Festive Rice Salad Food

FESTIVE RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, bring first 5 ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over rice in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, 30-35 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook pumpkin seeds, brown sugar and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly until sugar melts and cayenne coats pumpkin seeds, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer to a plate, spreading out seeds to cool., Sprinkle cooked rice with feta, mint, cranberries and spiced pumpkin seeds.

FESTIVE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions; cool. In a large bowl, combine the rice, peas, red pepper, onions and cranberries. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the wild rice in a medium pot with 4 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes, until the rice is very tender. Drain well and place the rice back in the pot. Cover and allow to steam for 10 minutes. While the rice is still warm, place it in a mixing bowl. Peel the oranges with a sharp knife, removing all the white pith. Cut between the membranes and add the orange sections to the bowl with the rice. Add the olive oil, orange juice, raspberry vinegar, grapes, pecans, cranberries, scallions, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the pepper. Allow to sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Taste for seasonings and serve at room temperature.

HOLIDAY RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the first 9 ingredients. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine dressing ingredients; shake well. Pour over rice mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours or until serving.

FESTIVE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly.
• Place the rice, chicken broth and water in a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring gently to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• When the water is boiling rapidly, stop stirring, cover the pan with the lid and turn the heat down to low. Let cook, without lifting the lid, for 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, lift the lid to release the steam, and replace it immediately. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes and serve.
• Meanwhile, crush the garlic with the salt making a rough paste. Add the garlic paste to the vinaigrette and let stand for at least 15 minutes to combine flavors.
• Add the vinaigrette to the cooled rice and toss with the vegetables.

FESTIVE THREE-GRAIN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine wheat berries and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in barley; simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Stir in rice; simmer, covered, 40-45 minutes or until grains are tender. Drain; transfer to a large bowl. Cool to room temperature., Add apple, pomegranate seeds, green onions, carrot, celery and parsley to wheat berry mixture; toss to combine. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve cold.

FESTIVE ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Boil Orzo as directed on package, drain well
• In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup of olive oil to Orzo while cooling to keep pasta from clumping together.
• Add chopped ingredients to cooled (room temperature)orzo and mix lightly. Add remainder of olive oil.
• Add Apple Cider Vinegar to taste mixing lightly.
• Add Feta Cheese and mix.
• Add Salt and Pepper to taste. Be sure to add salt after the Feta Cheese, and taste check often, as Feta Cheese is very salty.
• You can add more or less olive oil to taste.
• Serve at room temperature in a clear bowl to show off colors.
• This can sit out during potlucks and be refrigerated later for wonderful left-overs!

FESTIVE RICE

Steps:

• Rinse jasmine rice thoroughly under cold water in a large strainer.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan with a lid. Cook the garlic, onion, and turmeric over low heat for 2-3 minutes until the onions have softened. Add the rice and stir well to coat in oil.
• Pour in the coconut milk and water and add the lemon grass. Bring to a boil and cook gently until all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice, about 12 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and leave for 15 minutes.
• Remove lemongrass stalk and transfer to a serving platter, add garnishes.

FESTIVE CRANBERRY-PINEAPPLE SALAD

Steps:

• Drain pineapple, reserving liquid in 1-quart liquid measuring cup. Remove 1 tablespoons of the crushed pineapple, set aside for garnish. Add enough cold water to the reserved liquid to measure 3 cups; pour into large saucepan. Bring to boil; remove from heat. Add gelatin; stir at least 2 minute until completely dissolved. Add cranberry sauce; stir (gelatin mixture should be thick. Pour into large bowl.
• Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).
• Stir in remaining pineapple, apples and walnuts; stir gently. Pour into medium serving bowl.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Top with reserved crushed pineapple just before serving. Store leftover gelatin in refrigerator.
• Cooking time would actually be refrigeration time.

FESTIVE RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to instructions, but adding the vegetable stock cubes.
• In a dry non-stick skillet, lightly sautee veggies until done enough for your taste. Set aside.
• When the rice is done, mix rice, almonds, veggies, and cranberries together.
• For glaze, combine all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and mix well. Glaze may be made up to 4 days in advance.
• Pour glaze over rice, if desired.
• Enjoy! This also works well as a stuffing for winter squash.