Minty Pea and Apple Rice

Good morning!  I have a tendency to use the ingredients on hand and come up with some odd pairings, unique combination or just all out crazy dishes.  For this dish, I combined the fresh taste of mint and crunchy royal gala apples, green peas and some jasmine rice.  Interesting combination?  Tasty?  I would say yes to all of the above.

This would be a great side dish with roasted pork or even a blackened roasted chicken.  You could also serve this cold as a salad but I chose to eat it hot.

Ingredients

2 Cups Jasmine Rice
1 Cups frozen Peas
2 Apples,  cubed
2 Sprigs of fresh mint
1 Tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 Garlic clove, minced
1 Tsp. fresh ginger, minced
Salt and pepper

Method

Cook the rice according directions an set aside.
In a large preheated skillet add the olive oil, garlic and ginger and begin to cook.  Toss in the apples, vinegar, and cook for a couple of minutes.  Toss in the peas and let cook through.
Season with salt and pepper
Add the mint at the last minute, stir in the rice and mix together.
Garnish with a touch more mint.
Enjoy!

Zesty Tip: You want the apples to still have a crunch so I started off with a hard apple versus a soft apple like MacIntosh.  I find the galas can hold up tot he heat and not break down.

I hope you have a great Monday.  The rain here is “raining on my parade” to say the least.  We have a lot of work to be done outside and nothing has started as of yet due to the weather.  I am trying to stay optimistic but if this continues I am sure to be cranky?

Do you find weather effects your mood? Let me know because I never used to think it had an impact on me but now I am second guessing.. ha!  I will talk to you on Wednesday.

Take care

zesty