It you like sweet entrees, you will looove this baked rice dish.

Now – I’ll admit that this dish got a lukewarm reception from the Husband, who said it was “lost in translation between dinner and dessert.”  But I LOVE sweet rice dishes so I was a huge fan.

Plus, its covered in reduced apple juice.  How could it not be amazing?

Sweet Apple Baked Rice

Ingredients (makes four servings):

• 3/4 brown rice
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 pack extra firm tofu
• 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/4 cup raisins, chopped
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/4 cup vanilla almond milk
• Sprinkle of salt
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1.5 tablespoon butter
• 3 cups apple juice
• Another drizzle of maple syrup

Directions:

• Preheat over to 375 degrees.
• Prepare brown rice according to package direction.
• Drain tofu and press extra firm tofu of excessive juice (for about two minutes)
• Chop tofu into squares and, in a large bowl, combine tofu, pecans, raisins, maple syrup, and cinnamon.

• Using a spoon, crumble the tofu and mix everything together.
• Punch the sweet potato with a fork and microwave for about 4 minutes.  Let cool and then remove the skin.  Chop and add to tofu mix.

• Add almond milk and salt.  Mix in cooked brown rice.
• Grease a heavy pie dish, pour rice and tofu mix in.  Using a spatula, pack down the mix.

• Top rice with sliced apple. 
• Melt butter in microwave and drizzle on top.

• Cover with alumnium foil and bake at 374 degrees for 45 minutes.
• After 45 minutes, remove foil and bake for another 15.
• Meanwhile, bring apple juice to a roiling boil to reduce.  It will take about 15 minutes for the mix to reduce.  At the very end, add a drizzle of maple syrup.

• Remove serving, plate (it will be all crumbly), and drizzle with sauce.
• Enjoy!

Hello, yum.

Let’s see… beyond making this face-rocking baked rice dish, I also went to a 90-minute hot yoga class, munched on yummy toast, went on a long walk with the Husband and James, wrapped Christmas presents, and now I’m trying to write another chapter of the book.

Happy Sunday!  🙂