Summer's still got a little ways to go—so why not use some classic summer flavors?
Ah, summer—it's been a good run, but it's about time you came to an end, with your heat waves and deadly sunshine wilting all my plants.
Speaking of plants: I've just destroyed my summer garden (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and many herbs) to make way for my autumn garden (carrots, beets, lettuces, and later, garlic). This is my first time ever doing a fall garden, and I'm excited, because this means the soil can get some different crops in it that use different minerals; it'll basically soft reset the soil. And I love carrots and beets in roasted vegetables, as well as spinach and lettuce for salads or sandwiches, so here's to hoping there's a better fall crop than the mess I made of my summer garden (too many herbs I let go to waste and not nearly enough water for the heat wave).
But, all that aside, with a clump of fresh basil and parsley in my hand, as well as an Autumn post-vacation resolution to get serious about my fitness again, I decided we're about to head into a hearty series of meals designed to be easy, delicious, and balanced. That means we have a carb (rice, pasta, etc.), a good protein (namely chicken, but any meat or high protein legume works), and vegetables (in this case, spinach, onions, and tomatoes). All of that together made this one pot Mediterranean pilaf the sensible decision for a quick meal.
For the magic, of course, we're focusing on our tomatoes, basil, parsley, and rice. Let's take a look.
Magic in One Pot Mediterranean Pilaf
I always associate these flavors with summer, y'know? Tomato and basil together are so fresh, light, and when you're using fresh tomatoes instead of sauce, it's all the more delicate and pairs so well with a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top. To that end, these flavors also inspire me to make magic that feels light, friendly, and lucky. Basil, a well known defensive herb against all things evil, is also a popular thing to put in luck charms or money incense, what with its big dollar bill looking leaves, and rice, like many grains, has been a marker of wealth for a long time in the cultures that grow it. Put that energy together with tomato, a bright red fruit full of vibrance and love, and parsley, which the Romans used as a funeral herb but has been long associated with mental power and the planet Mercury (the communicative planet ruling Virgo) and you have a meal that's just as balanced magically as it is nutritionally.
The main elements and planets here are fire, water, and air, with the planetary influences of Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun, which allows for all kinds of lightness to our step while still bringing us the many elements of stability: luck, protection, and wit. For such an easy meal to throw together, you'll no doubt find it perfect for those moments where you need to bring up the vibe after a long week and re-cement your house's fortunes, love, and joy. It'll also certainly keep any and all chaos at bay, at least for one night, making it honestly a great Friday meal (and especially if you're looking to boost a sense of love and strength in relationships, too)!
One Pot Mediterranean Pilaf
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30-40 minutes
Makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
1-2lbs chicken breast
Or: chicken sausage, tofu, seitan
2lbs campari tomatoes, cut into quarters
1-2 onions, diced
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 handfuls of fresh spinach
1 cup (280g / 10oz) white rice
1 chicken bouillon cube & 2.5 cups of water
or 2.5 cups of chicken broth
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp fresh basil (half for food, half for garnish)
1/2 Tbsp fresh parsley (for garnish)
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Cut and cook your chicken, seasoning well with salt and pepper. Once done, set aside.
Dice and cook your onion until translucent, then add garlic and fry until fragrant.
Cut your tomatoes into quarters and add to the pan, along with your rice. Stir well and let the rice toast as the tomatoes break down, 3-5 minutes.
Add your seasonings and half your fresh basil, mix well, then add spinach and incorporate into the mix.
Add chicken stock or bouillon and water, then your chicken, and stir together.
Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer on low for 10 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.
Garnish with extra basil and parsley.
It's such a mild, pleasant, light flavor, this dish—not intense like a normal spaghetti, but still full of that tomato/basil goodness. Definitely try this one out for your weeknight repertoire (and enjoy all the leftovers you'll have, too)! ♥
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Sara Raztresen is a Slovene-American writer, screenwriter, and Christian witch. Her fantasy works draw heavily on the wisdom she gathers from her own personal and spiritual experience, and her spiritual practice borrows much of the whimsy and wonder that modern society has relegated to fairy-and-folktale. Her goal is to help people regain their spiritual footing and discover God through a new (yet old) lens of mysticism.
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