Cooking
I am hoarding rice. It's not what you think. I have fallen in love with the precious samples of Koshihikari rice I was sent by an Arkansas farmer. Mark Isbell grows a Japanese premium variety of short grain rice and Isbell Farms has been exporting it to Japan since 1995. He has only recently begun selling it in the United States under the name "Koshi Rice."
Last Spring I got bored with white rice and virtually stopped cooking it. It just tasted flat and mushy to me. Then in the Fall I went to Japan and knew I would be eating a lot of it. What I didn't know is that the quality of rice I would eat was far superior to what I was used to eating. It was the harvest season and the rice was "new" and didn't just have a tender texture but an almost floral, fruity scent. I was hooked. Often the rice had just a bit of a garnish on it and that was all. Once I spent $18 for plain freshly harvested rice cooked in a stone bowl. I know it sounds insane, but it was worth every penny and I'd order it again if I could.
So I was curious to try Mark's rice. I've not been very impressed with California rice, could Arkansas rice be that different? All I can tell you is: yes. It is that different. As Mark describes it, koshihikari rice is shiny, smooth and mildly sweet. It holds it's shape very well and is a typical choice for sushi because it is a bit sticky, but in my experience it is fabulous with almost anything. After cooking it for the first time Lee begged me to cook it again and again. But because it's expensive, I have saved it for special meals. But life is short. Regardless of the price, I am going to stop hoarding and just start stocking up (especially since it is available online).
- Japanese Omelet Rice
One of my favorite food films is Tampopo. Do you remember the scene where two characters sneak onto a boat and make a late night snack of omurice? If you don't remember the scene, by all means take two and a half minutes to watch the clip here. I...
- Rice Bran Oil
Which of the following statements about rice bran oil is false? Rice bran oil: A. is good for cooking tempura and popcorn B. has been proven to lower cholesterol C. has twice as much saturated fat as canola oil D. is produced in India, Japan, China,...
- Thai Sticky Rice
Before I ever went to Thailand I was very fond of mango and sticky rice. In fact, when Lee and I would order Thai food to be delivered to our home, our choice of restaurants would often be influenced by which one had mango and sticky rice on the menu....
- Sticky Rice Steamer:equipment
Next project is Mango & Thai Sticky Rice. This is a favorite dessert in our household and we only get it when the Thai restaurants we frequent have it on the menu. I have several recipes for it and finally found the right rice at Smart & Final...
- He Wants Blue Rice!
Alex is a hoot. He loves to watch cooking shows (he's particularly fond of Rachel Ray's 30-Minute Meals and Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentis, and has already been seen channeling Emeril..."Bam!"), and often plays with his toy kitchen. ...
Cooking
Koshi Rice: Favorite Things
I am hoarding rice. It's not what you think. I have fallen in love with the precious samples of Koshihikari rice I was sent by an Arkansas farmer. Mark Isbell grows a Japanese premium variety of short grain rice and Isbell Farms has been exporting it to Japan since 1995. He has only recently begun selling it in the United States under the name "Koshi Rice."
Last Spring I got bored with white rice and virtually stopped cooking it. It just tasted flat and mushy to me. Then in the Fall I went to Japan and knew I would be eating a lot of it. What I didn't know is that the quality of rice I would eat was far superior to what I was used to eating. It was the harvest season and the rice was "new" and didn't just have a tender texture but an almost floral, fruity scent. I was hooked. Often the rice had just a bit of a garnish on it and that was all. Once I spent $18 for plain freshly harvested rice cooked in a stone bowl. I know it sounds insane, but it was worth every penny and I'd order it again if I could.
So I was curious to try Mark's rice. I've not been very impressed with California rice, could Arkansas rice be that different? All I can tell you is: yes. It is that different. As Mark describes it, koshihikari rice is shiny, smooth and mildly sweet. It holds it's shape very well and is a typical choice for sushi because it is a bit sticky, but in my experience it is fabulous with almost anything. After cooking it for the first time Lee begged me to cook it again and again. But because it's expensive, I have saved it for special meals. But life is short. Regardless of the price, I am going to stop hoarding and just start stocking up (especially since it is available online).
- Japanese Omelet Rice
One of my favorite food films is Tampopo. Do you remember the scene where two characters sneak onto a boat and make a late night snack of omurice? If you don't remember the scene, by all means take two and a half minutes to watch the clip here. I...
- Rice Bran Oil
Which of the following statements about rice bran oil is false? Rice bran oil: A. is good for cooking tempura and popcorn B. has been proven to lower cholesterol C. has twice as much saturated fat as canola oil D. is produced in India, Japan, China,...
- Thai Sticky Rice
Before I ever went to Thailand I was very fond of mango and sticky rice. In fact, when Lee and I would order Thai food to be delivered to our home, our choice of restaurants would often be influenced by which one had mango and sticky rice on the menu....
- Sticky Rice Steamer:equipment
Next project is Mango & Thai Sticky Rice. This is a favorite dessert in our household and we only get it when the Thai restaurants we frequent have it on the menu. I have several recipes for it and finally found the right rice at Smart & Final...
- He Wants Blue Rice!
Alex is a hoot. He loves to watch cooking shows (he's particularly fond of Rachel Ray's 30-Minute Meals and Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentis, and has already been seen channeling Emeril..."Bam!"), and often plays with his toy kitchen. ...