Happy Friday my friends!! I am in a glorious mood because I did not have to start work today until 9:30 am AND we won our volleyball game last night. I am on a co-ed, intramural team on Thursday nights and its SO much fun. The weather cooperated and we kicked butt! Our team name is “I’d Hit That.” (You just have to know my friends.)
Now on to the recipe stuff. After spending an unnecessary amount of time on the car ride home last night, I was STARVING for dinner. Earlier this week I found a recipe for Mediterranean Rice Casserole over at Diet, Desserts, and Dogs. This woman has some engaging posts and she is one of my new favorite blogs!! Just saying. You should check her out. Anyway, this recipe looked AWESOME and I could not wait to try it! Me + Mediterranean food is ALWAYS a match made in food heaven.
Looks yummy doesn't it?? Don't be fooled...
Well I started out with good intentions. I halved the recipe because you just never know with new recipes. I’m so glad I did because it flopped. Don’t you hate it when you screw up someone else’s recipe? Ug. I should have followed the recipe precisely but instead I tried my hand at making minor substitutions. Maybe it was that I was in a hurry and did not measure properly or I just don’t know how to substitute ingredients. Either way, the balsamic was WAY too over bearing and the dried cherries were overwhelmingly sour.
I WILL be trying this recipe again though because it definitely has promise and I even brought the leftovers for lunch today (wasn’t THAT bad…see??). Ok ok, I just HATE throwing away food…good or bad. Can anyone else relate?
The bright side? I paired it with a super foodie, colorful salad…another thing I did for my skin yesterday…bright colors = sunscreen protection!!
Strawberries, raisins, broccoli, onion, tomatoes, spinach, romaine, a little blue cheese...superb!
Mediterranean Rice Casserole adapted from Diet, Desserts, and Dogs
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 T E.V.O.O
- 2 T walnuts, chopped
- 2 T dried cherries
- 1/2 large onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ~1 1/2 T fresh lemon juice
- 1 T Balsamic Vinegar
- ~1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 tsp dried marjoram
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Do not follow this recipe…Go to Diet, Desserts, and Dogs for her version!! 
SUNSCREEN CHALLENGE: Have you dedicated yourself to the challenge yet?? I covered up in SPF 50 for my face and neck today. I applied an SPF 30 for my arms and hands. One key place that I think ALOT of people miss is their EARS!! Don’t forget those little guys. So cover up!! What did you do for your skin today!!??
[...] When Recipes Work For Some…and not others. [...]
So sorry this didn’t work out! I actually went back to my recipe to see the quantity of dried cherries. . . but there are no cherries in my recipe!
I actually think cherries could be great in this, but it does need the sweetness to offset the vinegary/salty flavors. You might try adding a teensy bit of sweetener to your rice and see if that makes a difference. Looks lovely, though–as does the salad!
I always follow recipes to the tee for the first time. A big part of that is I’m too chicken to adapt it and I also don’t really know what tweaks I would want to make until after I’ve tasted it. It does stink when one doesn’t turn out like you hope.
haha well then it’s safe to say I won’t be asking you on our team for next session. LOL just kidding! We just play for fun and it’s not really that competitive, just a good time!
Congrats on the VB win. I would love be able to play VB…but I have the eye-hand coordination of a 5 year old…maybe worse! NO JOKE!!
Congrats on the winnnnn! I think we need to see some pictures of you in action! Sorry the meal wasn’t a hit. I think we all have slightly different tastes so…someone elses idea of a jammin recipe could be kind of meh in someone elses book- maybe that was the case? Beautiful salad- love fruit on top
Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!
haha don’t give up! Perhaps the 4th time is the charm?? ps. You must try smitten kitchen’s oatmeal pancakes! I made them last week and they are amazing!!
http://thehealthyapron.com/2010/05/08/im-smitten-for-these-pancakes-from-my-kitchen/
totally totally hate it when that happens! i made the fitnessista’s protein pancakes like three times to the letter and they still haven’t turned out right! oh pancakes, why have you turned against me?
i think this is why i have not made your risotto yet! i am scared…..i am gonna go check out that blog-love the dog part of the title
happy friday!