I'm learning to measure my productivity on different scales depending on the day. It's easy to feel accomplished on hyperactive get-it-done days, when tasks crossed off a to-do list display my success. Visible outcomes. These usually come dressed as Saturday house-wide cleaning sessions, or multi-course homemade Sunday brunches. Photographing a recipe or writing a new post are things you can check of a list.
Dissertations are much more akin to a rich homemade ragu bolognese that insists you stand vigil as it slowly reveals layer after layer of its deep flavors while you stir diligently over the stove. These things take time. Or maybe it's more like a backyard pit pig roast that even after you spend hours past bedtime tending the coals, sometimes still comes out raw just at the moment when people are expecting to gnaw on something yummy.
My dissertation serves as a constant reminder to carry around a growth mindset. Wading knee-deep through classroom data focusing on the power of having a growth mindset will do that to you. That and the constant try-and-try-agains I endure as I figure this thing out. And at the end of the day, my readers might get served raw pig when they expect a manuscript. Rather than outcomes, success here is measured in action. Effort. Eventually, with enough effort, it'll happen, but the day-to-day measures aren't visible to the naked eye.
Then there are days like today. Days of reflection when I spend my time acknowledging what's most important, and reorganizing my priorities. And at the end of the day, there's nothing to show for it. No effort toward the long haul and no tasks crossed off the list. Except calmness and a sense of peace over the conclusions I've come to. In a roundabout way, this oven-baked pineapple fried rice ignited this reflection.
A batch of this pineapple fried rice came with me as I braved my way over the bridge to a potluck with other food bloggers I'd never met. Last Saturday. I took a tupperware full of this faved oven-baked fried rice and wrapped it generously in foil and large bath towel to keep it warm during my hour-long BART ride in. What if I wasn't cool enough? (Yes, I've got the maturity of a middle schooler when it comes to analyzing new social situations). You know what? It turns out people couldn't care less how many twitter followers I had. They wanted to know me, as a fellow lover of food and a newcomer to the community.
Amidst chatter of various personal reasons for accepting or not accepting sponsored posts and lamenting about the overwhelming emphasis on blog monetization, I found myself pausing to consider my own reasons. Forcing myself to remember why I started this food blog in the first place.
At the same time, I'm starting to realize that when life gets crazy hectic, there are suddenly a thousand and one opportunities knocking at your door, a few of them genuinely positive and many just plain poop disguised in an enticing outfit with a lot of perfume. At the end of the day, perfume wears off and you're stuck with a pile of crap you just let into your house. Good luck getting that smell out of your living room. (Pause: I finally did it. I worked poop into my food blog).
So why do I have a food blog? While trudging through my studies in math education, my corner kitchen of internet serves as a creative outlet that forces me to take that time. I enjoy making, eating, and sharing food, and in our house, food comes with stories. As such, t's important to be selective about the opportunities I pursue. While I haven't yet let fancy poop woo me over, it's refreshing to have people who push me to reflect. To be definitive and intentional about these choices that have become increasingly more difficult.
The other productive reflection of the day: What will it take to finish this dissertation? It turns out the steps toward maintaining a blog that authentically shares stories serves the dual purpose of supporting my dissertation goals. Being selective about the opportunities I pursue and teaching myself when it's time to say no. There are so many creative and interesting people around me I'd rather spend my day with, but my primary goal until December is to finish this dissertation. So at the end of this day of reflection, I feel settled, which is an enormous win in my book.
This pineapple cashew oven-baked fried rice also goes down as a win. There are a few dishes that are in regular rotation and this is one of them. It requires so little hands-on time and produces massive quantities; Leftovers when you live with a marathon runner and eater are hard to come by. You toss everything together in a large mixing bowl, spread it out on a dark baking sheet, and let it go. The result is a bit crispy and a tad spicy, with pockets of sweet juicy pineapple and salty cashews.
Ignore the fact that I forgot to add edamame and oil to the gif steps above (oops!). Don't fret - it's all mixed in there.
