Garlic Shrimp Rice Bowl

This is my first attempt at an entire meal in the rice cooker. I purchased it this weekend after seeing several recipes for entire meals cooked solely in a rice cooker. But what really sold me on finally buying a rice cooker was that several of the models offered a time delay of up to 15 hours. This sealed the deal because most evenings we don't get home until after 5 p.m., and both of my boys are in bed by 7:30. Plus, my husband and I are both taking online college classes. All of this leaves little time to throw together a quality meal and spend time with the kiddos.

My first attempt at a full meal in the rice cooker is this garlic shrimp rice bowl recipe from the Aroma website. Now this was not a recipe that allowed for the use of the time delay option, but I wanted to modify it so that I could use the time delay. So here is my version of the recipe. The original can be found at http://www.aroma-housewares.com/kitchen/appliances/recipe/4559/Garlic%20Shrimp%20Rice%20Bowl.html.

Garlic Shrimp Rice Bowl

2 C white rice (rinsed)
3 C water
1/2 lb (or more if you prefer) frozen shrimp - I buy the ones that are already cleaned
1 C broccoli
1/2 C diced bell pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper flakes

Press the steam cook button and let cook with lid closed for 10 minutes.
Place the olive oil in the pot with bell pepper and minced garlic. Let cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the rice and water to the pot.
Place the broccoli and shrimp in the steam basket.
Close the lid. Set your time delay for the number of hours until you want your meal to be ready. Select the white rice option and go to work.
When you get home everything will be done. You just mix it together with the salt and red pepper flakes and eat. I let mine set on warm for a few more minutes after I mixed in the salt and red pepper flakes to marry the flavors a little bit better.

My thoughts for the next time we make this....

It needs more flavor! I think I'll use chicken or vegetable stock in place of the water, and it definitely needs more garlic. Some onions cooked up with the bell pepper and garlic would be good too. It was good. The rice and shrimp were cooked wonderfully, and I loved how the broccoli broke up into tiny little pieces. But it didn't pack much punch in the flavor department. The time delay option worked out well. The recipe itself was just rather bland, but that's pretty simple to remedy. All in all, I'm pleased with the results. This bodes well for future all in one pot rice cooker recipes.

**Please forgive the poor picture quality. I was already most of the way through my dinner, and it was only taken with my iPhone. I promise to do better in the future!