Brown Rice Medley

I made the switch to brown rice several years ago, in my attempt to eat healthier and simpler.

(Don't ask how that's going, the jury is still out--

I'm still cooking up a storm, even though I don't eat everything I cook.)

But I am enjoying myself.

I've tried a lot of different kinds of brown rice, but I think this one may be my favorite.

I found this Brown Rice Medley at Trader Joe's.

It's got long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon seeds.

I love barley.

Those of you that are following along, know that I love barley.

And the daikon makes it sort of Japanese, doesn't it?

It's the rice that was in this post of the flamin' chicken almost-fiasco.

This is it.

Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley.

There's 2 1/2 cups of rice in the package, I always make the whole bag at once.

Add 4 cups of water.

The recipe on the bag calls for a 1/2 teaspoon of butter for 1 cup of brown rice, but I just add a teaspoon of salt.

Or a tablespoon of Knorr chicken bouillon if you're not a vegetarian.

Cooking the rice in chicken broth adds a lot of flavor too.

Bring the pot to a boil.

A good rolling boil.

Then reduce the heat to your stove's lowest setting, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.

I try and go below my stove's lowest setting on the smallest burner.

When the 45 minutes are up, turn off the stove and let the rice steam for at least 10 minutes.

Fold to mix thoroughly.

I really like this rice.

It's a nice change from plain brown rice, and so much healthier than white rice!

Itadakimasu!

***

That's my nephew Colin.

The big one.

The little one is my nephew too.

He's new.

Colin likes babies.

I have a soft spot in my heart for boys that like babies.

Not that long ago, Colin was little.

Here he is in his Mr. Beechler stage.

Colin and I both had wild hair then.

When Colin was this age, he came for a sleep-over, but Rick and Karen weren't home--so he hung out with Gary and I.

We asked him where he'd like to go to dinner and he said,

"Denny's. Because it's Always Open."

We went to Denny's and the server told us,

"Your son is so well-behaved."

You should have seen Colin's face. 

It beamed, he was so proud of himself.

That evening, Colin got to go home with the Denny's promotional stuffed animal--the one that your parents don't buy because they don't want you to be spoiled--but your aunt and uncle do.

That's what aunts and uncles are for.

Colin is born on the same day as O-Jiichan, they share a birthday.

O-Jiichan means grandfather in Japanese.

Colin's middle name is Kiyoshi, after O-Jiichan.

Colin used to call himself "Little Jichan," because he knew he was named after his grandfather, but only knew him as Jichan.

Soooo cute!

Colin spent many-a-night with us while he was growing up.

Sometimes he and Dixie would share a pillow.

(Shhhh---don't tell his parents.)

I like to point my camera his way.

He's definitely not camera shy.

He knows to look right into the lens.

The camera loves him.

So does his auntie.

Now, Colin says, since he's gotten so big, HE'S Big Jichan, and O-Jiichan is Little Jichan.

Colin's got a great sense of humor.

There's Colin, with his brother and sister, and my two kids.

They're close.

I feel fortunate to have watched this young man grow up.

In the fall, he'll be going off to college.

Love you, Col-die!

They grow up so fast.

Take a lot of photos!

No printable recipe, simply follow package directions.