Week 8: Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice

It was a busy, yet exciting week in the Ferstle household!  Monday started a full week of Mid-winter break for Scott and a two-day mini break for me.  Our to-do list was as long as it always is during breaks from work, but of course, we were lucky if we crossed off a task or two.  The biggest challenge this week was not going to the grocery store.  Since Scott and I were going out of town Thursday after work through Sunday, we knew it didn't make much sense to drop $100+ on groceries, so we made it a challenge to do a pantry/fridge clean-out week.  Things got real creative around meal times!

Monday, we kept the boys home from daycare and just had a lazy day at home.  Puzzles, tummy time, Mega Blocks, and every transportation vehicle later, we enjoyed our extra snuggle time with the boys.

Tuesday, I spent the day packing everyone's bags for a weekend away from home, went out and bought a bridal shower gift, got my snowboard waxed, bought new snowpants, etc.  With the boys at school, I was as productive as I could be since these days without interruptions are pretty rare.  Scott on the other hand...enjoyed his afternoon on the couch.  Sigh...

Tuesday night we grilled some Cilantro Lime marinaded chicken (thanks to a bottle of marinade from the grocery store).  We also grilled some corn tortillas, cut up some lettuce, had shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream readily available and made it a taco night!  I just happened to be watching an episode on the DVR of the Pioneer Woman and came across a recipe where she made some Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice.  I thought...that would be perfect with tonight's dinner.  I thought for sure I wouldn't have all the ingredients, especially since we skipped grocery shopping.  But, I was pleasantly surprised to see I had all, but fresh limes.  A little lime juice never killed a recipe.

Since it was a quick recipe and I was in a hurry to throw it together while Scott was grilling, I didn't snap any pictures, but here's Ree Drummond's picture of the rice and here's the particulars:

1 tablespoon canola oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups long-grain rice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 to 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Juice of 3 limes and zest of 2 limes (hold back juice of 1 lime for garnish)
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the rice and salt. Cook over a low heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to make sure the rice doesn't burn. Add 2 cups of the broth and the juice and zest of 2 limes and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the rice is done. Add more liquid as needed. The rice shouldn't be sticky.

Just before serving, stir through the juice of 1 lime and lots of chopped cilantro.

It was delicious!  I love the idea of cooking the rice in chicken broth, as opposed to water.  And the lime juice I used was just the right amount without having it over power the taste of the recipe.  We are definitely making this again and I'll for sure be buying fresh limes so I can have some zest in it too.

Wednesday and Thursday I went back to work and Scott stayed home to work on some house projects, or watch TV.  

Thursday after work, we scooped up the kids at daycare, loaded the Jeep and hit the road to Nana and Pop's house to drop off the boys.  A little while later, we were on the road and headed to Torch Lake and Traverse City for a long weekend.  After a very long winter full of illnesses, hospitalizations, a never-ending basketball coaching season, and potty training, we figured we owed it to ourselves to steal a few nights away to spend some quality time as husband and wife.  And what better time than in conjunction with Scott's 31st birthday and mid-winter break!  This will definitely merit another blog post, but for now, here's a sneak peak at our gorgeous wintery escape!

More to follow!!

We got back Sunday afternoon, just in time to celebrate Scott's birthday with the boys.  My parents brought the boys over to our house and also brought along an amazing lasagna my mom cooked and a cookies and cream ice cream cake.  We gobbled up the few hours we had with the boys before it was bedtime.  Sean loved getting to sing happy birthday and help blow out the candles!  Although, I think his favorite part was stealing all the Oreos off the top of the cake.  Somehow Evan sensed those were highly desirable and tried to snatch them from Sean.  Too funny...