I didn't grow up making homemade fried rice. Instead, my friend Jen came over one night to share her wisdom of making fried rice the way she grew up, but we decided to give it a go in the oven, after seeing this version from Oh My Veggies. The key to making this rice extra crispy is to use an old dark baking sheet with no parchment paper or silpat mat. I've tried all combinations of baking sheet + lining, and the best result is the one that conducts high heat, letting the rice stick to the baking sheet and crisp up. Finally my dark baking sheets come in handy for something.
This recipe is a crispy interpretation of fried rice and I'm sharing it as it's one of my family's favorite dishes to make. For authentic fried rice (in basically every iteration), please check out my friend Lisa's blog Healthy Nibbles. Lisa is the one that taught me that fried rice is traditionally a way to use up leftover rice, so the best fried rice uses day-old leftover rice.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups brown rice, it can be cold and leftover or straight from the rice cooker
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- ¾ cups chopped green onions
- 1 medium pineapple, cubed into ½ to 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cashews, raw or roasted both taste great
- 12 ounces extra firm tofu, cubed into ½ to 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- 12 ounces frozen or thawed edamame, or about 2 cups
- 2-½ tablespoons neutral vegetable oil, such as safflower, sunflower, peanut, or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 6 tablespoons low-sodium tamari sauce
- 1-½ - 2 tablespoons sriracha
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Toss all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
- Spread the pineapple rice out over two dark baking sheets (we use 1 large and 1 medium dark non-stick baking sheets). If you try to cook it all on one baking sheet, the result won't be crispy.
- Bake on the middle rack for about 45 minutes to an hour, until a layer of rice browns and sticks to the baking sheet.
- Use a wooden spoon to scrape the rice off of the baking sheets, toss it together in a large mixing bowl, and serve.
Anamika @ Supplement Crunch -
This looks wonderfully delicious, Thank to share your recipe with me...
Tuesday -
What if you don't have a dark baking sheet? Thanks.
Sarah Menanix -
Not a problem - if you use a lighter baking sheet, put the pan on the bottom rack for about half the baking time to get it nice and crispy underneath!
Hank McKinsey -
I love that I can just mix this up and throw it in the oven! So glad you enjoyed your event :) Thanks for sharing
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Hank! You can just toss in whatever veggies suit your fancy that day. Set a timer and walk away - my favorite kind of dinner!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen -
Get it girl! You've got this dissertation!! With good food fuel like this you'll have extra brain power to get you through ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks lady! As my friend puts it, "I'm trying to write my dissertation but I just want to eat EVERYTHING!" Yup - that's about right. :)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
I'm not even kidding you Sarah, I have to work most days to keep the poop OUT of my blog content.
I just googled little league cheers to give you some dissertation-motivation but I'm coming up short. You can do it! let's go Sar-ah, let's go! *clap clap*
Also, this rice sounds amaaaaaazing <3
Sarah Menanix -
Haha. Yay! Thanks for the push! Do you have pompoms?
Jen -
Yes, this was delicious!!! I did especially love the crispiness from baking. I will be baking my fried rice now. And I think one day we will need to make fried edamame.
Sarah Menanix -
Ha - I bet we could make some yummy crisped up baked edamame. That'll have to do.
Maryanne @ the little epicurean -
I love this post (and I love fried rice). I can't wait to try out this recipe. AND I totally understand the productivity, poop, and awkward social situation ordeal. :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Maryanne! From the outside, you seem to have your productivity down pat, so I'm going to continue sitting over here inspired by you:)
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven -
This is one gorgeous fried rice! I am totally loving all that tropical pineapple and cashews. Obsessing over that last gif--too too awesome! :) Pinned.
Sarah Menanix -
I'm on such a pineapple kick right now too! Thank you so much, Sarah:)
Kelly - A Side of Sweet -
Hahaha, POOP! Sorry, I couldn't resist! This recipe looks great and I'm so sad I missed the picnic. Next time!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - next time indeed! We'll be the ones talking about poop:)
Arpita@ TheGastronomicBong -
OH my gosh!! this looks so delicious!! My hubby will be the happiest person if i make him this amazing fried rice.. love all the ingredients.. Superb!! have a fabulous weekend!!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Arpita! Hope you had a great weekend too:)
Laura Dembowski -
Super cool that this is oven baked and not cooked on the stovetop!
