$2 Dinner Tuesday - Seasoned Rice

Rice based dishes are very cheap and Seasoned Rice makes a great side dish, or add some extra ingredients and turn it into a one-pot main meal.   Leftover meat or chicken, salmon or tuna, even leftover cooked veggies can be added at the end of the cooking time to create delicious dinners.

Seasoned Rice
Ingredients:
1 cup long-grain rice
Flavouring
2 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups hot water

Method:
Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the rice, stirring constantly, until it takes on a translucent quality; do not let the kernels pop. Slowly stir in the water, then the flavouring of your choice. Bring to a full boil; cover and lower heat. Simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until nearly all of liquid is absorbed and the rice looks just a bit too moist to serve. Turn off heat, cover and let stand for ten minutes before uncovering and serving.


Flavourings

Chicken:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes
3 dashes ground black pepper

Beef:
3 beef stock cubes, crushed
3 dashes ground black pepper

Onion:
3 onion or beef stock cubes, crushed
2 teaspoons finely diced onion
3 dashes ground black pepper

Mushroom:
3 chicken or beef stock cubes, crushed
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
3 dashes ground black pepper

Celery:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
3 tablespoons dried celery flakes
3 dashes ground black pepper

Curry:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
1 teaspoon curry powder

Saffron:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
1 pinch saffron
1 pinch turmeric

Oriental:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
1 small onion, finely diced
2 teaspoons dried celery flakes
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1 tbsp soy sauce

Spanish:
3 chicken stock cubes, crushed
1/2 green capsicum, diced
1 small onion, finely diced
dash of chilli powder
2 tbsp tomato paste