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Brown rice doesn't have to be difficult

Have you heard? Carbs are back in vogue. Well, maybe not nationwide, but at least one diet gaining popularity these days emphasizes the importance of healthy complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, which should probably be a part of any healthful diet. Not only is brown rice a healthy choice, it's an economical one, too. But brown rice is not easy to prepare. Even following the instructions on the bag may not produce a tasty result.

Turn up the heat too high and you have a burnt pot and crunchy kernels. Add too much water and the rice will swell into a gelatinous mass. Fail to start cooking the rice early and it won't be done in time. But brown rice doesn't have to be difficult. In fact it can be as foolproof as preparing white rice, as long as you understand how to cook it.

The secret for preparing perfect brown rice, according to the folks at Cook's Illustrated (www.cooksillustrated.com), who do an amazing job of testing and developing foolproof methods for the kitchen, is to bake it in the oven. Making certain your proportions and measurements are exact is mandatory. Don't guess. Measure. Here are recipes from Cook's Illustrated for baked brown rice and a rice salad.