On the weekend Mowgli’s Scout Group had their annual garage sale, not a garage in sight but I came home with a rice cooker. Rice cookers are one of those things that I’ve looked at in the past and thought that’s kind of cool but would I use it. Earlier this year Casper went to a friend’s house and was served a curry with rice that had been cooked in a rice cooker so she’s been suggesting ever since that we should get one. When I had a chance to pick one up for $5 I did. Then, of course, I have to figure out what I can cook in a rice cooker other than plain rice because after all how much plain rice do you really need. After looking through various cooking sites I went with make it up as you go. Since it worked really well I thought I’d better document it before one of the kids wants me to cook it again and I have no idea what I did.

Rice Cooker Hot Pot

Ingredients:

• 500g mince beef
• 1 onion
• 1 cup rice and quinoa
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tin corn kernals
• 1 tin kidney beans
• 1 tin peas
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons mixed herbs

Method:

Brown the mince and onion. I use dried onion flakes because I don’t really like onion but think that mince needs it.

Add the rice and continue to fry for a couple of minutes.

Dump the mince and rice mixture into the rice cooker and then add everything else and turn on the rice cooker. When it switches to keep warm, stir and serve. Makes about 6 serves.

Mowgli claimed he didn’t really like it but he certainly cleaned his bowl, Casper really liked it and so did I. Win! Actually better than my Crockpot Hot Pot.