This post is sponsored by Zatarain's.

It's National Rice Month ????????, did you know that? I'm so excited to be working with Zatarain's and bringing you this recipe for a one pot soy glazed chicken with cilantro lime rice. It's so easy to make because I use Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice and because I make it all in one pan!

Growing up as a Vietnamese American here in the U.S., my Mom cooked a lot of rice. We ate rice at least five to six times a week. As an adult, I love cooking Asian rice as well as other kinds of rice. From Zatarain's Spanish Rice Mix to their Jamabalaya Rice Mix and even to Zatarain's Yellow Rice, I love it all!

As you can tell, rice has always been a staple in our house when I was a kid and now as an adult. I consider it an essential part of a meal. We have rice several times a week! And the beauty of Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice is that reheats nicely too. This entire meal reheats and work great as leftovers too!

Of course when I started working with Zatarain's, I knew I wanted to share with you an Asian-inspired dish and the cilantro lime rice is a perfect part of this dish!

First, mince the garlic.

Use a grater to zest a lime.

And then juice the lime. I do it right into the bag I'm going to marinate the chicken in.

Add the spices.

The sesame oil.

And the low sodium soy sauce.

Seal the bag and place it in the refrigerate to marinate. You only need to marinate it for 10 minutes!

Add the chicken to a nonstick skillet.

All we're trying to do is sear the chicken. It's going to cook the rest of the way in the oven.

I wiped the pan clean and then boiled some water. Then, added Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice to the pan.

Cover it, lower the heat so it's a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

It's sooo good! But it's not cooked all the way yet.

Add the chicken on top of the rice and then cover with foil. Place it in the oven to cook the rest of the way.

I love love that I can make a meal in just one pot! It's easy for clean up and it's less stress for a week night meal!

The rice is so flavorful and the chicken is tender and has the perfect balance with the soy sauce along with lime juice! It's a new favorite in our house! You definitely need to try this recipe as soon as possible! I have a feeling you'll be very popular after you do! ????

I'm currently obsessed with Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice and can't wait to cook with it in other recipes like this recipe for Cheesy Chicken Salsa Rice!

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One Pot Soy-Glazed Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 3 to 4

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless or bone-in skinless chicken thighs
• 4 garlic cloves peeled and minced
• zest of one lime
• juice of one lime
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon grape seed oil
• 1 package of Zatarain’s Cilantro Lime Rice
• another lime cut into wedges optional

Instructions

• Heat your oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add minced garlic, lime zest, lime juice, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sesame oil, soy sauce and to a zippered plastic bag. Add chicken and seal the bag. Place bag on a clean plate or inside a casserole dish and place in the refrigerator. Marinate the chicken for at least 10 minutes (no need to do it more than 20 minutes).
• Now we're going to sear the chicken. Add grape seed oil to an oven-safe nonstick skillet pan and turn heat on medium high. Heat the pan for 3 minutes.
• Remove chicken from plastic bag, pat the chicken with a paper towel (see notes below).
• Then, add chicken to the pan and cook on each side for 3 to 4 minutes (if using bone-in, 4 to 6 minutes per side). Remove the chicken from the skillet, place on a clean plate and set aside.
• Wipe the pan clean with paper towels and place back on the range.
• Add 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. Bring the water to a boil. Add rice and cook for 15 minutes.
• Place chicken on top of the rice, carefully cover the pan with foil and place in the oven to cook the rest of the way. About 10 to 15 minutes (if you’re using bone-in chicken, it will take about 24 to 25 minutes), or until chicken is fully cooked.
• Cook the CIlantro Lime Rice
• Remove the skillet carefully from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 to 6 minutes before cutting into it to check for doneness. Serve the chicken with Zatarain’s Cilantro Lime Rice with your favorite vegetable.
• Optional:  Squeeze lime wedges on top of the chicken before serving.

Notes

Notes: You’re not patting the chicken completely dry. But enough so that you’re not boiling the chicken in the marinade when you place it in the pan.

from The Little Kitchen

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Zatarain's. I only work with brands that I love and always share with you my personal opinions.

The post One Pot Soy-Glazed Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice appeared first on The Little Kitchen.

I recently updated this post from April 2014 with a new video!

I love making fried rice at home. Growing up, my mom and my sister would make fried rice for us. I wanted to come up with a version that rivals take out and I did! It's an easy fried rice recipe that uses leftover ham and I know you'll love it! Check out the video!

Last Friday, I started getting a series of texts from Curtis while he was at work. I want ham for Easter dinner. I responded with no, we should have turkey breast like we do every year. Because before Italy last year, I hadn't eaten pork in over 15 years.

I resisted getting a ham because I hadn't had ham in a long time and because there's only the two of us. A little bit later, I looked at the calendar and saw that Sunday was going to be April 20th and then counted the years. April 20, 1999 is the day Curtis and I started dating…it's been 15 years!! That's when I texted back, okay go ahead and pick up that ham.

He responded by saying, why are you agreeing to ham? And why are you being so nice? Haha I wasn't going to tell him because then he would think he would have to get me a gift but I told him why.

Later that night, he came home with a nine pound ham for the two of us. He insisted that's the smallest one they had. Oh boy. On Sunday, we cut it up before we even baked the portion we would eat for dinner and froze it. We are going to have ham for a very longggg time.

This ham or pork fried rice we had was the second of three meals we have had with the leftovers from Sunday's dinner…we haven't even touched what we froze yet. I have to give credit to Curtis, this was fried rice using the leftover ham was Curtis' idea. I say he made me do it!

