(Fill in the Blank) Rice Bowl

Recently my good friend Leslie (aka macaron baker extraordinaire) told me, "Whenever you make a new recipe, just assume I want it and send it to me." Well I haven't been so good at following up on that request, but I also haven't made new "recipes" in a while, either. So the following is less a recipe and more a list of ingredients that when combined are likely to taste pretty great.

I used to shy away from making Asian dishes at home because the list of specialty ingredients required intimidated me and dissuaded me from making the commitment. But those days are gone! It began with lettuce wraps and there's been no turning back since. It's nice to have an entire new arsenal of ingredients in our kitchen to throw together spontaneously.

One of the Food Network Recipe of the Day emails I got this week was for this bacon and broccoli rice bowl. We had a half-used package of bacon (from a super yummy & easy shaved Brussels sprouts and bacon side dish we made) so I was intrigued. This became a "throw together stuff you have in your produce drawer" kind of meal, so my resourceful was happy.

Ingredients I threw together:

• brown rice
• leftover sugar snap peas
• shredded carrots
• bacon
• leftover shaved brussels sprouts
• cilantro
• fried egg
• soy sauce, garlic rice vinegar, mirin (the recipe only called for soy sauce so do whatever works for you!)

Pseudo-recipe: Cook the rice per directions. In a medium pan, simmer the sugar snap peas in water for 1-2 minutes. Drain and combine the peas with rice, along with shredded carrots. Cook bacon in the medium pan until browned; add shaved Brussels sprouts. Saute for 2 more minutes. Add the bacon and Brussels sprouts to the rice mixture, along with soy sauce (and any additional sauces you have). Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until sauces are well-combined and almost completely evaporated. Transfer to bowl. Fry egg and serve on top of rice bowl. Garnish with cilantro.

I'm not a big fried egg person (I always overcook them) so it's not the prettiest picture, but you get the idea. With the cilantro and combo of sauces, the taste was somewhere between pad thai and fried rice. Is that a weird description? Hope not, 'cause it was delicious! So go dig out your produce drawer goodies and get cookin'.