New Side Dish

I am always looking for new things to serve as side dishes. Potatoes, veggies, fruit, pasta, it's a never ending cycle. "Ok, we're having this, but what to have with it?"  We have our favorites, as I'm sure all of you do, but we also have our "rut" foods as I like to call them. Those dishes that we eat over and over w/o even thinking about it, or those that when all else fails, I turn to. Can't figure anything out? Baked potatoes it is then. Low on time? Heat a veggie in the microwave. So when in my searching I find something that I know we already like, but now includes the word "easy", I am instantly intrigued:) I found this on the Mommy's Kitchen blog as one of her "potluck Sunday" dishes. I am serving it kind of Chinese style--not doing anything differently, but it's a side for pork pot stickers! I think those boxes of rice are a great idea for quick and easy, and we have eaten plenty of them, believe me, but if I can make the same thing, from scratch in the same time as one of the pre-made ones take, then sign me up! It's new recipe night at our house and this time it's a side dish---hopefully one that will become another "rut"......LOL

Easy Rice Pilaf

2 TBS olive oil
1 1/2 c. long grain rice, uncooked
1/4 c. onions, chopped
1/4 c. green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. celery, chopped
1/4 c. carrots, finely chopped
1/4 c. sliced mushrooms (optional)
3 cups. chicken broth
1/2 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and bell pepper and saute until tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add rice and saute 2 minute more. Raise heat to high and add broth, mushrooms, thyme salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes, fluff w/ fork and serve.