Also, I think we can all be like middle schoolers when it comes to social situations. But maybe that's a good thing.
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Laura. Perhaps you're right - keeps us on our toes!
Marcie -
I live in the SF Bay Area as well, so why don't I know about the Bay Area Food Bloggers group.? I so need to look into that! This rice looks so wonderful, and in love that it's baked. pinning!
Sarah Menanix -
Yes! You do!! I'm new to the group as well - search for "Bay Area Food Bloggers" on Facebook and you'll find it:)
And thank you, Marcie!
Rachel @ Bakerita -
I had a pretty disappointing pineapple fried rice experience at a Thai restaurant last week - yours looks SO much better! Definitely need to try your version out :) pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Aww - so sad! Thank you so much, Rachel! And thanks for pinning too:)
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen -
This pineapple fried rice looks amazing - and you cut your pineapple so perfectly. I looked at that and thought of the last time I cut a pineapple - this one puts mine to shame! Hahaha! Next lesson - I learn to cut a beautiful pineapple! Then, I need to make this delicious looking rice! Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe - thank you! It's a trick I read about somewhere online. You just cut the sides off, then cut in at an angle to get rid of many eyes at one time. I never would have noticed the eyes are at an angle if I hadn't read that!
Allison -
List maker right here as well! Regarding the recipe, it looks fantastic. Great photos and those cashews -dang those look good. They always add the perfect somethin somethin to a recipe like this. Yum! Must give this a go.
Sarah Menanix -
Please do, Allison! I agree- the crunch and slightly roasted taste of the cashews totally makes the dish! And THANK YOU! :)
Erin | The Law Student's Wife -
I'm such a list maker and checker too! Love that you did this in the oven? Why have I never seen this before. So smart!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Erin! I love tossing things in the oven when I can because....who's got time to sit over a hot stove?! :)
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! -
Oven-baked fried rice? How have I never thought of that before? I am absolutely loving the idea and can't wait to give it a try! Looks and sounds absolutely incredible!!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! I hope you do, Kathi! My friend just told me she made this and added some Thai curry spices - so many creative options - would love to hear what you do:)
Rachael | Spache the Spatula -
Oh YUM! Pineapple fried rice is one of my very favorite dishes and this looks fab!
Tooootally pinned :P
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Rachael! And thanks for pinning:)
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
ooh never thought of making a pineapple fried rice! looks delicious.. great idea!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Thalia! Pineapple is my new favorite thing to add into savory dishes - adds a bite of sweet.
Annie @Maebells -
Stunning photos! Love all of the flavors you used!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Annie!
Emily -
This looks so good! It actually reminds me of the one dish from my college dining hall that I actually looked forward to... I promise that's a compliment!
I give you serious credit for working on a dissertation while still managing to make/photograph food like this! (I know cooking is great stress-reliever, but you go the whole nine yards!)
Sarah Menanix -
Sometime I use the stress-reliever excuse a bit to the max, cooking when I SHOULD be writing. Haha. But THANK YOU:) You must have had a yummy dining hall - the top thing in our dining hall was the nacho bar (with melted cheez whiz...)
Nik@ABrownTable -
This looks delicious, I love pineapple fried rice and you put cashews too which makes it even better!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Nik! Missed you at the potluck - looking forward to meeting you next time!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
This looks incredible! I love pineapple fried rice but have never tried it baked before! I absolutely love that idea and can't wait to try it! Good luck with finishing your dissertation :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Kelly! Please let me know if you try it - it's so easy! Also, I definitely need all the luck I can get:)
Heather in SF -
I am so sad I didn't get to come and meet you at the picnic, it's wonderful though to read about why you write. And this recipe! I'm really sorry I didn't get to try it but I will make it someday soon as well as talk in person.
Sarah Menanix -
Me too! I'm so sorry to hear about your injuries - I hope you heal up quickly so we can meet again at the next picnic. Thanks for organizing the picnic - I had a lovely time!
Nicole -
This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing. And good for you!!!! Get. It. Done!!!!
Sarah Menanix -
You too, lady! We can do this! (And thanks!:)