Mexican Rice & Bean Burritos

This recipe is from allrecipes.com.  Sounds yummy and better than buying those packages from the store that are loaded with sodium and other things.  I hope its yummy and that my kids will eat it.  Okay, I hope I can at least think its yummy.....

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until puffed and golden. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and cumin.

Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

*Some recommendations/comments in the reviews section (that's why I love allrecipes!)

-Tried it as written, just with the cumin, and it was not nearly as good as it was when I did it a second time using Taco Seasoning I (from allrecipes.com site). I just sprinkled in what looked like enough, about 1-1/2 tsp.

-Cook onions before browning rice, so onions are more soft and not crunchy (which is very yucky in my opininon!)

-Don't worry about puffing the rice, just brown it.

-Use fresh garlic instead! saute with onions...before adding rice

-Use a rice cooker instead.  Saute the onions, minced garlic and cumin in a skillet, then throw it into the rice cooker along with the 1 c. rice, 1-1/2 c. chicken broth and all the other ingredients, omitting the garlic salt.

-Use sea salt (to taste) instead of garlic salt and added 2-3 cloves of garlic (crushed) - (In my family 1 clove might be enough)

-Didn't have any tomato sauce so I used a 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes with the juice. I still used the same amount of water and it worked out perfectly

-Omit the salt and just used fresh minced garlic instead and add some green onions along with the regular onions, also use olive oil instead.

-Add 2 TBLS of picante sauce to bring out the mexican flavor a little better and cut that garlic salt by half.

-Omit the tomato sauce and add "Rotel" in its place.

-Use tomato paste mixed with water when don't have any tomato sauce on hand.

-add just a pinch of saffron at the end for another wonderful layer of flavor

Bean Burritos

I was referred to the Mexican Rice from hip2save.com because she puts that rice in her burritos.  The basic recipe for the burritos is cooked black beans, shredded cheese and the rice rolled in a burrito/taco shells.  Then she wraps them up in foil and freezes them.  Then when you want to eat them just take of the foil and pop them into the microwave.  Great for a quick lunch or dinner!