Rice and Vermicelli

This is a side dish but we ate it tonight as our meal. Sometimes you just want a meat free, simple meal and this did the job. It is from our favorite 'Ivory Family Favorites' cookbook. Oh so delicious!!! (fyi, from what I can tell converted rice is just parboiled rice. You can buy Uncle Ben's Original, boxed.


1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups uncooked converted rice
1 1/2 cups broken vermicelli coils
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans chicken broth
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 onion, sliced or diced (optional)
8 ounces sliced or diced fresh mushrooms (optional)

Melt butter in a large skillet with a cover. Add rice and broken vermicelli and brown (vermicellie will turn golden brown). Add chicken broth and bouillon cubes. Add optional ingredients, bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 25 minutes over low heat. (Can also be baked, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.)