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It was one of those days. You know the type – where you’re juggling work calls, breaking up sibling squabbles, and suddenly realize it’s 5:30 PM and you forgot to plan dinner. Again.
I promised the kids we’d get Chinese takeout, but after a quick peek at my bank account, I knew a trip out wasn’t happening. Cue the impending meltdown – both theirs and mine.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? I raided the fridge and pantry like a contestant on some cooking show. The haul: leftover rice from two nights ago, a sad-looking carrot, frozen peas, and… was that bacon hiding behind the yogurt? Jackpot!
I chopped and sizzled while my 5-year-old “supervised” (aka pelted me with a million questions). Fifteen frantic minutes later, I had a pan full of steaming fried rice that smelled pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.
The true test? My picky 4-year-old took one bite, then another, and mumbled “This is actually pretty good, Dad” around a mouthful of rice. High praise indeed!
Now, this thrown-together fried rice is our go-to “oops, I forgot to plan dinner” meal. It’s infinitely customizable based on whatever odds and ends are lurking in the fridge. And the best part? It’s faster than delivery, cheaper than takeout, and makes me feel like a kitchen wizard.
Who knew a moment of parental panic could lead to a family favourite? Sometimes, the best recipes are born out of necessity and a little creative desperation. Dinner crisis averted!
Fried Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Serves: 4-6 people
Ingredients:
3 Cups of Rice
6 Cups of water
1 Egg
3 Sprigs of Green Onion, Cut Thinly
1 White Onion, Diced
1 Carrot, Finely Diced Up
1 Tablespoon of Thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
4 Tablespoons, Chicken stock mix
Butter
3 Tablespoons, Soya sauce
Optional: Add Shrimp
Steps:
1. Heat large pan, and add butter once melted scramble up the egg and add salt and pepper to taste. Once fully cooked remove from heat for later.
2. Boil water, add chicken stock and rice, and let simmer on low for 15 mins until all water dissolves
3. Add more butter to the large pan sweat off the white onion, carrots and add the green onions once they are 50% done. Season with salt pepper and thyme.
4. Add back the egg and rice to the onions and carrots mix together and add a little soya sauce and enjoy.