Homemade Spanish Rice

     By now it's no secret that I'm not a fan of 90% of non-snack foods sold in boxes. I understand the convenience of rice-a-roni, pasta-roni, instant potatoes, and other similar items, but speed of preparation is just about all they've got going for them. Unfortunately, without a lot of doctoring, such products usually taste like one of two things: cardboard or salt. So instead of reaching for the rice-a-roni next time you want Spanish rice, I really encourage you to take the extra 10 minutes to make your own.

INGREDIENTS: (for 4 servings)
1 cup white rice
2 cups water
10oz can of diced tomatoes with green chiles
1/2 onion
1/2 green bell pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil for the pan

DIRECTIONS:
1. Chop the onion and green pepper in very small pieces.

2. Heat a tablespoon or two of oil in a medium frying pan. Add the veggies and the rice and cook on medium for 3 minutes. Then add the salt and chili powder.

3. Stir in the tomatoes and the water.

4. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes.

As you can see, making your own Spanish rice only requires a little extra effort, and that way, you'll actually be able to taste something besides sodium. Try it, and please come back tomorrow for the grilled cheese sandwich that will change your life!