Time to Start Thinking About Grilling

Nice day here. Hubby is grilling center cut pork chops and I am doing sides. Menu: Grilled Pork Chops, Brown Rice and Mushroom Pilaf, Mashed Butternut Squash with a touch of butter and Indiana maple syrup and fresh Steamed Spinach.

Brown Rice Pilaf

3/4 cups of Uncle Ben's converted brown rice
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 minced garlic clove
4 oz. fresh mushrooms
1 15oz. can low-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in skillet. Add oil. Add chopped veggies and cook until somewhat soft. Turn heat up and add the rice and the 1 1/4 cup of broth (not the whole can). Bring to a boil and transfer to glass baking dish. Cover with foil and place in oven. Check after 20 minutes. Add more broth if necessary. Fluff when rice is cooked.

Pork Chop Dinner for 3
center cut pork chops on sale for $1.79 lb.  $2.90
3/4 cups Uncle Ben converted brown rice. $.38
can of beef broth $.60
onion $.20
4 oz. fresh mushrooms - on sale - $.50
3/4 bag of baby spinach - on sale - $. 75
1 bag of frozen butternut squash (from Whole Foods, an indulgence, great nutrition though) $ 1.79
butter, oil, maple syprup - $.75
Pork Chop Dinner for 3 - less than $8.00
stalk of celery $.10