Rice makes a great accompaniment to many meals. It works well as a side dish for meats, seafood, and vegetables and is perfect for soaking up tasty sauces. However, the same old rice day after day can quickly become boring. This garlic rice recipe is a delicious variation that I use to make rice more exciting. I learned how to make it from a high school friend who had grown up in Peru, who told me that they had made it daily in Lima when she lived there.

Ingredients:
1 cup long grain white rice
2 cups water
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 tbsp. olive oil

*makes about 2 cups of rice

The procedure: In a medium size pot, heat the olive oil until it spreads to coat the bottom of the pot. Add the garlic and the rice and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden and the rice is translucent. Add the water, and bring to a boil. Stir once, then put a lid on the pot and turn the heat down low. Simmer the rice for about 15 minutes on low heat without removing the lid, then remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 more minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and enjoy.