Disclaimer: I am not Asian. I didn’t grow up eating rice. Several international friends, multiple cultures, through the years have given me tips on rice. Below is my understanding of best practices and how I make rice that’s not gummy and gross.
Measure (or not) the amount of rice you want to cook and pour into a saucepan.
Fill the saucepan with cold tap water; swirl the rice and water. Pour out the water, keeping the rice.
Repeat step 2 until the water runs clear.
Add water until just below your first knuckle on your index finger.
Optional: add 1t sea salt per cup of dry rice. (Do it for best taste.)
Stovetop: bring the water and rice to a boil. (Many Asians swear by a rice cooker. I know several who still cook stovetop.)
Add a lid and turn the heat to low.
Set a timer for 20 minutes.
When timer rings, turn off heat. Let it rest 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.
If the rice is too wet, turn on the heat briefly (remove the lid) for moisture to evaporate. Persians cook their rice until it is caramelized on the bottom. Kids fight over the prized crispies on the bottom.
Instantpot: for every 1cup rice, after rinsing, measure 1 ¼ cup water or broth. So for 2 cups rice use 2.5c liquid. Cook high pressure 4 minutes then natural release for 10 minutes then quick release. I’ve cooked 6+ cups of dry rice in an Instantpot with perfect rice.
All else fails, read the package instructions but my experience is the package doesn’t say to rinse and usually the package calls for too much water. Just be sure to rinse the extra starch off the rice in the beginning.
Grief
Last night at my church, a dear widow friend shared from her experience with grief. She said, “Grief is not something we talk about in our culture. If it were a joke we’d be telling everyone.” If you or someone you know is suffering with grief, consider listening to her story. She has turned her sorrow into purpose and encourages those walking through a very difficult time. So much wisdom. Highly recommended even if you are not suffering with grief.
Is Plastic All That Bad?
Fortune released an article a week ago that links ‘hormone-disrupting chemicals’ to 10% of U.S. preterm births in 2018 from a study done by NYU.
It’s been known for decades that phthalates—a group of chemicals that make plastics more durable—are endocrine disruptors, chemicals that block, mimic, or interfere with the body’s hormones. But a new study from researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, found that exposure to such chemicals is also linked to an increased risk of lower birth weight and gestational age—and death—among newborns, in addition to lower academic performance, diabetes, and heart disease in childhood and beyond.
How to reduce your family’s phthalate exposure:
Eat at home as much as possible from single ingredients (not from a package).
Drink from (and store leftovers in) glass or stainless.
If you must use a microwave, never reheat in plastic.
Read ingredient labels in beauty products. The skin is our largest organ. It’s tricky on labels because sometimes they are listed with acronyms:
DEP: Diethyl phthalate.
DMP: Dimethyl phthalate.
DBP: Dibutyl phthalate.
DINP: Diisononyl phthalate.
DNOP: Di-n-octyl phthalate.
BBP: Benzyl butyl phthalate.
As much as possible, avoid food packaging with the recycling numbers 3, 6, and 7.
Life is hard; food doesn’t have to be.
Julie
PS - Beautycounter is a brand I’ve used for 8+ years. They are transparent with their ingredient lists and have a Never List of 2,800 harmful or questionable ingredients they will never use and phthalates is definitely on the Never List.
Baby step: consider switching to safer one product you’re consistently using. Today starts a promotion of a generous gift with purchase. Get an additional 20% off if it’s your first Beautycounter purchase with code CLEANFORALL20. Reach out if you have questions - leave a comment or reply to this email.