Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A Rice Kind of Day

If yesterday was a sandwich day, today was a rice day. I didn't plan on it, but I ended up having rice with every meal today.

Breakfast was some good old fashioned white rice. I am usually a brown rice girl, but the hubby was making rice for his lunch, and I just couldn't resist. I topped it with hot sauce.



I had a really hard time getting out of bed this morning. I think I have been going to bed too late, because I spend the day exhausted. A few people have been doing posts about sleep, and I need to pay close attention. I need MORE sleep. I am one of those people that does not function well if I don't get about 9 hours.

What about you ... how much sleep do you need? How much do you get? What time do you go to bed? Wake up?


I never go to bed later than 11:30 on week nights ... and I usually get up at 7:15. I need to start going to bed at 10:00, and 10:30 at the latest.

I dragged my butt to work today, but didn't feel like myself until about 10:00.

I picked something up for lunch because we had no leftovers. I had a taco salad with chicken (1/2 cup rice, lettuce, cheese, chicken, pico, guac, sour cream, cilantro):


(This is a recycled pic from last time I had Taco Del Mar - forgot my camera today).

I had a good afternoon with my students - man, I love my class! After school I coached b-ball again, and then came home and made a delicious dinner.

Risotto with Corn, Spicy Sausage, and Wilted Arugula (Adapted from a recipe in Fine Cooking Magazine)

At least 7 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 can corn
2 T olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups packed arugula
3 T butter, unsalted
2 leeks (fine dice - white and light green parts only)
3 hot Italian sausages, cooked and chopped up
2 cups arborio rice
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Directions:
1) Heat the chicken broth in a pot



2) Heat the oil in a different pot. Add the garlic. Saute 2 minutes. Add the arugula and toss with tongs until wilted (about 1 minute). Remove and set aside the garlic and arugula.



3) Melt the butter in the pot. Saute the leeks for a few minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat for two minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the hot broth and let the rice absorb it. Continue adding about 1 cup at a time and stirring constantly until all broth is absorbed. Check tenderness of rice and add more broth as needed.





4) Near the end of the cooking, toss the corn, arugula, and cooked sausage in.



5) Stir in 1/2 cup of Romano cheese, and serve piping hot!



Have you ever made risotto? What is your favourite way to enjoy rice?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

my mom would be proud of all your rice eats. :) I wanna make rissotto so bad! I wonder if they have a whole grain one. I can't handle white rice anymore...it's too delicious! I try to get at least 7-8 hours a night if not YOU'LL know! hhahaha

Anonymous said...

I have never made risotto, but yours looks freaking tasty!

Low said...

A bowl of hot rice with hot sauce sounds so satisfying right now!

I need about 8 hours but I usually only get 6 to 7. I've never been a good sleeper.

Amber said...

I usually am up between 6 and 6:30 am and try to be in bed by 11 pm at the LATEST. But ideally I'm in bed by 10!!

Simply Life said...

oh that dinner looks delicious! i usually sleep about 10pm-6am!

Dione said...

I love rice. The best brand is Rooster Brand from Superstore. My boyfriend who is Chinese taught me to make rice the proper way, washed three times. And I don't even need to measure the water anymore since he showed me how to judge it. Perfect rice all the time. I like mine either plain (if I'm eating something saucy) or with some soy sauce and toasted sesame seeds on top.
And I love Taco Del Mar...yum:)
My natural sleep cycle is bed by nine, up around 6. I'm a shift worker though (lab tech who works days, nights and evenings) so I don't really have a say when I sleep. I'm very much a morning person though. I hate being up late.

Jocelyn said...

drewel @ the taco salad!
Man..I totally agree with you. I have been going to bed later this week and feel like dookie all day long :( No good. I'm the type of gal that needs to be in bed by 10:30..if not earlier...as I am up at 6!

sophia said...

I hate rice, but I love risotto, esp if it's all cheesy and squashy. Preferably with bacon, too. :D

I sleep about 6 hours a day, and that is perfect for me. 7 is good, too. any more and I get cranky, any less and I get rather delirious!

Anonymous said...

I need right at about 8 hours of sleep, or I turn into Queen Crabby Pants. When I have work or school, I'm usually sleeping by 10 and awake for 6. I just can't wrap my head around people who stay up late!

One Healthy Apple said...

Wow, your risotto looks delish! I am intimidated by it.

I have decided to start a campaign to bring fro yo to Canada- it's bloggie abuse to not do so!