Marsh Grass Salad {Wild Rice}

Confession is good for the soul! Can I even tell you how many recipes I have tried that call for Wild Rice? Can I tell you how many times we have ended up taking more time at the dinner table because we are all still CHEWING on the UNCOOKED centers of that little grain? I stopped using it, because I couldn't get it right. Well, I finally found THE BEST WILD RICE at TRADER JOES and guess what? It is already cooked. And if I can manage to have it turn out, ANYBODY can. So, we will leave it to the experts to cook it correctly and let us embellish away.

They were having a taste test with it at Trader Joes and I was in a total hurry, so, I didn't pay any attention to what other ingredients they had on display.

A few weeks later, I called all the Trader Joes in our area {NO EXAGGERATION!} trying to track the "recipe" down. Finally, a lady sorta recalled that it had a vinaigrette and Wild Rice and nuts. I probably could have figured the rice thing out! {Sorry for the LONG explanation!!! BLAH.BLAH.BLAH.}

SO this is what I came up with! I know it isn't officially Autumn, yet, but it just screams "easy peasy" and "WELCOME AUTUMN!" I just can hardly wait to share my Autumn favorites with you and to hear all about the things that help to make your homes all cozy and sweet!

MARSH GRASS SALAD
Lisa Peareson


1 pkg. TRADER JOE'S Wild Rice

1/2 cup Balsamic vinaigrette {homemade or Trader Joe's}

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup hazelnuts,coarsely chopped {toast them if you have time :)}

3 green onions, sliced

1 cup cranberries

1/2 Granny Smith apple, diced...or whatever

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

Warm up the rice according to pkg. directions.
Add all ingredients together. Top with blue cheese

ENJOY. Serve warm or chilled.

This recipe is so versatile. Leave out what you don't like and add something else you LOVE.

OPTIONS:
red onion
orange zest
mandarin oranges
chicken slices
avacado...my favorite!!

We served this with our New Year's Fondue dinner... and it was a great side dish!

Menu:

Chicken
Marsh Salad
Crusty Artisan Bread
Schloss Biebrich Sekt {Trader Joe's}


In other news: I made a conscious effort to S l o w l y open the new saran wrap package today...so I wouldn't have to hate it for the next six months! I opened it successfully, but still wasted three or four layers of the actual wrap...BUT, I have a nice box in the drawer and that makes me oh.so.very.very happy.

...and Lauriss is coming HOME to visit! WE WILL ALL be together as a family...

Happy Happy Friday!

Please join me for Apple week next week! {We will take care of Apples and then have a ball with pumpkins!}