Combine 1 cup uncooked rice, 2 cups boiling water, and 1 tsp. salt in a covered pan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and cook without removing the lid or stirring for about 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. One cup of uncooked rice equals 3 cups of cooked rice (4–6 servings).

Cook rice in beef or chicken broth instead of water for a tasty and nutritious change. Mix cooked rice with a variety of ingredients, such as sliced mushrooms, sauteed onions, crumbled pieces of bacon, slivered almonds, and grated cheese. Also try mixing in sour cream and chives with cooked rice.

Try substituting ½ cup fruit juice (orange, apple, cherry) for ½ cup of the water when cooking rice. Or try replacing 1 cup of the water with vegetable juice cocktail or tomato juice.

For more flavor, add one of the following herbs to the cooking water when preparing rice:

• 1/8 tsp. dried thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, or basil
• 3/4 tsp. dried marjoram
• ½ tsp. celery seeds or dried dill
• Seasoned salt instead of table salt
• 1 small bay leaf