Fast, Easy, Healthy... Can be vegetarian or not!!!

4 days left of my vegetarian challenge. I have decided that I am continuing on as a vegetarian come Easter morning, however. I absolutely love this new lifestyle. I feel better (although my allergies over the last 5 weeks have helped to counteract how good my body feels...), I feel healthier (At my 19 week pregnancy check-up I had only gained three pounds... Go me!!!), and I feel good about the choices I have made to not consume meat. So, from this point on I don't think I am going to be blogging much more about my journey as a vegetarian. I may blog once in a while about it. We will see what will come of my blog from here.

However, today I have a new recipe to share. Again, have not tried it. It is in the oven right now. But seriously, this is the easiest meal I have prepared this entire time I have been a vegetarian. It is low fat, and you can easily add chicken to it if you are not a veggie! My vegetable of choice for the last month has tended to be broccoli, so hope you like broccoli.

Broccoli-Rice Bake

1 1/2 pound broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces (a bag and a half of frozen chopped broccoli works great, and makes this even easier!!!)
2 cups uncooked instant brown rice
1 can (14 oz.) vegetable broth
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of broccoli soup
1 jar (2 oz.) diced pimentos, drained
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons firm butter or margarine
1/2 cup original Bisquick mix

1) Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1 inch water to boiling. Add broccoli, return to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook about 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. (Or if using frozen broccoli, cook according to package!)

2) In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix broccoli, rice, broth, soup, pimientos, and pepper.

3) Cover; bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium bowl using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, cut butter into Bisquick mix until crumbly.

4) Sprinkle crumbly mixture over broccoli mixture; bake uncovered 8 to 10 minutes longer or until top is light brown.

Ok, now time for the fun... I wanted to try adding cheddar cheese to this. Unfortunately, I used up all my cheddar cheese in a failed attempt to make broccoli cheese sauce for baked potatoes last night. But, I'm sure it would be super tasty in this meal! Also, as I mentioned you can add chicken. You can add 1 cup cubed cooked chicken with the broccoli and other ingredients in step 2.