Spur of the Moment Mexican Rice

I don't usually have frozen hamburger patties in my fridge, but when I got back from my trip, I grabbed a box of them from +Sam's Club .  I wasn't sure how I would be feeling and if I wasn't able to cook, then at least hamburger patties would be easy.  I figured I could just add them to meals or cook them like that for a simple meal.   If anyone else was interested in cooking they would be able to throw them in an iron skillet, add some cheese, onion or a vegetable and have something good to eat rather quickly.

I had tried many times to make Mexican rice from ancient days ago to even a few years back.  I tried everything.  Someone told me just to add extra oil when cooking the rice and then add orange food coloring!  I wanted to make an authentic Mexican Restaurant style rice. Finally, a Puerto Rican woman revealed the secret and said to me rather matter-of-factly, "Use a little annatto."  Annatto? I had never even heard of it. So my search for annatto began.  Turns out, I found it very easily at the Supermarket across the street.  It's bright red and looks like beautiful little clay pieces.  They are very uniform in size and they taste very earthy, how I would think clay might taste. Sometimes I pop a few into my mouth and eat them just like that.

I did finally learn how to make a good Mexican rice, but now when I make it I add stuff to it.  I mean plain Mexican rice IS great just like that, but when I make it as a meal, I add meat, veggies and lots of spices.  This time I left the cumin whole for some added texture.  I left the bay leaves whole as well and removed them when it was done cooking.

Delicious Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

• 5 Frozen Hamburger Patties
• 1 Quart Mason Jar White Rice
• 1 1/2 Quarts Water
• 5 Bay Leaves
• 4 Dried Whole Red Chilis
• 1 Onion
• 1 Tbs. Spicy Steak Seasoning
• 1 Tbs. Granulated Garlic
• 1 Tbs. Powdered Annatto
• 1 Tbs. Whole Cumin
• 1 Tbs. Chili Powder
• 1/2 Tbs. White Pepper
• 1/2 Tbs. Salt
• Carrots and 1 Jalapeño from a can of whole Jalapeños

Brown hamburger patties and cut them up into bite size pieces as they thaw.  I used my iron dutch oven which is very nice and heavy and makes rice very well. Cook meat thoroughly until nicely browned.  Add rice and water.  Chop up the onion rather coarsely and add to the pot.  Turn the heat very high to get it simmering nicely.  

Breaking Up the Hamburger Patties

Add all the spices, carrots and jalapeños.  Stir gently so as not to breakup the bay leaves and peppers.  Immediately when it begins to simmer turn the temperature down to warm and place the heavy lid on top.  Set a timer for 20 minutes.  DO NOT lift lid or stir.  After it has been cooking for 20 minutes, remove lid and gently fluff rice.  Remove the bay leaves and serve.  Delicious!

Eating Right and Eating Wrong

I am feeling somewhat motherly today, even grandmotherly, though I am not a grandmother yet.  I just want to tell everyone to eat right.  Sometimes just that little extra nudge can help us to make the right choices.

I loved being on our trip and having other's cook for me, and being served AND not having to wash the dishes, but it takes it's toll on your body.  I really try to make right choices when I am eating out, but when I see that picture of Chicken Fried Steak (of which I am a connoisseur) I give in and JUST have to try it.

I have had many varieties of Chicken Fried Steak, and have rated them, in my mind, on a scale from 0 to 10.  There have been only one or two 7's and 8's but I don't suppose I will ever have a 10, because 10 would be perfection.

My idea of a good Chicken Fried Steak is crispy and flavorful on the outside and browned nicely while the inside MUST NOT be hamburger or any hamburger like substance!  Big mistake.  It is called Chicken Fried STEAK....get it?  STEAK is the key word here.  The steak must be thin.  The steak must be cooked well and not bloody.  Bloody steak does not go well with the floury coating.  Spice it up a bit.  Sure you most likely will add gravy, but the steak should stand on it's own.  I like lots of pepper, maybe even a little cayenne or paprika and don't forget to add salt, but not too much.  Think fried chicken.  Go for the same thing you are looking for in a good fried chicken and expand on that.

I hope I can get some great Chicken Fried Recipes from this post, because I am embarrassed to say that I have only tried making it on my own one time.  That one time was a long, long time ago before I became the connoisseur that I am today.

So, if you have a good recipe, please comment and post it here, or link to one and I will try it and let you know what I think. Oh and don't forget the recipe for your cream gravy as well.  So much for trying to eat healthy.