saturated, and put the slice into a greased heated pan.

I am definitely a bread eater but without the eggs. There are other ways to doll up toast if one desires to.

I’m fine with plain old toast and butter on whole wheat bread made in the toaster oven. I don’t need anything fancy.

Lifestyle

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People that observed me, especially many within my work environment, have stated to me and others that “I eat very healthy”.

Even those who hadn’t been around me very long would mention and make reference to how I take care of myself.

It’s just the way I’ve always been at one time in my youth I had the desire to become a dietitian. My mother had even purchased a professional medical book on the subject to get me more informed and prepared if that was the field I decided to actually go into.

During my teenage years when my mother purchased my first Hamilton Beach juicer, not too long after, she bought me a book on juicing that included tons of detail and facts about fruits, vegetables, vitamins and how they utilize and how our constitutions benefit from them, and more.

My mother was always supportive and encouraging toward whatever I wanted to do.

Well-being is what’s in and it is delightful to point that out.

When I go to Whole Foods down at 59th Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York that place is constantly packed with people spending a small fortune on a host of befitting items. And I have been shopping at Whole Foods from time to time for years now.

Yesterday, I had a great tasting meal of white rice and beans with a savory sauce.

I like to put my own creative ideas together.

Later today, before I head to work, I’m going to prepare and fix myself a few plates of thin spaghetti noodles dressed in onion, garlic, oregano, rosemary, basil, a little pepper, and olive oil.