Rice Pilaf

I grew up on Rice-A-Roni which I like. The problem is I don't do well with high sodium products. So, I have tried several rice pilaf recipes for awhile. I have made this version several times and I keep trying to take photos of it but there is never any leftover. My family loves rice so any rice dish is gone. 

When I think of rice pilaf, there is a mix of rice with pasta. So, I had to add broken pieces of spaghetti to this recipe. I think I make this about once a month. It is a great side dish.

Rice Pilaf
1 Tbsp butter, unsalted
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
 1/2 cup of uncooked spaghetti noodles, broken into 1 inch pieces
2 cups basmati-style long grain rice
3 cups chicken broth, low sodium
1 bay leaf
2 Tbsp parsley


Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter.
2. Add the shallot, salt and pepper.  Cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Add the spaghetti noodles and 1 cup of the rice. 
4. Stir and toast the noodles and rice for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the other cup of rice, chicken broth, and bay leaf. 
6. Cover and bring the rice to a simmer over low heat. 
7. Cook the rice for about 15 minutes. 
8. Remove the rice from the heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes. 
9. Remove the bay leaf from the rice.
10. Add the parsley and fluff the rice with a fork.

Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence.

Did you know....
-Rice-A-Roni was created by the DeDomenico family in 1958.
-The DeDomenico's family pasta plant was located in San Francisco.
-The recipe is influenced from the Armenian style rice pilaf. 
-Rice-A-Roni is a Quaker Oats brand which is owned by Pepsi.

PQ: Tropical Carrot Cake

Are you a coconut type of person? I really love coconut. I remember my Dad trying to open one. It is hard work especially if you don't want to spill any milk. If I was stranded on a desert island, I think we would be having coconut nightly. We would be having bananas soaked in coconut milk. Fish brushed with coconut oil, etc. Please share any of your suggestions. You never know if you will be stranded on a tropical, deserted island. I don't want you to say hey, I wish I could remember some of the ideas suggested for the use of coconuts because it is really hard to reach those bananas. Good thing, the majority of my children like coconut. We could make it like the Swiss Family Robinson.

The carrot cake is tropical with macadamia nuts, coconut, and pineapples. Doesn't this cake make you want to travel to some tropical island? The island could be in the Pacific or Atlantic. The island can be made of entirely volcanic rock or man made. I wouldn't care. It just would have to be warm. 

 This weeks pick for Project Pastry Queen was picked by Emily of A Gilt Nutmeg. I made cupcakes so I could share which I'm glad since the recipe made about 20 cupcakes. I really liked these recipe. I highly recommend using fresh pineapple. (You may want practice cutting one up just in case there are any on your deserted island.) Please make sure to check out the other members blogs and for the frosting. I used different topping for the cupcakes like shredded coconut, pineapple, and shredded carrots.

Tropical Carrot Cake
1 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
3 cups all purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cups sweetened flaked coconut
4 large eggs
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and shredded
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple, diced
1/2 cup sweetened cream of coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line the muffin tin with about 20 cupcake liners.
3. Arrange the nuts on a baking sheet and toast them for about 7 to 9 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. In a large bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, and nuts. Set aside.
5. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, oil, carrots, pineapple, and cream of coconut.
6. Pour the egg and carrot mixture into the flour mixture.
7. Fill the cupcake liners about 3/4 full.
8. Bake the cupcakes about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
9. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting if you can wait. 

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen.

A single serving cupcake holder to go

Did you already know.....
-The Swiss Family Robinson was written by Johann Wyss.
-It was published in 1812 in German.
-The family were on their way to Australia.
-The first animal to greet them on the island were penguins.

Leprechauns

My youngest daughter set up traps to catch a leprechaun. She said she wanted his gold or to make him a servant. I said to her I thought your younger brother was your servant. "Yep, he is," she replied. I just don't think he received the memo or he is going to be fired soon.

Since my daughter is setting up traps, I figured I could set up my own trap. I made Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies. This way I can catch someone with no green, right? Clever, huh. My husband tried this dessert and he said they are really good even with the nuts since he doesn't eat nuts.

