RECIPE: Fruited Rice Mix

This is another one of my favorite recipes to give as a gift.

This gift has the makings for a festive side dish to serve with roast pork or turkey this time of year. (Click here for a recipe.)

FRUITED RICE MIX DRY INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup uncooked brown rice
• 2 Tbsp. dried minced onion
• 1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
• 2 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
• 2 tsp. firmly packed brown sugar
• ½ tsp. dried thyme leaves
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• ⅛ tsp. ground red pepper
• ½ cup uncooked wild rice
• ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
• ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries or cherries
• ¼ cup raisins or currants

WET INGREDIENTS:

• 2¼ cups water
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• ¼–½ cup orange juice

Makes 4–6 servings.

DIRECTIONS

1. To assemble the Fruited Rice Mix, layer the brown rice, onion, parsley, bouillon granules, brown sugar, thyme, black pepper, red pepper, and wild rice in a pint food storage jar with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Combine the apricots, cranberries, and raisins in a small food storage bag. Close with a twist tie and cut off the top of the bag.
3. Place the bag on top of the rice. Close jar.
4. Decorate for gift giving, including instructions for final preparation.
5. To make the rice, remove the dried fruit packet from the jar; set aside.
6. Combine the water, butter and remaining contents of the jar in a large saucepan.
7. Bring to a boil over high heat.
8. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 45–50 minutes or until rice is almost tender.
9. Stir in orange juice and contents of dried fruit packet.
10. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes or until rice is tender.

Source: The instructions for the fruited rice mix are from “Gifts from a Jar: Soups, Chilies, & More” by G&R Publishing.