Chinese-Style Rice and Vegetables - Deconfusified

Last night, Mom made supper. This isn't surprising - it was supper time - but what she made! BLECHHH! Hamburger soup. Basically, a vegetable beef barley concoction with fried ground beef mixed in. Let's just say that I would much rather make my own meal!

I started off with a medium sized pot, using just enough extra virgin olive oil to cover the bottom. We didn't have a bottle of soy sauce, so I scrounged; and found two leftover packets. I added about a tablespoon of toasted sesame oil, and a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.
While I let all these oils heat, I minced one clove of garlic, chopped one stalk of celery, and sliced about half of a medium onion. Notice the large pieces of onion - I only used the outer layers (as I find typical when eating Chinese food).

While these went into the pot to brown, I threw in two small handfulls of chopped spinach. I have large hands, so two large handed small handfulls would be approx. one and a half cups. Into the pot they go!

By alternating low and medium heat, the onions carmelized beautifully without browning too much. Looking in the fridge, I began adding ingrediants at random. Half a cup of matchstick carrots, one third of a large green pepper chopped finely, one (drained) can of mushroom slices, sprinkle of parsley, and some black pepper. I then added some beef broth. It's homemade broth of course, made for me exclusively by Chef Campbell, and sent over in marvelous little cans. Ignore his directions, and add two cans of water, not one.

Now is the time you have to choose to trust me! Although I'm making an (un)authentic Chinese dish, I did not use proper rice. My favorite rice to use is Arborio, because of it's forgiving nature, just don't forget to stir, stir, stir! It soaks up any amount of liquid. Really! Just remember to simmer for at least twenty minutes. If you don't, it will have a nutty consistancy. I don't mind that, but some might. When cooked longer than twenty minutes, it is both sticky and fluffy at the same time. Don't believe me? Try it yourself then!
This all bubbled and brewed in the pot for about thirty-five minutes - the perfect amount of time to prepare something to go with it. I chose breaded butterflied shrimp. As you can see below, it was well worth my efforts!

Hamburger soup? BAH!