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Oven-Baked Rice Medley

Preheat oven to 350°F

Try this oven-baked rice recipe. It bakes in 30 minutes at 350°F, so it is ready in the time it takes to rest and carve a roast. 

Pour two cups of good quality chicken broth into an ovenproof casserole and heat on high in the microwave for two minutes per cup.

Sauté finely chopped fresh mushrooms with onions or shallots. I sometimes use the last third of an onion and the end of a package of mushrooms. This rice is also delicious made with only broth. 

Add the veggies to the hot chicken broth. Add one cup of raw white rice (not processed) to the liquid, along with a rounded teaspoon of butter. Stir the mixture until the butter melts. Place a lid on the casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, check to be sure that the broth is fully absorbed. If the rice looks cooked, remove the casserole from the oven. Fluff the rice, replace the lid, and let the rice stand for up to 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

The rice can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen in individual portions. Brown rice can be prepared this way but will require 50 minutes or more to cook.

Tips:

I often toss half a cup of grated carrots or beets into the dish for the sitting period at the end. The steam from the hot rice cooks the grated vegetables, and the extra colour is lovely. 

Once you are comfortable making rice in the oven, try using other liquids and different vegetables in your medley. I have made oven-baked rice with pineapple juice instead of broth, adding chopped apples, celery, and onions to the mix. I've also tried mixing coconut milk, kidney beans, and a bit of chilli powder. Have fun! 

Slow Cooker Pea Soup

The original recipe for this soup was submitted by Claire Lajeunesse-Lewko of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and featured in a Canadian Living slow cooker compilation.

Step One:

In a large bowl, soak 2 cups of dry yellow split peas in 6 cups of cold water, for twelve to twenty-four hours. I do this after my evening meal so that I can put the soup on the following morning. 

Step Two:

In the morning, drain and rinse the split peas and place them in the slow cooker.

To the slow cooker add:

6 cups of fresh water

1 ham or picnic shoulder bone with a little meat attached

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

½ teaspoon of black pepper

Cover the slow cooker and cook the soup on low for 6 to 7 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove the bone and bay leaf. Add any bits of ham from the bone to the soup. This hardy soup may be kept in the refrigerator for a couple days or frozen in individual portions.

I love to serve this soup with cheese scones or Cranberry Cornbread. 

Simply Delicious Coleslaw

This easy-to-make coleslaw appears on our family’s dinner menus with regularity. The vinaigrette dressing is a tangy alternative to mayonnaise. This coleslaw actually tastes better after spending a couple of days in the fridge, and it keeps well for over a week. I often double or triple the recipe for larger gatherings.      

Vegetable Ingredients:

3 cups of shredded cabbage

1 cup of grated carrot

Toss the cabbage and carrots together until well mixed.

Vinaigrette Dressing:

2 tablespoons of sugar

3 tablespoons of vinegar

2 tablespoons of oil

1 teaspoon of salt

Mix the dressing ingredients. Warm the mixture in a saucepan or microwave oven. Whisk, until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

Pour the lukewarm dressing over the vegetables, mix well, and refrigerate. Stir the coleslaw daily in order to evenly distribute the dressing.

Tip:

This coleslaw is delicious made with shredded fresh cabbage. However, if you are short of time, you can use supermarket shredded coleslaw mix. To freshen the packaged cabbage, soak it in your favourite vegetable wash. I prefer Natural Plantation™. Soak the coleslaw mix for a half hour, then drain and rinse the cabbage well. Adding freshly grated carrots and delicious dressing to the well-rinsed, packaged cabbage markedly elevates the flavour, although fresh is always best.