"brown rice" news and stories

Brown rice can be tricky -- here's how to make sure it comes out perfectly every time.

It's always tempting to buy rice in bulk at big-box stores and supermarket sales. But how long will it last in your pantry?

Whole grains? Check. Nuts? Check. Herbs? Check. Middle Eastern tabbouleh is not only one of the healthiest salads around, it hits just the right notes of tart and refreshing with lemon juice and mounds of parsley.

Typically made with bulgur and tomatoes, this variation, from Stone Soup, is created with brown rice and a whole cup of almonds, making it substantial enough to be a meal in itself. Cut back on the nuts and it's a colorful side salad to accompany fish or lamb.

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Occasionally, I find myself in times when the busy pace of life means that I've eaten more meals prepared by strangers than those cooking on my own stove and the carefully chosen produce in my crisper drawers wilts and turns black long before I have a chance to get to it.

Last week was one of those times when, between the stomach flu, a busy week at work and a couple of evenings out with friends, I hardly cooked at all. By the time Friday night rolled around, Scott and I found ourselves sprawled out in the living room, staring blankly at each other, hungry and exhausted. We didn't want to go out and I didn't feel like cooking anything particularly ambitious. I wandered into the kitchen and took stock of my resources.

The recommended daily guidelines for Americans suggest that at least half of all the grains consumed during the day be whole grains, which comes out to be 3 -5 servings daily. Aside from whole grain breads, like those made from whole wheat flour instead of wheat flour, there are quite a few other foods that will let you get those servings in. The ten most popular sources of whole grains are whole wheat (flour), whole oats/oatmeal, whole-grain corn, popcorn, brown rice, whole rye, whole-grain barley, wild rice, buckwheat and triticale, and as they are the most popular, they are also the most readily available.

Oatmeal, corn, popcorn and both brown and wild rice are easy enough to add into your weekly diet, and barley can stand in for rice or potatoes at many meals. Rye and buckwheat can be found in many breads, most of which will make superb sandwiches during the week. To add them in at home, you can try buckwheat pancakes or a blueberry buckwheat bundt cake. Triticale is a hybrid of rye and wheat, found mostly at health food stores, and can also be incorporated into many recipes.

A great source for some whole-grain recipes online is Bob's Red Mill website, which covers recipes for all of the top 10 grains.