nuts

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Pecan Rice Casserole

Pecan Rice

I bet you have memories tied to food. This rice casserole has so many memories for me.  The first time I had it was at a luncheon on the day of my Father’s memorial service.  The casserole was prepared  by one of many precious friends who provided the luncheon for our family.  Since then we have enjoyed it at lots of covered dish meals and it is one of our Apples of Gold favorite recipes.  I love it because it is easy to put together ( 5 ingredients) and then in the oven it goes.  This frees my stove top and allows me to take care of other things for the meal. I love the decorating of my table and making it special for my guest.  Sometimes the food is an after thought.  Oh yeah, folks are coming  to eat as well as enjoy a beautiful table and fellowship.  You will love having this recipe when you are asked to bring a side dish.  It is so favorable and there will not be any left overs.  Funny story – I once went to a dinner meeting and the hostess asked us to bring a side dish and she would provide  the entree.  Well, we did not coordinate what everyone was bringing. Usually it works out with a good variety of dishes.  But on this night, everyone who came through the door brought a potato casserole.  We did not have a vegetable, bread, dessert not anything  but potatoes and ham.  We have laughed about that for 15 years.  I learned my lesson that when I have my guest bring a dish I always make sure we have what we need for a complete meal.  Make this tonight, invite your family, neighbors, and friends over and have them bring part of the meal.  Set a pretty table with flowers and candles, simple but attractive and relaxing.  Also make two one for your meal and one for the freezer.  Enjoy, Cissy

 

 

Butter in saute pan with rice added for browning. Do not add pecans at this point they will get brown.
Rice Browning in Hot, Bubbling Butter – Tidbit Tip: Watch carefully – it browns quickly. The dark you see is the black rice.
After rice is browned add pecans for browing
Set a pretty table with flowers and fabric down the middle.
Set a pretty table with flowers and fabric down the middle and invite the guest and oh yeah, cook something yummy.

 

Pecan Rice

Rich beef broth flavored rice with pecans on top
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 7
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup Uncle Ben's Converted Rice, or Wild Rice
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 1 can beef broth
  • 1 can French onion soup

Method
 

  1. Melt Butter; add rice cook for a 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Add pecans and continue browning; watch carefully pecans will brown quickly.
  3. Place in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish; Add broth and soup; stir to mix. Pecans will float to the top.
  4. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Total baking time 45 minutes. If rice is too wet continue baking till fluffy.

Notes

This can be made ahead and kept warm in over or in a warming oven till time to serve. Cover tightly with foil so it will not dry out. 
To freeze:  Make sure to cook in a freezer safe dish, cool completely, wrap tightly and freeze to enjoy later.  
This rice dish is so delicious with so many entrees.  Enjoy!
Thursday Tidbits – Almonds
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Thursday Tidbits – Almonds

 

thursday Welcome to  “Thursday Tidbits”  I thought it would be nice to share some fun things each week.  They are going to be random items that I have come across during the week.  Some Cooking tips, some useful gadgets, other blog sites. Who knows – just going to see where it leads. I hope you enjoy “Thursday Tidbits” and maybe learn something you didn’t know or find a new favorite blog site, besides Tidbits of Joy.   Hang in there Friday and the weekend are just around the corner.

Thursday Tidbits

I made a recipe this week, Paleo Granola, which I am still tweaking so I will share it later, that called for Almond Meal.  Now what in the heck is that?  I did find a bag of almond meal which sometimes is also called almond flour and made the recipe. This got me to thinking about almonds. Almonds are available in a variety of forms: Natural almonds, Slivered almonds, Blanched almonds,  and Sliced Almonds.   And then there is Almond Meal. Sounds like Forest Gump with fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, BB-Que shrimp, shrimp creole and on and on.   

Natural Almonds are whole nuts with their brown skin intact.

Whole Almonds with brown skins intact

Whole Almonds with brown skins intact

Slivered Almonds, which are usually blanched, are small narrow sticks.

Usually Blanched small narrow sticks

Usually Blanched small narrow sticks

Blanched Almonds are whole nuts with their skin removed.

Whole almonds with their skins removed

Whole almonds with their skins removed

Sliced Almonds, available both blanched and natural, are thin oval chips.

Can be blanched or natural (with a ring of brown skin still attached), are thin oval chips.

