Jeweled Grains With Broccoli Peas And Red Onion Food

JEWELED GRAINS WITH BROCCOLI, PEAS AND RED ONION

Steps:

• In a medium pot, add the farro, brown rice, black rice and 1 1/2 cups water. Stir to combine the grains, then bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the grains are tender yet chewy, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Scatter the peas on top, cover and let sit, 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss the red onion and agave with 2 tablespoons vinegar; season with salt and pepper to taste. Let macerate, 20 minutes. Drain the onions before using.
• In a large bowl, stir together the remaining vinegar, tamari, grapeseed oil, sesame oil and ginger. Holding the broccoli stalk firmly in one hand and working over the large bowl, use a sharp knife to shave the floret end into a rough dust, chopping until you reach mostly stalk. (Reserve the stalks for another use.) Add the pistachios, sunflower seeds and tart cherries to the bowl and toss to coat.
• Fluff the grains and peas with a fork and transfer to the bowl; toss to coat. Garnish with the pickled onions.

QUINOA BOWL WITH ARTICHOKES, SPRING ONIONS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
• Fill a bowl with water and add the juice from one of the lemon halves. Trim the artichokes. Then, if using medium artichokes, cut into quarters; if using large ones, cut into sixths or eighths. As you work, rub the cut artichokes with remaining lemon half and place them in the water. When all artichokes are cut, drain and pat dry with paper towels. Place on sheet pan.
• Trim away the dark green part of the onion stems and the hairy root ends, and cut onions in half. Place on sheet pan.
• Toss artichokes and onions with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Take care to coat all of the cut surfaces of the artichokes with olive oil. Place in oven and roast for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the size of the pieces), turning vegetables with tongs every 10 minutes, until tender and lightly browned. The edges of the artichoke leaves will be charred. Transfer to a bowl.
• Meanwhile, steam or boil peas in salted water for 5 minutes; drain. Transfer to the bowl with onions and artichokes. Add half the chopped fresh herbs and toss together.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt. Stir into yogurt.
• To serve, divide quinoa among four bowls and top with artichokes, onions and peas. Spoon yogurt over vegetables and sprinkle with remaining herbs. Douse with a little lemon juice and drizzle on a little oil if desired. Garnish with dukkah or about 2 teaspoons preserved lemon, or both.

GRAINS AND BEANS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, simmer grains in chicken stock, adding salt to taste if stock is unsalted. Different grains will cook at different rates, but 35 to 75 minutes is the general range. When grains are just tender, drain, reserving any extra stock.
• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate, reserving 2 tablespoons bacon grease in skillet.
• Add onion, pepper, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt to skillet and cook until vegetables are translucent, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook for 2 minutes longer, until garlic is fragrant.
• Stir beans, black pepper and nutmeg into skillet and cook until vegetables are very tender, 10 to 20 minutes, adding some reserved chicken stock from the grains or water if pan looks dry.
• Add drained grains to pan and stir until heated through, adding more stock or water if needed. Stir in bacon, and salt to taste. Serve grains and beans topped with celery and thyme leaves, with hot sauce on the side.

BROCCOLI, PEAS AND CARROTS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Chop broccoli in 1 inch pieces
• 2. Steam broccoli for 3 minutes,
• 3. Defrost or steam frozen peas and carrots.
• 4. Dice and sauté onion with 2-3 t.s. of butter or oil until soft and slightly brown.
• 5. Mix together cream of chicken soup, shredded cheese, onion, broccoli, carrots and peas.
• 6. Spoon mixture in the casserole dish
• 7. Top with corn flakes.
• 8. Drizzle with the rest of melted butter or oil.
• 9. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350°F
• If you like to have vegetables slightly undercooked, remove casserole 10 minutes earlier. Also, you can add a 1/4 cup of chopped almonds for extra crunch.