Review-Minute Whole Grain Brown Rice and Ready-to-Serve Rice

***Disclosure-Coupons were provided to sample product to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Live a healthier lifestyle in 2013 – was this one of your New Year’s resolutions? Altering what you eat is a great first step towards achieving this. Minute® Rice brings tasty meal options to the table that can help make over mealtime for you and your family.

Whether you’re a working professional or a stay at home mom, a busy day focused on meetings, errands, and kids can keep you from eating a nutritious lunch. Minute® Ready-to-Serve Rice is ready in just 60 seconds and comes in individual single-serve cups, making portion control simple. Throw them in your purse or keep in your desk drawer at work!

When the day finally calms down, making a well-rounded dinner might seem like too much work. Minute® Whole Grain Brown Rice is an easy and hearty meal addition that’s ready in no time at all. Check out the recipes to find new dinnertime favorites.

My thoughts-So I have a confession to make, my name is Alba and I cannot make rice.  Yes, I must admit it out loud for everyone to hear.  I have tried and tried and tried but my rice just doesn't come out good.  Every now and again I will have a successful batch.  One easy solution to me and my bad rice is always having minute rice.  It only takes a minute to successfully fix my rice problems.  Not only that, it takes me an hour to get home which means right at dinner time.  I don't have time to be doing trial and error on my family's dinner.  Minute rice has saved me many times.

And now the Minute Rice Ready to Serve gives them and me a variety to our palate.  Check out my dish above.  This is the Fried Rice Mix and it was delicious.  It was also the perfect portion for each person.  They have many more flavors to choose from.  We can eat healthy by choosing the Minute® Whole Grain Brown Rice option as well. 

For recipes to try out, visit www.minuterice.com.

Lunch Ideas:


Provencal Rice Salad  {Serves: 2 (about 1 cup each)}

Ingredients:

-1 container Minute® Ready to Serve Multi-Grain Medley or Minute® Ready to Serve Brown Rice
-1 can (6 ounces) canned tuna, drained
-4 cherry tomatoes, halved
-4 black olives, sliced
-2 tablespoons red wine vinaigrette
-1 cup salad greens
Directions: Prepare rice according to package directions. In a medium bowl, combine rice, tuna, tomatoes, olives and vinaigrette; mix well. Serve over greens and/or with pita chips.


Hawaiian Rice  {Serves: 2 (about 1 cup each)}

Ingredients:

-1 container Minute® Ready to Serve White Rice or Minute® Ready to Serve Jasmine Rice
-1/2 cup cooked low sodium ham, cubed
-1/2 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks
-1/4 cup cooked green peas or sugar snap peas
-1 teaspoon sesame oil
-1 teaspoon soy sauce
Directions: Prepare rice according to package directions. In a medium bowl, combine rice, ham, pineapple, peas, sesame oil and soy sauce; mix well. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro, if desired.


Dinner Recipe Ideas:

Yummy Orange Chicken and Rice  {Makes 4 Servings}

Ingredients:

-1 jar (12 ounces) orange marmalade
-1/2 cup orange juice
-1/2 cup water
-2 cups cooked chicken, grilled or roasted (Alternative: try 2 cups of cooked turkey)
-1 large orange, washed and thinly sliced
-1 cup frozen sugar snap peas, thawed
-2 cups cooked, Minute® White Rice or Minute® Whole Grain Brown Rice

Directions:

1. In a small sauce pan add in: marmalade, orange juice and water. Simmer until blended and reduced about 50 percent. It should be like syrup.

2. Add chicken, orange slices and peas until all are hot.

3. Serve over rice. If desired, sprinkle with slivered almonds.

30 minute Almond Chicken  {Makes 4 Servings}

Ingredients:

-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
-¼ cup Italian Dressing
-1 ½ cups chicken broth
-2 cups green beans, trimmed, halved
-1 cup Minute® White Rice or Minute® Whole Grain Brown Rice uncooked
-¼ cup almonds, sliced

Directions

1. Toss chicken with dressing in resealable plastic bag. Add chicken with dressing to large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned.

Stir in broth; bring to boil. Cover. Simmer 10 minutes. Add beans; cook 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (170 ºF).

Remove chicken from skillet. Add rice and almonds. Remove from heat; cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve chicken over rice mixture.