Healthy Kale Soup with Brown Rice Medley

My friend Lovey and I have been on a "kale" kick.  Aside from the nutritional values, it's delicious and makes you feel good.  This is my spin on a healthy kale soup --

Ingredients --

• 5 cups of chicken broth
• Juice of 1 meyer lemon
• 1 T of zest from meyer lemon
• 1 T of horseradish

• 1 bunch of kale
• sliced white mushrooms
• handful of snow peas
• 1 large sliced carrot
• 1 bunch of sliced scallions (i use whites only)
• 1 handful of cherry tomatoes

• Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley (or any kind of brown rice will work well.  But this mix is so interesting.  It's an unusual combination of long-grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds. )

I put the chicken broth together in a large stock pot and added the lemon juice, zest and horseradish.
Then i added the carrots and let them cook for about 10 minutes. 
Next i added all of the other vegetables other than the cherry tomatoes and let everything simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the brown rice was ready.  Just before you're ready to serve, you can add the tomatoes.

While the veggies were simmering, i made the brown rice medley. 

Spoon some of the rice in a bowl, and ladle over the soup.

This would also be delicious with steamed shellfish.  Oh well... next time!

Buon appetito!

Delicious wild rice medley with just about everything but the kitchen sink

Wild Rice Medley with Everything but the Kitchen Sink

I've started attending a support group for those of us that have gone through weight loss surgery and I met some wonderful people.  I really appreciated the wisdom and openness from everyone.  We seem to have a lot of the same issues, fears and of course desires, which all revolve around food.

One particular woman appeared to be the envy of all.  Women wanted to be her, and men... well, you know the rest.  The woman leading the group was quick to point out that both this wise blond and I love to cook, so after the group she i started talking.  She told me about a rice dish she made, based on the wild rice salad served at Gulfstream in Century City.  I know this rice salad well and it is delicious, but i haven't ventured near rice since my surgery - one year ago.  I know i'm "safe" with brown rice; it's hard to overeat that nutty nice.  On the other hand, sticky white rice could be another story.

Dawn said that Trader Joe's has a brown rice medley that contains long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds.  She suggested adding freshly shaved white corn, sliced almonds, jicama, carrots and onions.  Well, i think i went overboard.  I felt as though i needed a nap after all the chopping i did.  Although i must say this rice medley was delicious without adding anything to it.  It will definitely become a staple.

TJ's Wild Rice Medley, Cooked

Some of the goodies that i added to the rice...

My rice came out delicious, although i don't know that i would add quite this many ingredients.  Especially since i googled this dish and found the recipe and there's really not nearly as much in it as i thought.  Either way, my dish came out delicious and made enough to feed an army or two.

Ingredients -

• 1 16 oz. bag of TJ's Brown Rice Medley
• 5 cups of chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons of butter
• 1 large carrot
• 1 piece of jicama
• 1/2 cup of diced dried apricots
• 1/2 cup of diced dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup of golden raisins
• 1/2 cup of cooked chickpeas
• 1 bunch of green onion tops, sliced thin
• 1 cup of edamame, shelled
• 1 cup of baby heirloom tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup of Lucini's Fig & Walnut Savory Artisan Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Sliced almonds

Make the rice separately by bringing 5 cups of stock to a boil.
Add the butter and then add the bag of rice.
Bring back to a boil and reduce the heat.  Let simmer covered for 35 minutes.
Remove from the stove and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the vinaigrette and toss well.
Add the dried fruit and then refrigerate.

After the rice has cooled down, add the other ingredients, and toss well.
I forgot to add the sliced almonds, but can still do it.  I also felt as though mine needed a little olive oil which i drizzed on top and then tossed again.

This dish was delicious and filling!  What a treat.  A healthy and delicious brown rice dish with a lot of healthy goodies.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Yummm!