Serves: 5

Using water for cooking rice and grains is only one of many possibilities. Other liquids can add interesting flavor to your finished dish. Some high-acid liquids, such as tomato juice and wine, should be combined with water because the amount of acid may increase the cook time. Be sure the flavored liquid you use to cook rice and grains goes well with the dish to which you will add it or with which it is served. Try one of the following "liquid assets" in place of water in your recipe:

-Fruit Juice: Replace half or all of the amount of water with apple or orange juice or fruit juice blends such as pineapple-orange or apple-cranberry. This makes an easy side dish or a flavorful addition to a salad or dessert.

-Vegetable Juice: Replace half of the amount of water with tomato, spicy eight-vegetable, carrot or other vegetable juice. This is good as a side dish or in casseroles, soups and salads.

-Wine: Replace half of the amount of water with white or red wine. A sweeter white wine is good for salads and dessert dishes a hearty red wine is great in casseroles and soups.

-Broth: A good-quality canned or homemade vegetable broth can be used for cooking any rice or grain. It can replace all of the water in your recipe.

-Milk: Replace half or all of the amount of water with milk when cooking rice and grains. This can make a rich, hearty hot cereal or a base for a side dish or dessert. Unsweetened canned coconut milk also can be used. For a richer flavor, use all coconut milk. Rice and grains cooked in coconut milk can be used as a side dish or dessert.


From "Betty Crocker's Complete Cookbook, Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, 9th Edition." Text Copyright 2000 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

More Recipes from the Betty Crocker's Cookbook, 9th Edition Cookbook:
BEYOND WATER: FLAVOR-PACKED RICE AND GRAINS
Baked Rice with Green Chilies
Barley and Asparagus
Bulgur Pilaf
Cheese Grits
Cheesy Broccoli-Rice Bake
Curried Rice
DRIED LEGUMES COOKING CHART
Easy Skillet Baked Beans
GRAINS BASICS
LEARN WITH BETTY--COOKING RICE
LEARN WITH BETTY--COOKING RISOTTO
LEGUME BASICS
Mediterranean Risotto
Old-Fashioned Baked Beans
Polenta
Pork Fried Rice
RICE AND OTHER GRAINS COOKING CHART
Red Beans and Rice
Rice Pilaf
Risotto
Savory Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon
Soybeans and Rice
Spanish Rice
Three-Bean Casserole
UNLEADED BEANS