Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms and Green Onions

  We love rice pilaf in this house!  The kids devour it and so do I!  It's one of the easiest side dishes to make, but I do admit, it has one draw back...lot's of butter!  You could definitely scale it down if you like, but I've tried and it just doesn't taste the same to me.  Well, I decided to get creative and add some mushroom and green onions to the rice pilaf.  Anything with mushrooms in it makes me happy, and this did the job!

Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms and Green Onions

INGREDIENTS: {serves 6-8}

• 6 Tbsp. butter
• 2 cups long grain rice
• 1 cup thin, cut vermicelli
• about 4 cups chicken broth
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup button mushrooms, chopped
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. butter {to saute mushrooms and onions}

DIRECTIONS:

  Heat a large pot to medium-high heat.  Add butter and melt until foamy.  Pour in vermicelli and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes.  Add rice and stir together for another minute.  Pour in chicken broth and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Bring to boil then simmer with lid on for 15-20 minutes.  Meanwhile in a skillet, melt 2 Tbsp. butter and add chopped mushrooms and onions.  Saute for about 5 minutes or until soft.  When rice is done, add mushrooms and onions to the rice pot and stir to combine.  Season with more salt and pepper if desired.  Enjoy!

There's that sizzling butter!

I like a nice brown color to the vermicelli

Fried Rice!

Busy, busy, busy is what I've been! Got to be a part of my brothers wedding this past weekend and it was the most beautiful, amazing, fun wedding I've been to in a long time! They had it out at a local winery, Edna Valley Vineyards...talk about a stunning sight! Rolling hills, bright green grapevines and a clear sunny day. My sister in law was a beauty and it was a blessing to stand beside her as she said "I do" to my brother. So happy for them as they start their life together as husband & wife!!!

Ok, so now on to some killer fried rice! My sister came up with this recipe and it's been one of our favorite main or side dish. Sometimes I'll make Teriyaki Chicken to have with the rice, but other times we'll just have a big bowl of rice & maybe some potstickers alongside. My sister adds cut up chicken to the fried rice and that would be a perfect way to have a one dish meal. I've tried this recipe with other veggies like finely diced zucchini & finely diced mushrooms. The great thing about this dish is you can experiment any way you like!! If you don't like green onions, then go ahead and leave them out!!

INGREDIENTS:

• Cooked Jasmine Rice (white or brown) I buy the frozen pre-cooked rice from Trader Joes and use 2-3 bags depending on how much I want to make. If you start with uncooked rice, this recipe will call for 1-2 cups uncooked.
• 2 eggs
• 3 green onions, finely chopped (some green parts too)
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 Tbsp. butter
• garlic salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• sesame seeds to taste
• Soy Sauce to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cook rice and set aside. Heat a large Wok or Skillet over med-high heat. Add eggs and scramble. Next add onions, carrots and garlic. Cook until slightly tender (about 3 min). Next add your rice and butter. Stir to combine then season with garlic salt and pepper. Drizzle some soy sauce all around the rice (you can always add more later if you like), then sprinkle sesame seeds and stir again to combine. If you are adding chicken, you can mix it in at the end. Serve immediately. Trust me...your kids will LOVE this rice!!