A client was having guests over for dinner, and one of them followed a gluten-free diet. When my client asked if I had a good rice salad recipe, I quickly said yes, thinking I could easily change my Curried Cous Cous Salad recipe to be made with rice.
I served the rice version of this dish with grilled salmon, a mango salsa, and a big green salad, and my clients—and their gluten-free friend—both said it was delicious.
Posted in Gluten-free, Pasta & Grains, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes
Emmer farro is an ancient heirloom grain. It looks similar to bulgur wheat or a wheat berry, and it has a nice nutty texture. I like to buy the Bluebird Grain Farms brand, which is grown in Washington state’s Methow Valley.
It makes a good side dish on its own, served as you would rice or wheat berries, but I like to dress it up more like a pilaf or salad.
I was first introduced to this dish in the mid-2000s by a client who requested it for a dinner party. At first I was skeptical–as are most people who are unfamiliar with the dish, I’ve learned–but once I tried it, I was amazed at the flavor.
Without adding any additional liquid, the rice becomes tender simply by absorbing the moisture from the sweet onions. Continue reading
Last fall, I was in the car listening to The Splendid Table on NPR when they started discussing whole stuffed and roasted squash. I was inspired, and later that week I started to play around with the idea.
Not long after that, I made some for a dinner party I was catering. For our “fall feast” last month, I did another adaptation. The first step is to make the filling—which is the recipe I’m posting today. Continue reading
My husband loves macaroni and cheese, so when my mother came across this recipe in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (years ago), she sent it to us without even trying it. I first made it when some friends were coming over for dinner and it was a big hit.
Now I often make this for clients, especially those who have children, though it’s popular with almost everyone. Continue reading
Thyme with Sage 