Robin Makes Fried Rice

Robin is my husband. I snapped a photo or two of him making said fried rice, but they turned out awful so we're just going to have photos of the food. These turned out equally as awful but I don't have to worry about bruising the fried rice's ego because it looks irritated that someone was in its face snapping pictures.

Before I get into the list of ingredients I'm going to tell you this this is a loose estimate of things you'll need. A little more butter, soy sauce or veggies won't hurt a thing. Fried rice is extremely versatile and can be turned into a meal in itself if you add shrimp or chicken and bok choy (or whatever you like) but this version is just a quickie that's meant to be served with something. We served sweet and sour pork over ours.

Robin's Fried Rice

3 cups of cooked long grain rice*

3 tbl. butter

1 tsp. sesame oil (not necessary if you don't have this on hand, but I like the taste)

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

1 large or 2 small eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 tbl. soy sauce

Ground black pepper to taste

This is easiest to do in a wok but a skillet will work also. Melt the butter in your wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted add the garlic and sautee for fifteen seconds or so.

Add the carrots and green onion and sautee for one minute.

Next add your rice and sautee for another minute or two.

You'll notice that it begins to give off a nutty aroma. If you're using a wok push the rice up the sides of the wok so that you have a clean cooking surface at the bottom. If you're using a skillet then remove your rice to a platter for a moment. Add the egg to the bottom of the wok (or skillet) and scramble quickly.

I wish that picture had come out a little better and that I'd waited a few seconds to snap it so you could see the egg scrambling. That's the breaks, I suppose.

Chop the egg into little bits as you scramble it, then mix your rice back in. If you're using a skillet add your rice back to it and mix with the egg. Begin adding the soy sauce a little at a a time while stirring quickly - this only needs to cook about two minutes more. The soy sauce will turn your rice a light brown color. Taste, and add more soy sauce as needed. Add black pepper to taste and remove from heat. You normally won't need to add salt because the soy sauce provides enough salty flavor.

A very good, simple side dish that only takes minutes to prepare can be the main course with a little tweaking. Tasty stuff that's easy on the waistline. Unless you're a carb counter, and boy, have you ever landed at the wrong web site.

*One cup of raw rice makes 3 cups prepared.