Can be blanched or natural (with a ring of brown skin still attached), are thin oval chips.

Almond Meal also called almond flour is finely ground almonds.  You can make your own almond flour by grinding whole natural or whole blanched almonds on the fine blade of a food grinder or processor .  Easier just to buy it.  Almond Meal/Flour is gluten free.

 

  Check out this recipe at Recipe Girl,one of my favorite Blogs,  using sliced almonds.  Chocolate Almond Toffee  Recipe Girl’s son also has a Food Blog at Recipe Boy.com  Inspiring to see kids learning and loving to cook.  Maybe have your kids check it out.   Please leave comments on “Thursday Tidbits”.  I love your feedback.   Remember “Make It Your Own”  no matter what you cook.     Joy Always, Cissy      

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Coconut Quinoa Granola with nuts

Are you seeing Quinoa everywhere you look in recipes?  I have found I really like it in lots of dishes served hot or cold.  This recipe excites me because by adding quinoa and lots of nuts you increase the protein in the granola.  I love eating this granola on cereal, especially ones that are mostly carbs and no protein and my favorite way is on yogurt or ricotta cheese with fresh berries.  It also makes a great gift packaged in glass jars. It is so much better than the stuff you buy in the stores, most of those have more sugar than a candy bar, and of course no preservatives in this recipe.  You will never buy granola again and making your own is so much cheaper and it is extremely easy to make and you control the ingredients.  You can use this recipe as a starting place for your own special blend of granola filled with things your family will love. Use any kind of nuts, peanuts or seeds and then after cooling add any kind of dried fruit.  The choice is yours.  And by adding the quinoa you really have a nutritious granola.  

Quinoa is an ancient grain and 2013 was recognized as “The International Year of Quinoa”.  Most quinoa  consumed in the US comes from South America and there are  various colors with tri-color is also available.   The protein in quinoa is a complete protein source including all the essential amino acids.  It is also gluten-free.

It is typically consumed in the same way as the cereal grasses like wheat, oats, barley and rye, however, quinoa in not a cereal grass at all but in the same food family of spinach, swiss chard and beets.  Who Knew???  It is considered a “Pseudo-cereal”.

If stored in a tight container in the refrigerator it will last 3 to 6 months.  

I hope you will bake up a batch of this “can’t stop eating it” granola for your family and some to share with your friends.  A side benefit is the aroma that will fill your house. Bet it will not last long!!!   It is “The Best I Ever Made”

Please leave a comment, I would love to know how you made yours “Your Own”.

Items for Granola - A Starting Place - Be creative and add your own favorite indigents.
Ingredients for Granola
My Favorite way to enjoy Granola – over yogurt.
and a jar to share!

Coconut Quinoa Granola with Nuts

Basic Granola Recipe where you can add what ingredients you like. Quinoa adds protein.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats, Use gluten free oats for a gluten free granola
  • 1 cup uncooked Quinoa, Can leave it out, but increase oats by 1/2 cup.
  • 1 cup slivered almonds, Use any nuts you like
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1/2 cup pecans
  • 1/4 cup flax seeds
  • 1/4 cup dry roasted sunflower kernels
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, Sweet or unsweetened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamon, optional but adds a really nice flavor
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup, you can use 1/2 cup honey and no syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, or dried fruit of your choice

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  2. In large bowl combine, oats, quinoa, all nuts, coconut, flaxseed, sunflower kernels, salt, cinnamon, and cardamon. Stir to combine
  3. In a small saucepan add coconut oil, honey, syrup, vanilla and brown sugar. Heat till melted
  4. Pour over dry ingredients and stir well, mixing to combine
  5. Pour onto parchment paper lined baked sheet and spread out evenly
  6. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes and watching closely during the last 5 minutes to make sure it doesn't get too brown
  7. Let cool and add dried cranberries or dried fruit of your choice

Notes

Notes:  
Use any combo of nuts or all of one kind- equal to 2cups.
This is so good and nutritious with the quinoa being a complete protein source containing all essential amino acids.  Your family will never know something so delicious is so good for them.
 If you want the granola sweeter; after baking sprinkle some sweetener on while hot and of course I use Splenda because of my diabetic husband.
If stored in a tight container in the refrigerator it will last 3 to 6 months.  
It will be the “Best You Ever Made”