Cooking 101 BEEF COVER Yummy Lunches Fall 2018 booklet | Page 23

H O W T O C O O K rICE C O O K I N G A N D F L A V O U R I N G R I C E Tips for cooking perfect rice: Tips for flavouring rice: Measure accurately. Cook rice in a broth. Time the cooking. Cook rice with onions, garlic and fresh herbs. Keep the lid on tightly. Cook rice with a variety of veggies. If the rice is crunchy or has a hard centre, add more liquid, cover tightly and continue cooking. Cook rice with a mix of dry herbs, spices and seasonings. For best results follow package directions. Curry rice: In a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, sauté 1/2 finely diced yellow onion in 1 tbsp canola oil over medium heat until the onions are lightly browned. Add the rice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp curry powder. Stir the rice to coat the grains with the oil. Add the broth, bring it to a boil and cook as directed. Caribbean rice: Cook the rice in light coconut milk with 1/2 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dried thyme (or stir in 1 tsp f resh thyme after cooking) and 1/8 tsp ground cloves. Japanese rice: When the rice is cooked, stir in 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 cup shelled and steamed edamame, 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds or sesame oil. L o c a l , s u s ta i n a b l e r i c e O N T H E F A R M Canada does not grow rice, making U.S. grown rice the most local source. USA rice is grown and milled to the highest quality standard and is readily available. Consistency of product and supply is ensured. U . S . R i c e F i e l d s P r o v i d e E s s e n t i a l W i l d l i f e H a b i tat s Many wildlife species rely on the wetland habitat created by American rice farmers. This makes rice a unique working lands crop. Winter-flooded rice fields provide food and foraging habitats for migratory and wintering fowl. In fact, all major rice production areas in the United States correspond to important areas of waterfowl activity during winter months. In regions where rice is grown in the U.S., rice agriculture provides 35% of the food resources available to migrating and wintering dabbling ducks. Pa g e 21