Southwest Rice and Bean Salad

1 tsp veg oil

1 cup long grain rice

1 19 oz can of red kidney beans

1 19 oz can of black, pinto or Romano beans

1 1/2 frozen peas or corn thawed

1 cup sliced celery

1 can (4 oz) green chili peppers drained and chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup fresh coriander or parsley

Vinaigrette

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup veg oil

1/4 cup water

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

In saucepan heat oil over med heat, add rice and stir to coat well.  Add 2 cup boiling water cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until water absorbed and rice tender.   Transfer to salad bowl and let cool.

Drain all the beans. Add to salad bowl.  Add all the rest of the salad ingredients and set aside.

Combine all the vinaigrette ingredients together in processor or bowl.  Pour over salad and toss to mix.  Can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.  Can be served warm or cold.

Rice Pudding 

325F  Time varies depending on whether you precook rice

Serves 4-6

1/3 cup long grain rice, thoroughly washed and drained.

3 cups milk

pinch of salt

½ vanilla bean or 1 tsp orange or lemon peel or 1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp. butter

¼ cup sugar

3 eggs beaten

Add 1 cup washed raisins

Blanch the rice in lightly salted boiling water for 5 minutes.  Drain the rice, rinse it in tepid water and then drain again.  If you want to skip this step you can but you then have to bake longer in oven  1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs until eggs and rice are cooked.

In a heavy casserole bring the milk to a boil with the vanilla bean then add the butter and sugar to the milk and stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Allow the milk to cool slightly then pour in the rice.  Bring to a boil, cover.  Beat 3 eggs until frothy and stir into rice.

Cook in preheated 325 F oven for 30 minutes without stirring. 

Serve hot or cold.

Carol’s Pork Tenderloin

Make a bed of brown rice in water  in bottom of flat casserole. Add required amount of water for amount of rice you’re using.   Cover and steam in oven at 350F.

When partially cooked add bed of fresh spinach, layer sliced browned pork tenderloin, chopped onions and mushrooms, parsley or other herbs and then take mushroom soup concentrate and additional water if desired and spread on top to cover the food so it doesn’t dry out and cover.  Return to oven. Continue cooking until liquid on top has made sauce and meat and rice are cooked.

Making your own sushi: Look on the internet for sushi tutorials. Here’s one site that leads you through how to make sushi at home.

<http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-make-sushi-rice-7886>