This is the white rice that our grandmother would serve with every Assyrian meal. In addition to being boiled it is cooked in the oven with butter for extra flavor.

Ingredients:

• White Rice (not instant), consult rice package for desired amount
• Water, consult rice package for amount
• Butter, 1 stick for every pound of rice used
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Start water to boil in a medium sized pan.
2. Put rice in a second pan and rinse 2-3 times to remove starch.
3. Add salt to rice and pour into boiling water.
4. Reduce heat and cover, let simmer for 20 minutes.
5. After 20 minutes check to see if rice is just becoming soft, otherwise cook for a few minutes longer. Rice should be slightly al dente.
6. Drain and rinse rice.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. In a large roasting pan, add 1 stick of butter for each pound of rice. Place uncovered in oven and let the butter melt.
9. When the butter “bubbles,” add the rice and cover. Cook for 15 minutes.
10. Take roaster out of oven and shake to coat the rice with butter. Say “Shimitala” (Praise God) as you are shaking to assure that the rice turns out.
11. Return to oven for another 15 minutes.
12. Remove from oven and shake again, then serve!