its funny really..almost amazing how my taste buds have really evolved ever since i started cooking. food has always been an enjoyment yes, but i never really cared what i put into my mouth, my mom and maid would plan out lunches and dinners and i would just happily eat them. but ever since having to cook for myself, i find myself trying new things, new flavors and techniques that i would previously have never dared tried before...in the beginning, i was more of a herbs person, sorta mediterranean-pasta kinda influence, but im starting to warm to spices and how the different concoctions can create vastly different yet intricately interesting tastes and so yups, this turmeric rice is basically a testament to all that :)

Turmeric is from the ginger family and India is the world's primary producer of it, but its also grown in China and Indonesia. Its also sometimes used as a substitute for saffron apparently (hmm altho i doubt anything can beat saffron :P) and apparently it was also used as a medicine for stomach and liver ailments and sores; and as a color dye in the olden days. That would explain why my gorgeous rice pot is now stained a orangey color sobsob. ah nvm..most importantly is that i loved the rice it cooked with, and i decided to add a bit of shallots and pine nuts (it was supposed to be almond silvers, but thats too expensive, besides zx loves pinenuts. so yups haha compromis hehe:P ) i served it with cucumbers, a nice refreshing vege on a hot nearly spring-summer day which would not take the attention away from my lovely spiced rice..and grilled some Thai chicken which came from the seasoning packets that my sweet dear friends sent from singapore which was just as gorgeous and went so well with the rice..