• Rinse brown rice and set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium-large pot or saucepan over high heat. Add half of the olive oil, half the mushrooms and sprinkle some salt. Cook them for about 4 minutes until they brown. Take out and keep them aside. We will add these in at the end.
• Now add the remaining olive oil, garlic and onions to the pot. Sauté for 2 mins. Add mushrooms and sauté for another 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally until they brown.
• Add brown rice, vegetable broth and salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 35-40 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. Stir in between starting at about 25 mins.
• When rice is done, add back in the mushrooms kept aside. Add in the optional tablespoon of butter and mix well. Top with green onions.
• Sprinkle some lime juice just before enjoying mushroom pilaf in the bowl and enjoy!

Notes

• Cremini mushrooms and baby Bella mushrooms are the same, regular white button mushrooms will work too.
• If you are using other rice, such as white basmati or jasmine rice, that can work, however reduce the cooking time depending on the rice you choose. For example, cook covered for 15 minutes for white rice.
• If you are using Better Than Bouillon base to make broth, you may want to skip adding salt.

• Bring a large pot water to a boil over high heat. Season generously with salt.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning as needed, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is golden and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. (You may need to cook the bacon in two batches, draining the rendered fat from the skillet between batches.) Let the bacon cool to room temperature, then crumble up into bite-sized pieces.
• Cook the pasta one minute more than package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Add the pasta, tomatoes, cheese, peas, pimentos, olives, green onion, and half of the bacon, and toss until well combined. Season salad with salt and pepper, to taste. Top salad with the remaining bacon and serve.