Festive Rice

Name: Festive Rice
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 2-1/4 cups water; 1/4 cup butter, cubed; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice; 1/4 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas; 2 teaspoons brown sugar; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese; 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint; 1/4 cup dried cranberries

My mom and I transformed plain rice by adding feta, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and cayenne. We wound up with a sweet and spicy crowd-pleaser. —Lisa de Perio, Dallas, Texas

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
1/4 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, bring first five ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over rice in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, 30-35 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook pumpkin seeds, brown sugar and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly until sugar melts and cayenne coats pumpkin seeds, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer to a plate, spreading out seeds to cool. Sprinkle cooked rice with feta, mint, cranberries and spiced pumpkin seeds.