Sarasota's Savory Pine Nut Rice

This is a great easy side dish, but also makes a wonderful stuffing for pork chops or chicken breasts. You can use your rice cookers, stove top, boil in bags, or make the rice anyway you want. I actually cheat and use the boil in bags for this. When I want something quick, easy and in no time - I make this. Most of the ingredients I normally have on hand which makes this an easy dish. It is elegant, quick, and inexpensive - What more could you want.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4-8
• Yields: 6-8

Ingredients

• Rice

• 2 (3 1/2ounce) bags  success brown rice (or any store brand)
• 1 (3 1/2ounce) bag  success white rice (or any store brand)

• Vegetables

• 1  cup onion, fine chopped
• 1  cup celery, fine chopped
• 2⁄3 cup  toasted pine nuts
• 3  cups vegetable broth (to cook the rice in)
• 3  cups water (to cook the rice in)
• 2 -3  tablespoons fresh parsley, fine chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  celery salt
•  fresh ground pepper
•  salt

• Garnish

•  olive oil

Directions

1. Rice Note -- For the rice, you need to end up with 4-5 cups. I like a blend of the brown and white, but use what you like best. However you decide to cook the rice, I suggest using 1/2 vegetable broth and 1/2 water to cook the rice in, which gives it great flavor. The measurements above are for using the boil in bags. So if using a different method, follow the package directions for the amount of liquid required.
2. Nuts -- As the rice cook, toast up the pine nuts. I use a dry non stick saute pan. Heat to medium heat and add the pine nuts and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel to cool as you saute the vegetables.
3. Vegetables -- To the same saute pan, add the butter and return to medium high heat. Add the onion and celery and saute 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Then add in the celery salt, pepper, parsley, and any salt if needed.
4. Finish The Dish -- Drain the rice if using boil in bags, or if not; simply add the rice to the vegetable mix in a serving bowl and toss well to combine. Mix in the pine nuts and it's done. Drizzle and garnish with a little olive oil.
5. Serve -- Simply serve with your favorite main dish. It goes great with lamb chops, pork, chicken, just about anything. ENJOY this very easy elegant side dish!