Zucchini and veggie rice

This is one of those throw in all the veggies you have in your refrigerator (into the saucepan). I added green zucchini, green capsicum, beans, peas and corn. And my fridge is literally empty of fresh vegetables after making this dish, save for a few lemons and cucumbers. I cooked the basmati rice separately with two cubes of veg stock, which helped add flavour. So the ingredient porportions go like this..

Green zucchini - 1/2 of a long one, peeled

Green capsicum - 1

Beans - a handful, with ends trimmed

Peas, frozen - 3 Tbsp

Corn, frozen - 2 Tbsp

Rock salt, crushed - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder - a pinch

Red chili flakes - 1/2 tsp

Chicken masala - 1 tsp

Olive oil - 2 tsp

Garlic - 4 cloves

Onion - 1 small

Dice zucchini, capsicum and beans into small pieces. Thaw corn and peas.

Mince garlic. Slice onion into thin pieces.

In a deep-bottomed saucepan, sprinkle oil. When it heats up, add garlic and onion. Stir for 5 to 6 minutes. Add zucchini, capsicum and beans. Stir on slow cook for about 5 minutes or until the beans become tender. Add peas and corn. Stir for sometime and add the masalas. Stir until the spices coat the vegetables. Take off flame and keep aside.

And for cooking the rice, you need...

Basmati rice - 1 and 1/2 cup

Water - 2 cups

Lemon - 1/2

Veg stock - 2 cubes

Rock salt, crushed - a pinch

Soak the rice for half an hour. Then wash and drain. Add water, juice of lemon, veg stock and salt. Pressure cook until all water evaporates.

Add cooked rice to the vegetable mix and stir to combine. Garnish with coriander leaves.

We enjoyed the rice with dry roasted papad (papad cooked in microwave) and mango pickle.

After reading 5AM Revolution, I managed to open my eyes at 6am today(though getting out of bed only happened at 7am :D). Dan Luca suggests that to reach the 5am wake up time, go to bed 10 minutes prior to usual time and wake up ten earlier the next day for the first week. He recommends reducing the time every week till you reach the goal. In the book, he suggests a morning routine too..which includes meditation and practising gratitude. The early morning will also give you some me-time before the rest of the family wakes up. Are you a morning person?