HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!

Let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with using some pre-packaged items from pantry. I have a few staples that I use, albeit probably not very often but not because I don’t want to, I really kind of forget to open the cupboard. We are meat and potato kind of people so I sometimes space that I have rice in many forms on hand.
The other night I was going to cook up a pasta and veggie kind of side but opted for using a packaged rice pilaf but knew I wanted to use up a few small peppers and tomatoes that were about to go south fairly soon.
If you have never doctored up a plain ole box; again nothing wrong with it; but a few other ingredients you already have on hand and you will not be disappointed. My daughter was funny and asked if I made this up, I cannot take full credit as I was served something a little similar years ago it just had different ingredients.
There is no set rule of what you can add; again I wanted to use up some fridge items and then added a handful of spaghetti that I broke up and chopped up some marcona almonds along with my peppers and tomatoes. My fam loved it!
Package of rice pilaf
1 small onion diced
Small hand full of spaghetti broken into small pieces
Hand full of cherry tomatoes halved
1 medium pepper sliced, seeded and chopped
2 cups Chicken stock or water
Slivered or chopped almonds
Scallions or chives sliced
Saute the onion, pepper till soft. 4-5 minutes, add the spaghetti and brown a bit, add the rice and it’s packet. Add the stock, stir and cover. On low for about 20 minutes. Check to make sure the rice is done.  Add the sliced tomatoes, cover and let sit for 5 minutes or so. Just before serving add the almonds and top with scallions.