#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Semi-Homemade Spanish Rice

October 23, 2013 · Narrative

Yellow rice packed with flavor from briney green olives, caramelized onions, garlic, and chorizo. Let’s dig in.

Untitled

There are a couple of things I took away from the thirteen give or take years that The Ex and I were together.

Adding green olives to yellow rice.

And an introduction to chorizo (a spicy, cooked Spanish sausage).

Of course, there are likely a few more things, but today, we’re talking about take-aways in terms of the kitchen and rice. Focus.

The Ex used to take forever to make rice. He used a rice cooker and made a mess in the kitchen that he didn’t clean up, but rice was unequivocally his domain and I was a-ok with that.

Since the first time he made it, adding green olives to yellow rice was forever a thing. I can’t think of not doing it, and the kids are just as much a fan of it as I am.

Ok, well, it turns out just one kid. Because as Madeline informed me last night, “Mom, you know I don’t like green olives,” and she carefully picked them all out.

That’s ok, Nick and I covered for her.

I don’t own a rice cooker (gave it to The Ex when he moved out), and I don’t have the patience to make rice on the stove. Mostly because I usually have two other things on the stove at the same time, and burned rice at the bottom of a pot is no joke.

So instead, rice is one of those short cuts I am happy to take, via Old El Paso and Goya packages.

But, of course, I can’t leave well enough alone, and that’s where this Semi-Homemade Spanish Rice dish came about.

Adding the green olives, natch, and chorizo, along with a bit of garlic, and a caramelized onion.

All combined, it makes for a flavorful rice dish that leaves you feeling reasonably accomplished. You might have started with a box, but you made it your own with other homemade mix-ins.

And as the kids know, taking a shortcut here and there in the kitchen, means more time for baking, and I promised Nick another batch of the Cinnamon Crescent Rolls.

So everyone is happy.

But man cannot live by Semi-Homemade Spanish Rice and Cinnamon Crescent Rolls alone.

Untitled

Which is why I made these Steak Quesadillas as a main course. They’re part of a new line of frozen entrees released by the folks at Old El Paso. Although I do a lot of from-scratch cooking, I’d be lying if I said it was every.single.meal. With work, school, homework, scouts for both kids, and, you know, life, it’s just not realistic for three meals a day, seven days a week. I probably cook from scratch about eighty percent of the time. The other twenty percent sometimes relies on quick freezer-to-table meals like this one. Add the semi-homemade rice and a fresh, chopped vegetable salad, and I’ve got all my bases covered. It meant I didn’t spend a ton of time in the kitchen, but everyone was well fed and out the door in time for a play date pick-up and a Boy Scout meeting drop-off.

Tomorrow? September Instagram photos in review.

Semi-Homemade Spanish Rice
Recipe courtesy of Cate O’Malley

1 package of yellow rice, prepared following package instructions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 3.5 oz package of chorizo, rough dice
1/4 cup green olives

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add one tablespoon olive oil and the diced onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is slightly golden. Add the diced chorizo, and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until warmed through. Remove pan from heat and add the onions, garlic, chorizo, and green olives to the cooked yellow rice. Stir to combine.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Old El Paso, yellow rice

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    October 24, 2013 at 6:27 am

    The chorizo and olives definitely add something extra to this rice!!
    Joanne recently posted..Vegan Puffy Tacos with Cumin-Spiced Hummus #thenewsouthwest #cookbookspotlight

    Reply
  2. patsyk says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:42 am

    I love how you made this so much more than just rice by adding the olives and chorizo! I’ve wanted to try adding chorizo to some of my dishes… but, can never locate it when I’m looking for it (if I didn’t want it, it would be staring at me as soon as I walked in the store!).
    patsyk recently posted..Little Italy – Da Gennaro {review}

    Reply
  3. paula says

    October 24, 2013 at 3:02 pm

    You and I are still traveling on the same waevelength lol. I didn’t make rice with green olives but I did whip up a batch of hummus with green olives last night andI just had some for lunch.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

Pinterest

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design