Rice is cooked with coconut milk, thyme, and vegetables, with other seasonings. There is absolutely no meat, even though you can put whatever additives you wish, my Mom would usually serve this with Shrimp Cakes, or Stuffed Fried Fish or simply without an accompaniment.  Most of my American friends consider this a special risotto, (an Italian Rice Specialty) even though a risottos basic ingredients consist of rice , wine, cheese, butter, shallots and stock.  While the consistency can appear to be  the same, the taste is different.  Butternut squash can be substituted for pumpkin.  Make it soon and don't forget to thank me when your kids eat their vegetables. My children eat platefuls. Enjoy!

Pumpkin, Calalloo, & Okra Cook-up

1 lb spinach

1 cup of diced pumpkin or butternut squash

10-12 okras

1 cup of rice

1 cup of coconut milk

1 1/4 cups of vegetable, beef, or chicken stock

1 teaspoon salt

1 tblspn of crumbled dried thyme

1 tblspn of chopped Married Man's Pork(BASIL)

1 medium sized yellow onion finely chopped

1/2 tspn black pepper

2 tblspns of olive oil

1-2 wiri peppers finely chopped

or 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper chopped

Method:

In a large pot,saute onion in 1 tblspn of olive oil  on medium heat for 2 minutes

Add all ingredients except spinach and okras

Stir well and bring to a rapid boil and reduce heat to simmer

Cover and cook for 15 minutes on low simmer

Remove lid and add spinach and okras, replace lid and cover

Cover and leave this for 5 more minutes to simmer until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed

Uncover,  stir well, and drizzle with remainder of olive oil.  Serve with Fried Fish, Shrimp Cakes,  or simply alone.

 * For my friends unfamiliar with married man's pork, it is an herb grown in Guyana, with a taste, smell and appearance that is quite similiar to the herb,"basil".   The flavor of basil cannot be compared to "married man's pork".  But what a name!