RICE RICE RICE. NICE NICE NICE.

OKAY, so my dad's favorite food is RICE. I don't think he cares how it is done or what it comes with: if it's rice, he is as happy as a Turkey when it figures out it has survived another Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble (this should be a subtle hint to you that I have holiday cooking on the mind - AND I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO PREP YOU ON THE EXTRAVAGANZA THAT WILL BE. PREPARE YOURSELVES CERCA LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER. I WOULD SUGGEST EXERCISING NOW SO YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE THE IMPENDING FOOD COMA(S) YOU WILL UNDERGO. LOVE, NICO.) So, back to the Rice. I tend to a number of different rice recipes - curry rice, pork fried rice, egg fried rice, spanish rice, etc. - but I usually make this one. WHY? Because my mom always made it, which solidly makes this dish a delicious one. SO, leave behind the rice cooker, and enjoy a walk through the rice paddies. 

Ingredients
1 cup of Rice
2 cups of Water
1/2 cup white wine, can be omitted
1 beef bouillon cube, chopped (chopped so it incorporates better into the dish)
2 garlic cloves
1 small onion
1 bay leaf
4 teaspoons of olive oil
salt and pepper to taste


Preparation
1. In a sauce pan, over medium heat, fry up your rice, garlic, onion, and bay leaf. The trick here is to: one, watch the rice turn opaque (Rice is relatively translucent when uncooked, and when it's cooked, it turns opaque) and two, not to burn the garlic - it will turn bitter on you. 
2. After the Rice has turned opaque, slowly add in the water. SLOWLY, as in a few tablespoons at a time! WATER AND OIL ARE NOT FRIENDS. NEVER WERE. NEVER WILL BE.
3. After the water has been completely incorporated, add in your beef bouillon cube and the wine. 
4. After having done this, stir it up until the beef bouillon cube has completely incorporated itself into the dish, then PUT A LID ON IT. LEAVE IT ALONE. LET THE RICE HAVE ITS TIME IN THE PAN JACUZZI.
5. After 5-8 minutes, check on your rice - if the water has mostly evaporated, and the rice is still uncooked, add in a half a cup. If the rice is mostly cooked, and the water has mostly evaporated, leave the lid off for the duration of its cooking to ensure the full evaporation of water. BE CAREFUL HERE - YOU CAN EASILY BURN THE RICE.
6. Remove the Bay Leaf, salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!


NOTA BENE:  THIS IS THE SECRET. IF YOU USE A COFFEE MUG, it still applies. ONE MUG OF RICE TO TWO MUGS OF WATER.


Mangia Bene!