Black Forbidden Rice with Peaches and Snap Peas

Let's pretend this picture doesn't really look like this. Oh well. It was a fun and colorful dish. Calvin ate it enthusiastically...so enthusiastically that despite sweeping I was still finding little rice grains all over (which just so happen to look exactly like little bugs when they are on the floor.) Appetizing picture and appetizing description, right?

Ingredients
Rice
3 1/2 cups water
2 cups forbidden rice
1 (1.5 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. oil (I used grapeseed)
2 1/2 cups snap peas, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 peaches, pitted and sliced

Dressing
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. soy sauce

Directions
1. To make the rice, bring water, rice, ginger, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pan, and cook until the rice is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and place in a large serving bowl. Add peas and peaches.

2. For the dressing, whisk together vinegar, oil, honey and soy sauce in a medium bowl, until smooth. Pour dressing over rice mixture and toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature.


adapted slighlty from Giada

Grilled Lemon and Rosemary Chicken

Nick made this chicken for us (he even chose the recipe on his own!) and we paired it with sweet potato gnocchi with fried sage and massaged kale salad for a truly delicious dinner. (It was our anniversary!) It was especially fun to get the herbs and kale from our drooping-in-the-heat garden and spend the afternoon cooking together.

Ingredients

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1-2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
3 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or other cut of choice)
1 lemon, sliced in half (optional)
baby arugula (optional), as a bed for the grilled chicken

Directions

Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, rosemary, garlic and a big pinch of salt and pepper in a measuring cup. In a large zip-loc bag or a glass dish combine chicken and marinade. Turn to coat and allow chicken to marinade up to 30 minutes at room temperature (or longer in the fridge for even more flavor).

Cook on a greased grill over medium-high heat, discarding left over marinade. Cook about 6 minutes per side for chicken breasts. (Optional- place lemon halves cut-side down on the grill grade and grill until charred, about 4 minutes.)


from Food Network

Whole Grain Pancake Mix

Well, here I am trying to play catch up and post some of the recipes that have been floating around on my computer. I'll admit, I haven't been trying many new recipes. The past year of residency was a loooong one. It was Nick's busiest year and having a new baby didn't leave me much motivation to be adventurous in the kitchen. I was ever grateful for this little spot where I could quickly find recipes that we've tried and enjoyed-making my grocery shopping and meal planning so much easier.

I saw this recipe for pancake mix a few months ago and immediately tried it out. I made a double batch and froze it and had great results. As always, I adapted it to what is usually in my fridge (i.e. probably no buttermilk, maybe no eggs- other eggless recipes are already drafted.) It is simple and great on it's own (or drizzled with something extra delicious) and my kids absolutely love it. Win win.


Ingredients
Mix
 3 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
4 cups white whole-wheat flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. salt
3/4 cup canola oil*

Pancakes
1 cup mix (above)
3/4 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup greek yogurt + 1/4 cup milk)
1 large egg, lightly beaten (or a few Tbsp. of applesauce)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. lemon zest, optional

Directions
Mix
 Pulse oats in a food processor until finely ground (but not a powder). Transfer oats to an electric mixer and add in flours, sugar, baking power, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed to combine. Drizzle oil in bowl slowly while mixer is still running. Continue to mix until evenly combined and mixture clumps slightly.

Transfer to an air-tight container and store up to 1 week at room temperature or long term in the freezer.

Pancakes
 Combine 1 cup of pancake mix with buttermilk (I always use the yogurt/milk mixture), egg (or applesauce), vanilla extract, and optional lemon zest.  Allow to sit for about 15 mintues while the whole grains absorb liquid.

Heat skillet over medium heat and pour 1/3 cup batter onto greased skillet. Cook until bubbles form and flip over, allowing other side to cook until lightly golden brown.

Notes:
-For my two kids who LOVE pancakes, I prepare 2 cups of mix at a time. We usually have a few pancakes left over for the following morning.

*I put way less than 3/4 cup of oil, just a drizzle to get it to stick together a bit. I may try coconut oil next time.

slightly adapted from Annie's Eats, originally from King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking