Exciting Times and a recipe

Well...it's Monday and I have a great recipe to share. This one comes from my friend from High School Linda. Imagine my great surprise when she sent me a goody box (she said it was just for being a good friend, ah shucks!) and tucked inside was a little piece of Texas goodness. The following recipe, along with 2 of the essential ingredients that just say umm umm good! I love tex-mex food and although I have found some suitable substitutes here on the East Coast, nothing says home like Fiesta brand spices. I nearly cried when I saw that bottle!

Spanish Rice

1 cup of long grain rice
1-2 tsp cooking oil
2 cups + 1 tbsp water
1 medium tomato chopped ( I cheat and use a canned tomato)
1 tsp Spanish rice seasoning (if you have Fiesta, rock on! Otherwise I guess another brand will do, lol)
1 cube of Knorr's tomato & chicken bouillon, crushed

Heat your oil in a skillet and then add the rice, frying it until it is opaque. If some of it browns that's fine, it'll just add a nutty flavor. Add your water, chopped tomatoes, spanish rice seasoning and bouillon cube. Bring this to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 mins. Fluff rice with a fork and enjoy!

You can mix it up by adding a chopped onion, cilantro or green pepper if you like.


Also, this week there's been lots of excitement around here. M. started kindergarten today. He looked so cute heading off in mama made from head to toe, including his monogrammed backpack, lol. And I'll be having a shopping partner when I head to the Patsy Aiken's sale later this week. My dear friend Dawn is driving up to join me. She's so excited about the fabric, I'm a bit less about the fabric, but stoked to get to spend time with her sans kids. Look for pictures later in the week of all the loot we get.