Beach is coming and Red Rice is Here!

Today we'll be going to THE BEACH! I've been wanting to go to the beach for so long! Hopefully this will be a good one! We just moved here a year ago and we still haven't found a good beach... We've had to drive almost 2 hours just to find horrible beaches and we know this won't be paradise but people have told us "it's decent" so... we hope we will like it... it's in Galveston... and we hope it will be nice... (fingers crossed)

So... I have to get ready to go but wanted to post my Red Rice Recipe before leaving.

Here it is

Red Rice 

Yield: 4 hungry people

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil (or regular vegetable oil)
• 1 cup of JASMINE Rice (You can use white though)
• 1/2 cup chopped white onion
• 3/4 big red tomato or 1 medium 
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 chicken bouillion cube (I use Knorr)
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 cup of water (increase 1/4 cup of water if using regular white rice)
• Pinch of salt and and pinch of black pepper (the chicken bouillion is salty already)

Elaboration:

First, using a blender blend the tomato, garlic powder, bouillion, ground cumin, pinch of salt and pepper and cup of water until it's made into a liquified sauce.

In a medium saucepan at medium/high heat heat the oil, add the rice and stir constantly (preferably with a wooden spoon) until it starts looking a little opaque, turn the heat down to medium, add the chopped onion and keep stirring until the rice starts turning into a golden color, add the tomato/spice sauce you previously blended, stir one last time (no more) and cover with a tight lid (leaving just about a tiny crack open) until it starts to boil, once it starts boiling turn the heat down to low (about "3" from a 1 to 10 scale) and leave it like that about 10 minutes or until the water has completely absorbed (avoid stirring and removing lid). Once the water's been absorbed cover tightly and remove from the heat. Let it keep cooking (without removing the lid) in its own steam for about 5 more minutes. Immediately fluff with a fork and serve.

The rice should be cooked but the grains of rice shouldn't "open" if they "open" or it looks more like mashed potatoes it means it's overcooked. If you are not used to cooking rice, try eating a few grains when you think it's ready and if you feel "resistance" in the grain when biting into it, it means it's undercooked.


This rice is very easy to make and really delicious! I hope you enjoy it!


© Paloma K.

A heartbreaking experience...

-sigh- I don't like talking about bad things, especially here... I want my blog to be a place where we can all sit back and relax, just enjoy a good moment away from the hectic life outside! But today... I just can't help it... I have to share about something that just broke my heart!

So... earlier today I went to a Subway close to our house just to get some nice lunch with my girls... I was sitting there and there was this woman at another table with a beautiful 2 yr. old, or so I think! She looked like 2 and a half... you know? younger than 3 but a little older than 2, anyway... this girl was gorgeous, in the way only kids can be... big, innocent eyes and hands reaching for a mommy embrace ... The girl wasn't really misbehaving or acting horrible... she just seemed to be needing attention... she didn't look very clean either... and she seemed to be trying to say something to her "mommy" ... then... for some reason... the "woman" turns around and looks at me (I don't even know why!) and with a very unpleasant voice she says: "ugh! Sorry! This girl is not mine! SHE IS NOT MINE! I am just the step-mom, it was her mom who made her such a bad girl" ... and you could see her little girl look at her really attentive and confused... I was shocked, upset, paralyzed and almost couldn't believe I was hearing those horrible things come out of that woman's mouth and in front of that sweet girl! I couldn't say anything for a few seconds and then, almost in tears I said: "Please just don't say that"... The woman turned around, grabbed the girl who was still reaching towards her and left! I ... I am still wondering how that girl is doing... and I feel bad that so many children have to suffer from lack of love or the selfishness of parents who make bad choices... I don't know what to even say... I am not in that situation and I can only praise God... I hugged and kissed my girls and I can only pray for that little one... I know I probably don't need to say this... but if you've been blessed with a kid... whether you are the biological parent or not... please... care for that life! love such a gift! be compassionate and affectionate... they are just little ones who need our love and they look up to us... many children are abandoned even with their moms AT HOME! And that's just not right...

--- enough --- 

I said I would post a Red Rice Recipe and I will but right now I had to post about this... I am sorry... I promise I will tomorrow.


© Paloma K.

Perfect after fast food! - Meatball Soup

Thanks for the "get well comments" I am still surrounded by "Kleenex" and coughing but I DO feel better ;) Thank you very much! It is very encouraging to see your comments! You have no idea. Ok... now to my post...

Unfortunately for some reason I couldn't cook lunch for hubby the other day... You know? I always prepare it ahead of time and then just leave it ready for him in containers so he can take it to work and enjoy his food at lunch... he loves it! And hates having to eat "fast food" (although he loves having a Bic Mac once in a while by choice not because he "has to" ... BTW I hate Bic Macs) - ok moving on to my topic -... so... He had to eat fast food  and came home still feeling "yucky" from eating that... I knew he would! So... to make it up to him I cooked something I knew screams "I am homemade and the person who made it LOVES YOU!" is one of those "Mexican Meals" that you just love because is something "a mommy" would cook to make you feel better or special" ... Hubby loves the "Mexican Meatballs" I usually make with chipotle... for my recipe click here but this time I wanted to make something different and without chipotle so it would be tender to his stomach.... So I decided to try Leslie's "Caldo de Albondigas" (Mexican Meatball Soup) from La Cocina De Leslie just making some variations of my own and my amazing Red Rice (Recipe will be posted tomorrow) and he was in heaven! He kept making "I love this" noises while eating it! and I felt very happy!

So here it is:

 

Now the recipe...

Caldo de Albondigas
Adapted from La Cocina de Leslie

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup  long-grain rice (uncooked)
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 large egg
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano (crushed)
• 4 medium potatoes (cut in large chunks)
• 4 carrots (peeled and sliced in large chunks)
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 1/2 cubes chicken bouillion (I use Knorr)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, rice, bread crumbs, tomato, onion, egg and oregano.  Season with salt and pepper (about 2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. black pepper).  Mix until well combined.

Using a 1/8-cup measuring cup as a reference to get the "size" of the meatballs, shape the meat mixture into balls.  Place in a 4-quart stockpot with 8 cups of water.  Add the vegetables and season soup with chicken bouillion and garlic. Cover stockpot and cook over medium heat until vegetable are tender (about 35 mins). Taste and season with more salt if needed.

Join us tomorrow for the recipe to make Red Rice.

Enjoy!

© Paloma K.