Any ideas on recipes to cook for dd who doesn't like potatoes or pasta but seems to like rice of which I'm a bit scared?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Dd is 18 months,and doesn't really like potatoes - in spite of her Irish heritage - or pasta. She had some rice at a restaurant recently which she seemed to like but I'm not a fan and not sure what to cook or how to cook it. I like to make a batch of a complete meal as dh doesn't eat meat so sometimes she has her own meal. Also, how does the whole freezing/defrosting rice thing work? Isn't it meant to be potentially dangerous to freeze or refrigerate and then heat up? TIA

My DP was terrified of cooking rice, until he found a pea and parmesan risotto recipe (Madhur Jaffrey I think, unlikely though it sounds) and is now a genius with it. DD adores it too, which is fabulous. It's also really sticky, which means it can be picked up in little balls with fingers, but also sticks to spoons nicely.

Nigel Slater has a fail-safe method of rice cooking which I'm sure must be on the internet somewhere. We tend to put it with veggie chilli and bean stews.

We've also made a kind of made-up rice savoury thing with whatever leftover veg is in the fridge, and a bit of cheese.

Oh, and I should have said that we freeze and reheat rice regularly. Let it cool to room temp, then freeze immediately. Ideally, defrost in the fridge overnight. With re-heating we tend to use the microwave and really nuke it, then let it stand until it's less likely to take skin off roofs of mouths. Otherwise steaming it works well to get it really hot (and therefore kill off any potential nasties) but can make it a bit soggy.

Would she eat cous cous? Can't get much easier to prepare than that!
Or polenta? DS really likes it and again it's really easy - we buy it in blocks and just cut a slice off and stick it under the grill for him.

I always have basmati rice with everything

It is a piece of piss to cook and never sticks or goes clumpy or anything.

What I mean is when I have rice it's always basmati.

I'm more of a spud girl really

Thanks everyone - will definitely have to conquer my fear and give it a go. Will have a search for Nigel Slater's technique.

DS (2yo) absolutely loves Annabel Karmel's butternut squash risotto -- in fact it's one of the only two hot meals he'll eat every time (alongside fish fingers!).

Can be frozen then reheated -- the trick is not to leave it standing around at room temperature for ages. I cool quickly by putting the saucepan in a sink of cold water, then put in individual portions and freeze. Defrost thoroughly in the microwave til piping hot then allow to cool to eating temp.

Waitrose sell frozen brown rice, 6 bags about £2, serves 2 a bag. takes 2 mins on hob. perfect every time

I have a very easy way of cooking rice which I have used since it was the only carb dd ate when she was small.

Fill the kettle, and set to boil.
Melt a lump of butter in the pan, then put in a few spoons of raw rice and get coated with the melted butter. Pour in boiled water, don't measure, just fill the pan. Add salt if you do, boil for 10 minutes and strain.

You can reheat cold rice by putting it in a sieve and pouring a load of just boiled water through it.

or, one cup water to one cup of rice, bring to boil, stir once at boiling point, simmer until water has gone.
most rice goes bad due to overstirring i think.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Microwave rice cooker - plastic thing from Lakeland. I couldn't ever do rice without it turning to sludge before, but now it's perfect every time. Mum also taught me to bung in 1/4 quinoa - it's a Super Grain, loads of iron and so on, and adds a lovely crunch.

I third the lakeland microwave rice cooker - I saw the thread title and came on the recommend it but see I've been beaten to it