Cereal of the Week - Brown Rice

Brown rice, which has only the outer hull removed, retains, along with its bran layer, a variety of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, Vit B6, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium and Vit E. The oil in whole brown rice, lowers cholesterol.

It contains only a small amount of protein, but that is of good quality because of its relatively high level of the amino acid lysine. The oil in whole brown rice, not its fiber, lowers cholesterol.

One cup of brown rice supplies 88% of your daily requirement of manganese which is required for producing energy from protein and carbohydrates and protection against damage by free radicals. It supplies 27.3% of the daily requirement of selenium which is required for thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense systems, and immune function and DNA repair. It also contains 14.0% of daily fiber requirements.

There are many varieties of brown rice:
Long-grain: Generally used in the West and in Indian dishes.
Medium-grain: Used commercially in rice cereals/cakes and in soups and stews.
Short-grain Sticky rice: Used in the Far East.
Sweet rice: Used in puddings and also in Japanese dishes.
Quick-cooking: Cooks in +/- 10 minutes.

If stored correctly in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator, brown rice stays fresh for up to one year. As a rule of thumb you use two cups of water with one cup of brown rice when cooking and it take 30 to 45 minutes to cook.

Aromatic Lentil and Brown Rice Pilaf
The Meatless Gourmet by Bobbie Hinman
Serving Size: 4

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- crushed
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 3/4 cups water
3/4 cup brown rice -- uncooked
1/2 cup lentils -- uncooked
1/4 cup raisins
2 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add onion, garlic, and almonds.
Cook and stir until onion is tender and almonds are lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 40 to 45 minutes, until water has been absorbed.
Remove from heat and let stand covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.

New Fashioned Rice Pudding
ivg.com

3 cups cooked short or medium grain rice, white or brown
1 liter vanilla soy milk
1 cup pitted chopped dates
3/4 cup raisins or currants
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all except nutmeg and vanilla into a large, heavy sauce pan.
Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer, stirring constantly for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and add nutmeg and vanilla, stir.
Serve warm or chilled.
Note: The simmering causes the dates to "dissolve", giving the pudding a very rich, sweet flavor.

********************

With The De Vinci Code being so hot you might like to read an excellent article on Da Vinci: Leonardo da Vinci's Ethical Vegetarianism

Da Vinci Quotes:

"Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others: We are burial places!"

"I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men."

Tags: brown rice vegan recipes Da Vinci Code