Red Rice Risotto

If you are trying to incorporate more whole grains into your diet this red rice dish is a delicious and hearty meal. Red rice is also known as “weedy rice”, as it sometimes grows as a weed in commercial rice fields. Its fiber and protein content make it a great addition to any meal.

 

Ingredients
Makes 4

• 1 cup red rice
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 cup porcini (or any variety you like) mushroom, sliced
• 2 cups mushroom broth (veggie is fine also)
• a couple hearty handfuls of spinach
• olive oil
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Soak rice in cold water for a few hours before cooking. (If you don’t have time, give it a good rinse and proceed).
2. Coat a large pot with olive oil and place over medium high heat. Add onion, season with salt & pepper and cook until translucent, about one minute. Add garlic and cook for another minute, until soft.
3. Add mushrooms, season and cook for about three minutes until soft and slightly browned.
4. Add rice and let cook for about a minute, stirring throughout to mix.
5. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the water is absorbed (you don’t want the risotto totally dry at this point). Add spinach, mix to combine and remove from heat. Cover for about three minutes.
6. Uncover, fluff with fork, season with salt, pepper and cheese to your liking. Serve immediately.

 

Recipe courtesy of GOOP.com

Mississippi Spiced Pecans

Spiced pecans are usually given out as treats for the holidays. Not only are they delicious snack, they are healthy too! They are packed with anti-oxidants and could reduce heart disease by lowering cholesterol.

Here is a simple recipe by eatingwell.com that is full of flavor and spice.

Total time: 20 mins.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pecan halves
• 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon piment d’Espelette, (see Tip) or a pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spread pecans on a large baking sheet. Roast until fragrant, about 12 minutes. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.
3. Combine brown sugar, salt, thyme, rosemary, pepper and piment d’Espelette (or cayenne) in a small bowl. Transfer the roasted pecans to a large bowl, drizzle with oil and toss well to coat completely. Sprinkle with the spice mixture and toss again. Serve warm or let cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Click here for original recipe and nutrition info-courtesy of eatingwell.com

What do you think of this recipe? What are some other pecan recipes?

Lightened Chocolate Desserts

You don’t have to stay away from chocolate when you’re on a diet. Cookinglight.com listed 20 mouth watering chocolate recipes that are more health conscious. Now, who doesn’t like chocolate? Below is one of our favorite recipes for individual chocolate soufflés, 152 calories each.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 4 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa
• 2 tablespoons fat-free milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg white
• 1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven 350º
2. Grab two ramekins (6-ounce) and coat them with cooking spray and sprinkle each ramekin with 3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar.
3. Mix 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, flour, cocoa, and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook 2 minutes while stirring until smooth. Spoon chocolate mixture into a medium bowl and then cool 4 minutes. Next, stir in vanilla.
4. Place egg white in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.
5. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat).
6. Gently stir 1/4 of egg white mixture into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared dishes.
7. Sharply tap dishes 2 or 3 times to level.
8.  Place dishes on a baking sheet; bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until puffy and set.
9. Sprinkle each soufflé with 1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Click here for the nutrition information for this recipe!

Click here for the other lightened chocolate recipes!

Recipe courtesy of cookinglight.com

Image by: Randy Mayor