Selena Robins, Author

With the holidays fast approaching and I’m still in Editing and Polishing Heaven, I thought I would re-post this blog. Thank you Kelly Bennett for suggesting this, so that the new followers can enjoy one of the Robins’ adventures.

I’ve also added an easy and delicious rice recipe (baked rice cake recipe below).

This blog is dedicated to my husband. (It’s the least I could do, and once you read this, you’ll know why).

While traveling to San Francisco a few months ago, my husband made the mistake of telling me about a conversation between him and Steve, his friend and co-worker.

Steve kept mentioning Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat, asking for my husband to pick him up a box, and basically talking about this product for a few days before we left, driving my husband batty.

Can you guess why this was a mistake for my husband to tell me about this conversation?

Well, I’m nothing if not competitive. Just ask my sister who competes with me in the kitchen, regarding who makes the best pizza, meatballs, sauce…but I digress, back to our San Francisco adventure.

My competitive gene kicked in and I thought, why should Steve have had all the fun, driving Mr. R. batshit crazy? That’s my job and I also take my vows seriously (the fact that I may at times drive my husband dizzy and have him question his sanity were written in my vows).

After arriving in San Francisco, I set about to pick up where Steve left off. However, it must be said that I did a better job. Mr. R. will agree that I did do a better job of driving him to wanting to bang his head into a coma.

I managed to weave in…Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat into ALL our conversations one day.

Here are a few examples. (I did tack on an I love you after mentioning Rice-A-Roni each time…I should get props for that, don’t you think?)

“San Francisco sure is a busy place. Look at that traffic. All those cars jammed in—just like the rice in a box of Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat. I love you.”

“Look at all the people squeezed in on that street car, just like the rice in a box of Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat. I love you.”

“Lori’s Diner looks like a neat place to eat. Speaking of food. I wonder where we could buy a box of Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat. I love you.”

“Oh, look a juke box. Is there a song that goes with Rice-A-Roni the San Francisco treat? I love you.”

I could go on and on, but you’re all smart peeps, you know where I went with this from the moment we stepped outside after breakfast until the lights went out.

There were moments that I couldn’t even speak, as I was laughing so hard at the look on his face and his attempt to try to stop me.

He tried pleading. Didn’t work.

He tried the silent treatment. Didn’t work.

He tried ignoring me. Didn’t work.

He tried scowling. Didn’t work.

He tried to join me and turn the tables. Didn’t work.

He tried public displays of affection. (This shocked me, since he is so not a PDA sort of guy). Didn’t work.

He resorted to bribery.

HUBBY: “We’ll go back to Rodeo drive. If you’d just stop.”

“When are we going to go back there? We’re leaving in a few days.”

“Next time we’re in California.”

“That’s too far away. Speaking of far away things. Hey, there’s a billboard way way over there, it has a picture of, Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat.”

HUBBY: “What about that devil movie clothing store you wanted to drag me into, I’ll go with you this time.”

“Devil Wears Prada. Why can’t you remember the names of books and movies I mention. And not interested in going back there. That was a good movie, but it wasn’t shot in San Francisco. You know, the home of Rice-A-Roni.”

(He did say a lot of this with tight lips, eye rolls and I do believe there were jaw clenches involved.)

HUBBY: “I’ll browse in that shoe store that sounds like a friggin’ train and I won’t complain.”

“Jimmy Choo shoes? I don’t want to browse in there since I can’t buy anything no point going back. Train and complain rhymes. Choo and shoe rhythms. Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat and sweet rhythms.”

(I then started rhyming a lot more things and this is when he dragged me into the hotel’s bar for a drink. Just so you know, my husband doesn’t drink alcohol…usually.)

“Tiffany’s!” (He said this as if he’d just discovered the Holy Grail). “I’ll buy you something at Tiffany’s. But you have to stop right now, not mention that damn box of rice, ever again.”

Now, you have to understand, I adore Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my favorite all time movie, I also adore jewelry, the color turquoise and anything related to Tiffany’s. 

I. Could. Not. Sully Tiffany’s with a box of rice.

I stopped.

Fast forward to this past week, where I was struck down by a nasty virus, sinus infection and feeling absolutely miserable. As you can probably surmise from the above scenario, my husband is a patient man, thankfully, because one needs to be patient around someone like me who detests being sick and not able to carry on with everything I want to do.

One day he ventured out to stock on more fresh oranges, bottled water and that ghastly electrolyte powder for me.

He came back, looking all proud of himself and said that he had picked up a little “get well” gift for me as well.

Visions of chocolate covered almonds danced before my eyes.

Yes, I know, I was sick as a dog, but I still craved chocolate…go figure.

He handed me a small bag and I opened it up and took out the get-well surprise he purchased.

I lifted the gift out of the bag and held it up.

My husband said, “I love you.“

Baked Rice Cakes Recipe

Great as a side dish or main dish (just add a salad with some chicken) and also yummy for packed lunches.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups of leftover rice (could be brown or white – or – if you have any leftover Rice A Roni

2 eggs, beaten

¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

¼ cup of Romano cheese (grated)

¼ cup breadcrumbs **Note: If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use gluten free oatmeal instead of bread crumbs.

Small sweet onion (minced)

2 garlic cloves (crushed)

½ cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)

½ cup carrot (shredded and chopped)

½ cup zucchini (shredded and chopped)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, until everything is mixed together evenly.

Cover bowl with saran wrap and put in fridge for 1 hour.

After an hour, remove from fridge and preheat oven to:  400 F

Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Shape rice mixture into patties and put on baking sheet.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cakes are firm to the touch and golden.

Let stand for 5 minutes then turn onto a wire rack.