This is another one of those scrumptious breakfast recipes that is sweetly satisfying enough to be a dessert. I’ve done a few recipes that are typically breakfast-y, but sweet enough to be a dessert if desired, like Pumpkin-Caramel Rolls, Honey & Nut Butter Frozen Yogurt, and Crepes, but this particular recipe has the additional flexibility to be an evening meal side dish, thanks to the brown rice.

There’s a story to go along with this one. I was on a desperate hunt for recipes using brown rice. I had bought a 10 pound bag of the rice and wanted to use it up before the move, but I was having a hard time getting Eric, Kelly & Gilbert to eat brown rice with me. Ten pounds of rice goes a really long way when only one person is eating it once or twice a week! I hit the jackpot when I found this recipe, though. Kelly loves most anything apple and needed easy-to-take-and-eat-at-work recipes for weekday breakfasts. This dish worked for her and she liked it! Gilbert enjoyed the dish more as a dessert, preferring eggs for his morning meal. I think Eric was away when I was experimenting with this, so he didn’t get to try it.

Another great thing about this breakfast is that it does not have to be a seasonal thing. It is a great fall dish, but with readily-available-year-round ingredients like brown rice, applesauce, and apples, it is good to go during any season. In the fall or winter, Apples & Rice is wonderfully aromatic and delicious served warm for breakfast or dessert or as a dinner side dish. During warmer weather, it is equally appetizing served cold. You can’t go wrong with this one!

Apples & Rice

Apples & Rice (adapted from tasteofhome.com)  Time required: Prep time – 15 minutes, Bake time –  35 minutes, Makes 6-8 servings

 Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cups uncooked brown rice
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2-1/2 cups chunky applesauce
• 1 cup diced peeled apples
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• Dash salt

Directions:

Cook rice according to the package directions and chop the apples.

Chop the apples.

Stir 2 tablespoons of the butter into the hot rice. Add in the applesauce, apples, brown sugar, 1-1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, and salt.

Add everything to the cooked rice.

Spoon the mixture into a greased deep 2-quart baking dish.

Transfer the rice to the baking dish.

Dot the top of the mixture with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, then sprinkle it with the 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Dot with butter & sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake the apples & rice, uncovered, at 350° F for 35 minutes or until it is heated through. Serve warm or cold, for breakfast or dessert.

Kelly’s breakfast is Gilbert’s dessert!

This dish isn’t tied to one particular season or meal!  ~Linda

Apples & Rice (adapted from tasteofhome.com)  Time required: Prep time – 15 minutes, Bake time –  35 minutes, Makes 6-8 servings

 Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cups uncooked brown rice
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2-1/2 cups chunky applesauce
• 1 cup diced peeled apples
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• Dash salt

Directions

Cook rice according to the package directions. Stir 2 tablespoons of the butter into the hot rice. Add in the applesauce, apples, brown sugar, 1-1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, and salt. Spoon the mixture into a greased deep 2-quart baking dish. Dot the top of the mixture with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, then sprinkle it with the 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Bake the apples & rice, uncovered, at 350° F for 35 minutes or until it is heated through. Serve warm or cold, for breakfast or dessert.