Funeral Rice Recipes

FUNERAL RICE

Steps:

• Heat the water to boiling point in a large saucepan.
• Meanwhile, rinse the rice, and place it in the boiling water.
• Stir in the salt, sugar and saffron, and add the sticks of cinnamon, cardamom seeds and naartjie peel.
• Cover, reduce the heat and then simmer for 20-30 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour off the water.
• Add the butter, sultanas and raisins and stir to blend.
• Spoon into a colander.
• Meanwhile, boil a kettleful of water and pour it into the saucepan in which the rice was cooked.
• Heat to boiling point.
• Place the colander of rice on top, cover and steam until the rice has swollen and the raisins are soft and plump.

DEATH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with the bacon.
• Pour the uncooked rice over the bacon, then lay the chicken breasts on top of the rice.
• Whisk together the remaining ingredients-- using a pinch of nutmeg and a few shakes of garlic salt/powder-- but*don't* eliminate the nutmeg, because I promise, it's what makes the dish!
• Pour the whisked mixture over the rice, then cover the dish with heavy duty foil (the author states emphatically that it's really important to use*heavy duty* foil, so if I don't have any, I use two layers of regular foil to be safe).
• Bake at 300 degrees F for 2 hours.

FUNERAL HOTDISH

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, noodles and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in the peas (if they're frozen, they'll thaw pretty much immediately when stirred in). Season with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and herbs, if desired.

TURMERIC RICE (BORRIE RYS)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter over high heat until water boils.
• Stir in rice, turmeric, salt, and cinnamon. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender.
• Remove from heat, add raisins, and fluff with fork. Cover and let rest 10 minutes before serving.
• Can be made in rice cooker on regular setting, add raisins at end of cycle and let sit on warm for 10 minutes.

FUNERAL CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
• 2. In large bowl: Mix together the soups,milk, cooking sherry and melted margarine.
• 3. Butter a 9x13 baking pan. Put rice in pan. Put 2/3 of the soup mixture over the layer of rice. Stir together gently. Set aside
• 4. Cut up the chicken breasts into cubes or strips.
• 5. Place the chicken breasts on top of the soup and rice mixture. Press down a bit. Pour the remaining soup mixture on top of the chicken breasts. Sprinkle the cheeses on top. Loosely cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 275 degrees for 2hours. Remove foil. Bake additional 1/2 hour.
• 6. *** This is brought to funnerals, church gatherings and is good anytime. ***Sometimes we add raw broccoli florets to the soup and rice mixture. *** Sometimes we add cooked and drained broccoli florets on top as a garnish along the edges of the pan. ** This is also good with cheddar cheese or pepperjack.

FUNERAL HOTDISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position. Clean and chop the celery into bite-size pieces. Put them in a frying pan with a little butter and start cooking them over low heat, stirring occasionally. Peel and chop the onions into bite-sized pieces. Add them to the frying pan with the celery and continue to cook them, stirring occasionally, until they're translucent. Brown the hamburger over medium heat. Be sure to "chop" it with a spoon or heat-resistant spatula so it browns in bite-size pieces. You can do this in a pan in the oven. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the directions on the box. Combine the undiluted tomato soup, the tomato juice, and the ketchup. Mix in the brown sugar and the pepper. You can do this right in the electric roaster and heats it before adding the other ingredients. Add the cooked celery and onions to the sauce and stir them in. Stir in the browned hamburger. Add the cooked, drained macaroni and mix well. Once everything is thoroughly mixed, cover the disposable roaster with heavy duty foil and put it into a 350°F. oven for 2 hours, stirring occasionally so that it heats evenly and doesn't stick to the bottom. (If you used an electric roaster, put on the lid, turn it up to 350°F., and cook it for 2 hours, stirring occasionally so that it heats evenly and doesn't stick to the bottom of the roaster.) Notes: This is easiest with three people helping: one person to chop and sauté the celery and onions, one person to brown the hamburger, and one person to cook the pasta and mix the sauce.