The closest form of edible grain, any grain eaten by present day man or teenager, in this instance, in it's whole state is, brown rice. That's because the definition of whole grain is:
all three parts of a grain are consumed in it's original form.
All my kids have eaten brown rice throughout the years, the trouble is that, I'm weak!
I've given into the request for white sushi rice, white basmati, the whole gamut of white in rice. It cooks quicker (this is ALL me!) and isn't as chewy (this is all my KIDS!) but those are all the reasons we should be eating brown rice. And now, sometimes, one of my wonderful children or an unassuming guest reminds me that they think, "Brown rice just doesn't taste like rice?"
Well, I know I'm not the only Brown Rice Warrior out there, but I continue to give it a good try to keep serving it and singing it's brown rice praises. Here are a few of my tricks in recipes to get them to eat the whole grain goodness in brown rice. It's not really that I'm trying to trick them, so to speak, I assume most Lenten practices look down on that form of wording, but I incorporate brown rice in ways that don't look like a pile of fiber to the teenage eye!
Your Life... Line Notes
RECIPE BASICS:
Steam a large pot of brown rice at the beginning of the week, when your home and can let it cook slowly and get tender. Never add salt to rice, but olive oil or butter when cooking. Approximately one teaspoon per one cup of dry rice. Cook enough for each person to have at least two or three servings per person in your family. Allow the rice to cool completely and store in airtight containers.
ADD one cup of brown rice to most any soup or stew.
USE brown rice in place of bread in stuffing for chicken or turkey with sage, apples & pecans.
TRY making brown rice pudding for dessert with raisins and cinnamon.
Healthy Fried Brown Rice (for 6 to 8 servings)
1/2 cup cooked brown rice per person
1/3 cup sesame oil
4 green onions (substitute yellow onion sliced thinly)
1/3 cup no-wheat soy sauce (or tamari sauce)
3 whole eggs with 1 TBSP water added, stirred well
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1. Heat oil in large wok, add green onion and saute 2 minutes on medium heat.
2. Slowly drizzle egg mixture into oil while stirring constantly, evenly.
3. Add brown rice, soy sauce, and peas.
4. Stir fry until all ingredients are hot and serve immediately