 Knock You Naked Brownies
1 box German Chocolate Mix
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
60 whole caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9 x9 or 7.5 x 11 inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and the melted butter. Combine well.
4. Take half of the batter and press into the baking pan.
5. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Remove and set aside.
7. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the caramels with the remaining evaporated milk for about 2 minutes. Stir and microwave for another 20 seconds if needed until all of the caramels are melted.
8. Pour the caramel milk into the baking pan evenly over the pressed brownie base.
9. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the caramel.
10. With the remaining batter in the large bowl, roll out onto a floured surface.
11. Place the rolled batter dough on top of the chocolate chips and caramel.
12. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
13. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
14. Once the brownies have cooled to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for several hours.
15. Before serving, dust with the powdered sugar. 

Recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman. 

Maybe next year

 Did you already know....
-Leprechauns originally wore red.
-You can try to find one by listening to the sound of their hammer while they make shoes.
-Here is a webcam in Ireland to spot a leprechaun. 
Good Luck!

Ides of March

The other day while I was cleaning, I noticed our toothbrushes seemed to be multiplying. I didn't know how this was possible but there were twice as many toothbrushes as people living in this house. (Maybe our friends are slowly moving in and we didn't realize it. First, they leave a toothbrush then next they will want a part of a closet.)

So, I called everyone to grab their toothbrush. My son comes into the bathroom and grabs 4, yes let me repeat 4, toothbrushes. I ask him why he needed so many toothbrushes especially since he is losing his teeth. He shrugged and said he just needed them. I asked him to retire two of them and he could still keep two. The question I have is where did he get the toothbrushes?

Since it is the Ides of March, I decided to make a Caesar Salad.This salad was great. All my children loved it. My husband happened to be in the kitchen when I add the anchovy so he was reluctant to have any. He did however eat the croutons and loved them. So did my son who was very disappointed that I hadn't made more.

Caesar Salad
Homemade croutons (see below)
Caesar Dressing (see below)
Romaine Lettuce
Shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Clean and dry the lettuce.
2. Add the lettuce to a bowl.
3. Top the lettuce with the dressing and Parmesan Cheese. Toss.
4. Add the croutons and serve.

Homemade Croutons
1/2 loaf of Italian bread, cubed
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp dried parsley/oregano
salt for seasoning to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Add the cubed bread to a bowl.
3. Top with the olive oil, garlic powder, and the oregano. Toss.
4. Spread the cubed bread evenly onto a baking sheet.
5. Season with salt.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes or golden brown.

Caesar Salad Dressing
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water
3 cloves garlic
1 cup lite mayonnaise
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 anchovie, raw and chopped
black pepper for seasoning to taste

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth.
2. Store in a sealed container until ready to use.

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats.

Did you already know.........
-Julius Caesar married three times.
-Julius Caesar was romantically involved with Cleopatra but could not married because Roman law.
-The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar and the month of July is named for him.
-Julius Caesar was born around July 12th, 100 B.C.

Liebster Blog Award

I would like to think Emily of Ruf Love for nominating me for this award. I think it is very sweet. Please check out her blog especially for the great food and photos. She makes me want to convince my sisters to have another baby in the family. Babies are so wonderful! We both belong to the Pastry Queen Project which is a lot of fun and I look forward to participating every week. My family also look forward to the great recipes I've been trying out.


Here are the rules:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserves to be noticed. (Sorry if someone has more than 200 followers. I used Google Reader Subscribers and Facebook followers as my reference.)
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog.

Creative Missy- Missy blogs about recipes and knitting plus inspiration. She also participates in the Pastry Queen Project. The recipes she has made look amazing.  

Cupcakes and Kale Chips- Brianne blogs about food and her family. 

Growing Brains-Heather blogs about raising 3 wonderful boys and one precious little girl. 

 Mygrations- Gary travels the world and documents it on his blog. How I would love to travel to a new, exciting destination.

She Makes and Bakes-Emily blogs amazing recipes like a Guinness Challah. Emily also participates in the Pastry Queen Project. 

Thank you again Emily!