Brown Rice Medley with Lemon-Parsley Dijon Vinaigrette
Paul usually works a couple of evenings per month so on those nights I end up cooking for just me. I usually find myself throwing dinner together on a whim. Lately it’s been this avocado pasta or this cous cous salad but I found this brown rice medley at Trader Joe’s and it was calling my name.
I had no idea how to dress it but I have been thinking about this vinaigrette that Paul’s mom makes. It’s so simple but extremely flavorful. So I put my spin on that by adding some soy sauce, green onions and water chestnuts. It turned out really flavorful and full of different textures. I added some chopped walnuts and garnished with a little extra parsley and thoroughly enjoyed my dinner for one!
I tried to talk myself into sleeping in yesterday but then I remembered that I would need to be at work a little later which rules out an evening workout. So I hopped up and made it to the gym. I was not really feeling cardio so I did a 12 minute treadmill walk to warm up that looked like this:
Minutes 1-4 4% incline 4.0 pace
Minutes 5-8 6% incline 4.2 pace
Minutes 9-12 8% incline 4.2 pace
It felt good, got my heart pumping, for a few minutes at least, and started the sweat rolling down my cheeks. After that I followed up with this weight workout:
| Total Body Weights | |
| Leg Extension | 3 sets of 10; leg extension machine (75#) |
| Walking Lunges | On the indoor track, 3 sets of 10 (each leg) |
| Calf Raises | 3 sets of 10 with dumbbells (15#) |
| Overhead Shoulder Press | 3 sets of 10 with dumbbells (superset with 1 arm row; 12#) |
| 1 Arm Row | 3 sets of 10 with dumbbells (superset with overhead shoulder press, 15#) |
| Bridges | 2 sets of 10; 2 sets of 15 second hold |
| Chest Press | 3 sets of 10 with dumbbells (20#) |
| Single Leg Press | 2 sets of 10; leg extension machine (60#) |
| Plank | 60 seconds |
| Crunches | Various kinds, 3 sets of 20 |
This was a great total body workout and when it was finished I was so glad that I didn’t sleep in!
Question for today:
-What is your favorite thing to cook/eat when you are cooking just for yourself?
Brown Rice Medley with Lemon-Parsley Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe
Yield: 2 servings (as a main dish) - 4 servings (as a side dish)
Ingredients:
Juice of 1 lemon
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1 green onion, chopped
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 can water chestnuts (optional, I like the added texture)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups cooked rice (I used Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Medley which includes long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds)Directions:
Cook rice according to package directions.
While the rice cooks, whisk lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, parsley, green onion and soy sauce in a medium bowl.
Stir into the cooked rice and add water chestnuts and walnuts. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.
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I'm a cheese on toast kind of girl. I know that sounds a bit boring but it really is my favorite onesy meal 🙂
Way to kick workout ass! Keep up the good work 🙂 Buzzed
I definitely love making rice dishes when I'm by myself. Fried rice, pilaf, risotto – I always have leftovers for lunch =)
Healthy dish! Sounds very lovely.
I don't get into rice…dunno why…it tastes good, but I would rather have orzo. 😉 BUT, I bet I would love that rice if you served it with some of that delicious vinaigrette…it sounds yummy-good!
When i'm by myself, I'm a huge salad or soup girl! This dish looks amazing!
Wonderful idea! I love your recipe, looks so delicious!!!
Love rice! Great recipe – so many flavors all together!
LOVE Trader Joe's + Brown Rice! I actually made a split pea soup last night and added a brown rice medley!
That vinaigrette sounds amazing!
Usually when I'm alone and feeling indulgent I'll have a nice bowl of cheesy pasta, but if I'm feeling slightly healthy I love a good salad with a poached egg. This rice looks great – I am a Trader Joe's fiend and I love your addition of water chestnuts to this!
Brown rice is delicious on its own and the addition of the walnuts and chestnuts sounds heavenly. Bookmarked-yum!
Wow – that sounds delicious and what a work out! Such discipline! I've worked very hard on re-thinking what I eat when I'm alone. It used to be – hmmmm…hubby's working – hot fudge sundae! Now it's a healthy salad and a snack of 1/4 cup of nuts, or something like that. You are my new hero!
I've seen this at Trader Joe's too. I don't cook other rice enough – I cook Japanese rice pretty much everyday (if the food is Asian food). I learned that white rice is not healthy (easily gain weight). I should give this a try!
Sounds real good. I love lemon and parsley combo. Blessings, Catherine
Looks like a fabulous rice dish, Cassie! And you've just convinced me to go to hot yoga in the morning instead of sleeping in….a week off of exercise should have been enough incentive 🙂
Good for you for eating healthy when it's just you. I have a tendency to be bad when I'm by myself. Like french fry kind of bad. I have just been horrible this week. No workouts and bad food. Need to remotivate. Is that even a word? Think I'll stop by here for inspiration when I go to grab junk food. Might give me a kick in the butt to get off my butt. lol
Deliciously healthy recipe! I love it!!! I often cook rice for myself too!
This looks like a delicious and simple recipe. I don't often eat on my own at dinner, but at lunch I try to keep it healthy.