RICE WITH APPLE AND RAISIN DRESSING

RICE INGREDIENTS—— 1/4 c Vegetable oil 1 c Chopped onions 1 c Chopped green bell peppers 1/2 c Pecan halves, dry roasted 1/2 c Raisins 4 tb Unsalted butter 1 1/2 c Uncooked rice (converted) 3 c Pork, beef or chicken stock 2 c Chopped unpeeled apples Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the oil over high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and bell peppers; saute about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pecans (we ran out of pecans, so Lucy substituted hickory nuts - good!) and continue cooking for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the raisins and butter (these are added together so the raisins will absorb as much butter as possible). Stir until butter is melted, then cook until raisins are plump, about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the rice and seasoning mix and cook until rice starts looking frizzly (a bit like ce Krispies) Chef Prudhomme recommended using converted rice. Lucy used brown, long grain rice - super!. This will require about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring almost constantly before the rice looks ‘frizzly’. Stir in the stock, scraping pan bottom well, then stir in the apples. Cover pan and bring to boil; lower heat and simmer covered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, *COVERED*, until rice is tender and stock is absorbed, about 30 minutes. (We cook the rice this slow way to let the flavors build to their maximum.) Serve immediately, allowing about 3/4 cup per person. From Paul Prudhomme’s ‘Louisiana Kitchen’ —– Archive January 2010 December 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008