Spanish Rice:

Endorphins – Endorphins are another interesting neurotransmitters found in brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for ‘intense pleasure’, ‘excitement’ & ‘Ecstasy’. So….when it is in peek production, we wouldn’t feel even pain! Doesn’t that sound interesting. I am proud to say I am kind of addicted to this neurotransmitter. Yeah regular exercise produces this in the brain. As I told y’ll earlier I am driven by more epinephrine and endorphins than drugs/alcohol! Anyways…this neurotransmitters get released after a rigorous exercise or power walking! Dudes if you’re not exercising, please consider about it….

PEA(Phenylethylamine) is the precursor of this endorphin. Besides exercise, food that are rich in Carbohydrate and Sugars will give sudden rise in this neurotransmitters. Yeah…I know you Girls are happy about it. Sugary desserts, Rice, potatoes, ice cream……will produce this neurotransmitter! That is why we are all so happy while having chocolates and ice creams! Once again there is a teeny problem….if we depend upon these sources for triggering our brain chemicals. A sudden flow of glucose in the blood stream will also make the insulin to produce more. So initially we may be happy…..but it will put us depressed, when it falls back. So ultimately we will be unhappy, even below the state that we were before!That’s very bad, right! Moreover the diet rich in refined sugars and simple carbs’ will slowly lead to obesity! Which is not…I suppose, any ones goal here! So to understand it, a simple trick to your brain chemicals….please follow a complex carbohydrate diet and natural sugar source as your choice. Such as Unpolished rice, Whole corn, honey, jaggery and rarely a dark low sweetened chocolate. Once again, the best way to boost this neurotransmitter is exercise!

If you don’t find unpolished rice or fan of wild rice…at least switch to parboiled rice, which is enriched in vitamins.(Par boiled rice is something…paddy seeds are boiled along with husk, so that vitamins from the husk gets seeped into the rice. Then they dry it, later husk it). So the rice is bit extra large than the raw rice & also has an yellowish tint, don’t worry for the color! Well…rice has wonderful kushboo when it is cooked, I love it. Suit well for this Spanish rice.

Ingredients:

Parboiled Rice 1 cup
Garlic 2 cloves minced
Jalapenos 1 deseed and finely chop
Roma tomatoes 2 chopped
Cayenne pepper + Paprika powder(totally optional for an Indian palate)
Salt
Butter 4 cubes
Cilantro leaves 1-2 spoons chopped.

Method:

Cook rice along with salt. Then spread them in wide tray…cool them down & nice, well separated.

In a wide skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic and jalapenos…fry real good for 2 minutes or until aromatic.

Now stir-in crushed tomatoes and add some spices(paprika and cayenne). When it comes to glossy appearance add rice and mix well. Add cilantro leaves too.

Then spread them in display vessel and microwave for 4-6 minutes…to make it steaming hot and remove some excess moisture.

Serve warm with pico de gallo/ guacamole.