Veggie Fried Rice

Sometimes I like to make a side dish that is more than just the brown instant rice. I still use the instant rice, though you can use any type of rice that you want for this dish. I switched to brown rice a few years ago-- I find it has more flavor than white rice and the kids didn't seem to notice it was any different.

I prepare the rice in a pot according to the directions.

While the rice is cooking I start the veggies and the egg in an electric frying pan. I keep the egg in one corner and scramble it as it cooks. The veggies I use for this are frozen peas and fresh zucchini. I also throw in some frozen salad shrimp most of the time. I peel the zucchini and cut it into chunks. I fry the veggies in a little olive oil in the other half of the pan while the eggs are cooking as well.

Now for the part that --shhhh don't tell my kids! Since the kids will refuse to eat the rice that has "stuff" in it, I'll keep some rice "clean" for them to eat. However I do put some egg in it (just take some from the frying pan after it's scrambled and cooked) and they will usually eat the rice with the egg in it. I also get out my little chopper and chop bits of zucchini into rice-size pieces and mix that into the rice. (this photo is taken before I've stirred it in much! Can you see the zucchini hiding in there?)

The kids will eat the rice and zucchini mixture without complaint...and usually ask for more.

I take the rest of the rice that I haven't reserved for the kids and mix it into the veggies and eggs in the frying pan, frying it until it's heated up again.

Serve with soy sauce or plain.

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Aweigh post below!