Spanish rice, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind!

I'm on the couch, feeling sniffly and sorry for myself tonight. Due to this, I have nothing funny or witty to share with you.

BUT! That's why I save the goods! I can use them later!

Today, I will share with you a super-easy recipe for Spanish Rice. Super, super easy, yet it makes you feel super fancy because you made it from scratch(ish), and it's way better than that pre-cooked stuff that you stick in the microwave in the plastic bag it came in for 90 seconds, because that's just weird. There's also a lot of salt and preservatives in those weird plastic bag kinds of rice, so skip that and move to the real deal. It's better, more economical, and if you make the salsa from scratch, you can officially quit your day job to be a domestic god(dess).

Spanish Rice

Ingredients:
1/2 small red onion, diced (or yellow - feel free to mix it up!)
4 cloves of garlic, diced (or less, if you're afraid of garlic)
1.5 tbsp oil
1.5 cups(ish) of salsa (I make my own from scratch using epicure salsa seasoning)
1 cup rice (I use Uncle Ben's whole grain rice)
Water or chicken broth (this depends on the rice you are using. Read the package directions, and however much water it calls for, subtract about 1/2 cup - as your salsa will have some liquid in it - you won't need as much).

1. In a pot on the stove, add 1 tbsp of oil, your onions and garlic.

Oh yum yum. Garlic in the tum, tum!

2. Saute on med-high for about 3 minutes, or until onions are translucent.
3.  Turn element to medium, and add 0.5 tbsp of oil and dry rice.

Suspiciously delicious.

4. Brown this rice on medium, stirring very frequently, for about 5 minutes.
5. Add your salsa and water/chicken broth (chicken broth tastes way better! Veggie broth would work, too!)

I know this looks disgusting, but trust me.

6. Cook rice as per package directions (mine requires it to simmer on low for 20 minutes, so that's how I roll)

7. Eat!

Delicious!

Seriously. It's so easy. I was astounded when I discovered how easy this is. So, so easy. AND, it's totally tweakable. If you want it to be spicy, use spicy salsa, or add cayenne to it. To add a little more of a tex-mex flair, throw in some cumin. Like cilantro? Get on that! Garden fresh cilantro salsa - yum, yum! Want to feel even more fancy? Use home made chicken broth instead of water. You're so fancy! Wanna use Rotel instead of salsa (Canadians - Rotel is only the most amazing mixture of tomatoes and peppers - available only in the US)? DO IT! Beans? Booyeah! The world is your oyster!

My favourite thing about this recipe is that I always have rice, garlic, onion and the makings for salsa on hand, so I can whip this together whenever I want. And since theGuy and I are on a tex mex kick lately, that means it's always nearby!

People, theGuy could make this (he doesn't, but he could). You can, too!

Now, please excuse me as I snuggle down into the depths of my couch and enjoy myself some X-Files!