Dee Randall wrote:
> The best I can describe it is thusly:
> 1. Rice fried in pan on top of stove in what I consider the 'mexican
style' [snip] ....I've given up lately and just make my mexican rice
> in a rice cooker, rendering mediocre, at best mexican rice.

Okay, step one: go back to the stovetop. Start by cooking a bit of
minced white onion in oil until it's tender. Meanwhile, heat some
chicken broth. Add the rice and stir for several minutes until it's
all coated with oil and has all changed color. You're not really
frying it (i.e., not cooking hard) but you are beginning to.

> 2. Tomato-y. I can't get a happy medium between a bitter/sweet taste
> of tomatoes. [snip list of 'don't likes']

Okay, step two: use one or two fresh tomatoes, seeded (peeled if it's
not too much trouble) and diced small. When in doubt about quality or
taste of available tomatoes, use Romas.

> 3. I don't care for any 'extras' i.e., corn, cheese, an excess of
> green pepper.

No problem, don't add any. (If you ever get a hankering for something
different, though, find a small can of 'Veg-All' and add that, drained.
It's a mixed vegetables product found much more easily in Mexico than
in the States.)

> 4. I don't want to use lard -- my friend didn't use lard, either.

No problem. I use peanut or safflower.

> 5. I like cumin and hot peppers, but how much is the issue.

In basic Mexican rice, none. Use as much as you like in whatever the
rice will accompany. I take it that you're not looking for a main
dish, but the usual unobtrusive but tasty side dish.

> 6. I usually use for this type of dish a jasmine or tex-mex type of
rice.

I don't know what tex-mex rice is. Plain long grain rice is most
typical for this. Jasmine would have conflicting flavor, to my taste.

The basic 'technique' is: soften onion, precook and coat rice, add hot
liquid, bring to boil, cover, simmer/steam till done. The diced tomato
and broth add color and flavor. I think your main difficulty has been
in trying too hard to make it special. Try this minimalist approach --
it's pretty much failproof. -aem