Quick & dirty

When I'm feeding Boy Wonder and Scruffy, I'm often on a fairly tight schedule. Now that Princess P is in the picture, I have to make sure my night is on time and that everybody's needs are met in time for me to get the kids to bed on time. That's when I like my dinners quick and dirty (as opposed to weekend meals, when the bigger the mess, the better the dish.)

Boy Wonder LOVES rice, and everybody likes Chinese food, so I created a quick and dirty version of fried rice. No pictures this time - sorry, you'll have to trust your instincts.

Quick & Dirty Fried Rice

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 package Uncle Ben's Bistro Express Plain Rice * I use the brown rice because it's better for you. They also make an Oriental type that I'm sure would be good, too.

1 cup frozen diced vegetables, or 1/2 each of frozen peas and frozen carrots

2 tbsp oil (I don't care what kind you use, but avoid olive oil because it's got a stronger flavor)

2 eggs

Soy sauce

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a 12" frying pan over medium-high heat. While it's warming, nuke the frozen veggies in the microwave with a drizzle of water for about a minute or just enough to warm.

2. Drain the veggies and add to the oil. You can throw in some jarred diced garlic or ginger at this point, if you feel like it.

3. Stir and let the veggies sizzle for a minute or so, then add the eggs and stir quickly (don't let them turn into one big fried egg.)

4. Add the rice and keep stirring to coat.

5. Drizzle with a bit of soy sauce, stir to coat.

Serve hot! Takes 5 minutes - seriously. Totally quick, totally dirty, totally something my 3 year old will eat. LOVE THAT.