Avocado-Almond Rice

Recipe Instructions In a heavy medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, for 7 minutes, or until softened. Add rice and saute over medium heat, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add hot water and stir once. Add bay leaf, salt, and a pinch of ground pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer rice over low heat, without stirring, for 18 to 20 minutes or until it is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Discard bay leaf. Dice bell pepper. A short time before serving, peel, pit, and dice avocado. Add thyme, red pepper, oil, and avocado to rice and stir gently with a fork. Gently stir in about half the toasted almonds. Taste rice, adjust seasoning, and transfer rice gently to a serving dish. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.