Rice

Most Americans eat food that is hard to digest-causing constipation and stomach pains. The simplest cure for such ailments is to include more fiber into the diet. Rice is one of the best meal additions we can use to increase our fiber and low fat nutrients. Long grain white and brown rice can be purchased around $1 per pound in most supermarkets so it is reasonably cheap and believe me-a little goes a long way! 

There are thousands of rice varieties, many of which most Americans will never try. The long grain rices tend to be more fluffy, while the short grain rices are more sticky. Like whole wheat bread or whole grains, brown rice retains the bran and germ that are removed from white rice. Brown rice is therefore the more nutritious of the two. White rice is often fortified-meaning that vitamins have been sprayed on them during processing, but it is brown rice that retains the vitamin B that is so necessary to keeping us well.

One of the best purchases I made some time ago was a Pampered Chef microwave rice steamer. It makes perfect rice every time and is easy to use and clean after use. I prefer the nutrients brown rice provides, but it can be too nutty in flavor for a lot of people, so I got in the habit of purchasing both and mixing them together.

Rice is one of the easiest foods to cook. For non-instant long-grain or brown rice, simply add the desired amount of rice (1 cup is good for 2 people) then add double the water for whatever amount of rice is being cooked. For instance if 1 cup of rice is being cooked, add 2 cups of water to the pot. Add about a tablespoon of oil or butter and cook covered on medium heat for about 20 minutes until all the water is absorbed and the rice is no longer hard. 

I enjoy being creative in seasoning rice with a variety of herbs and spices. But my all time favorite is simply serving rice with salt and butter.

Rice can be a meal:

Chicken and Rice

to 1 cup or rice
2 c. water 

1 T. olive oil
-cook 

Add salt and pepper and 1 can of chicken-including broth


Or a side:

Savory Rice
Cook 1 c. rice with
2 c. water
1/2 t. onion powder
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. butter
1 t. basil
1 t. oregano1 t. thyme
1 t. marjoram