I have been trying to perfect my own fried rice recipe for a while now and I have to say this is the best fried rice I have ever made…you'll have to keep reading to see what the secret ingredient is!

I didn't make the rice the day before like you should so in the morning, I made the rice in my rice cooker. As soon as it was finished, I poured the rice onto a baking dish and spread it out. I flipped over and mixed the rice a couple of times, let it cool and let it sit out for a while– maybe 30 minutes. Then covered it and stuck it in the fridge until I was ready to make fried rice!

You have to make the eggs first for fried rice. I always feel like I'm making an omelet. (I love using OXO's omelet turner when I'm making eggs.)

Cut it up.

Then, make the rice. After adding the rice, mix in the soy sauce and the sesame oil really good. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes on medium high.

Add the ham, peas and corn. You can add carrots, broccoli, whatever you want.

There's the secret ingredient…butter. 2 Tablespoons of butter heaven. There's a Japanese hibachi grill place I used to go to a lot when I worked across the street from them and I would watch them put butter in the fried rice…near the end. I had to try it and it makes this fried rice so good. Curtis would argue it's the ham that makes it so good.

Now, add the eggs and sliced green onions.

And you're done. Seriously…amazing. The ham still has the sugary cinnamony glaze which adds a nice sweetness sometimes. The soy sauce is a must have for fried rice and the butter…yes please. Makes great leftovers too!

As long as you have the rice made ahead of time, it doesn't take that long to put this dish together!

PS Curtis absolutely loved this fried rice recipe…we will be making this again and again! Hope you enjoy it with your family if you try it!

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Secret Ingredient Ham Fried Rice Recipe

Day old rice, rice that's cooked the day before and refrigerated overnight makes the best fried rice. If it's freshly made, you may get mushy results. There are ways around it if you want to make fried rice the same day you make the rice. Omit ham or sub with crispy fried tofu to make this dish vegetarian or feel free to sub with shrimp or chicken!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 3 cups uncooked Jasmine rice cooked (preferably the day before)
• 3 Tablespoons grape seed oil
• 3 eggs beaten
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 cup diced cooked ham
• 3/4 cup frozen corn
• 1/3 cup frozen peas
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 green onions sliced thin

Instructions

• Cook rice. If you didn't make it the day before. As soon as it's done, lay it out on a 9x13 baking dish or a baking sheet. Allow to cool. Mix and spread out several times. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon of grape seed oil into a wok or a large skillet, heat on medium for at least 3 minutes. Swirl the oil to cover the pan. Pour in beaten eggs and allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes and flip and cook for another minute. Remove from skillet and allow to cool. Cut into strips and then into smaller pieces, set aside.
• Add 2 Tablespoons of grape seed oil to the wok and add the rice and cook for 2 minutes. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and mix the rice thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium high and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until rice is completely heated through, be sure to mix occasionally so the rice does not burn.
• Add ham, corn and peas and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, mixing occasionally. Lower heat and add butter, allow to melt, and mix thoroughly. Add eggs and green onions and stir gently. Season with salt & pepper. Serve immediately.

Disclosure: There's an affiliate link in this post.

The post Ham Fried Rice Recipe appeared first on The Little Kitchen.

This post is sponsored by Florida Department of Citrus.

What's perfect for summer? A light and fresh cold noodle dish and citrus right? These orange sesame noodles with vegetables fit that bill!

They are light and easy to make! You can use soba noodles or thin spaghetti, whichever you prefer!

I love cooking and baking with Florida orange juice. Did you know it was so easy to cook with? (If you missed out my orange tres leches cake…you need to check it out!)

Prep the veggies.

Boil the noodles and then parboil the veggies.

I like these noodles cold, so refrigerate the noodles and the vegetables.

Mix up the sauce…

then add the Florida orange juice!

Whisk it all together!

Mix the vegetables up with the noodles.

What I love about this dish is that you can make it ahead! If you do make it ahead, don't add the sauce until you're ready to serve.

I can't wait for you to make this…I know you'll love it!!!

Make sure you follow the hashtag #AmazingInside on on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and join in on the conversation! Be sure to follow Florida Orange Juice on Facebook, follow on twitter and on instagram!

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Orange Sesame Noodles with Vegetables Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound soba noodles or thin spaghetti cooked al dente according to package instructions
• 2 carrots peeled and sliced at an angle
• 1 broccoli head cut into bite-sized florets
• 1 red pepper sliced and then cut in thirds
• 1/2 cup snap peas
• 1 garlic clove peeled and minced
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 green onion sliced
• sesame seed to garnish

Instructions

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Remove pasta with tongs and place in a medium sized mixing bowl. Allow it to cool on the counter for a few minutes and then put it in the refrigerator.
• Add broccoli to boiling water and cook for one minute. Remove with a slotted spoon. Rinse carefully with cold water (to stop the cooking). Add carrots and cook for about four minutes. Remove with a slotted and rinse carefully with cold water. Do the same for the snap peas, cook for just one minute.
• Place the cooked vegetables in the refrigerator while you prepare the sauce.
• Add minced garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce and sriracha to a small bowl. Whisk together and then add orange juice. Whisk together.
• Take pasta and vegetables and mix together. Add orange sesame sauce and mix together. Garnish with green onions and sesame seed.

Notes

Note: If you’re making it a day ahead, keep the sauce separated from the noodles and veggies until you’re ready to serve!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Florida Department of Citrus. I only work with brands that I love and only share with you my own opinions. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Little Kitchen possible.

The post Orange Sesame Noodles with Vegetables appeared first on The Little Kitchen.