Fun and Food Blog: May 2011

Healthy Wild Rice Salad

Eating healthy does not always mean feeding on the same old-fashioned salad and boiled vegetables. In fact, I recently discovered a new card on the diet table - Wild Rice! For those who have never seen it, purple rice is one of the several varieties of colored rice. Anthocyanins are the color pigments that give many foods their deep rich red, blue, and purple colors. The risk of several chronic health conditions, including atherosclerosis, is also lowered by regular consumption of such foods. They have a slightly nutty flavor that might need some getting used-to, but their distinct color and nutritive content far outweigh this fact, making them a great addition to salad recipes. I added some cooked garbanzo beans, and some onions, walnuts and tomatoes to make this delicious Wild Rice Salad which could very well be served as a side dish.

Wild Rice Salad with Chickpeas

Ingredients
2 cups wild rice - cooked
1 cup garbanzo beans
2 tbsp red or white onions - chopped
3 green onions - sliced
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup firm tomatoes - chopped
2 green chillies - chopped
Salt and pepper - to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
fresh cilantro - to garnish

Method
Heat half of the olive oil in a small skillet on medium high heat. Add the chopped onions and saute till mildly soft and brown in color. Next add the garbanzo beans and add about 2 tbsp water. Then add the cooked wild rice, salt, pepper and green chillies and let it cook for about 5-7 mins. Once done, let the rice cool to room temperature.

Whisk together the remaining olive oil and red wine vinegar to make the dressing.

In a large bowl, gently mix together the cooled cooked rice, green onions, chopped tomatoes, walnuts and the dressing. Garnish with some chopped cilantro, and serve the Wild Rice salad as a healthy and delicious side dish!

Related Recipes
Summer Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
Sprouted Beans & Lentil Salad
Vegetarian Mexican Salad

Remake Libby's Jingle & Win $10,000!

If you have a young kid in the house, I am sure you are used to singing rhymes and jingles.And if you love doing that, then here is your chance to get your creative juices flowing, remake an existing jingle, and win $10,000!! Yes, Libby's and Jewel have teamed up to discover a new Libby's jingle by declaring a one-of-its kind contest with a huge grand prize. It’s easy to enter and it can be a fun family activity!

Libby’s knows the importance of family meal time and encourages families to make it a point to get back to the table to spend quality time together. This spring, Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables, along with singer-songwriter Jewel, is also encouraging families to come together and show off their creativity by re-making the iconic Libby’s jingle.

To enter the contest go to the Libby’s Table Facebook page, click on the Jingle Contest tab and upload your video version of the jingle. You will have until May 13 to submit your entries, at which point Libby’s special guest judge, Jewel, will select five finalists to compete for America’s vote to win the $10,000 grand prize, $2,500 second place prize, and $1,000 third place prize.

Jewel, who is working on a new children’s album, starring in Bravo's new music competition series Platinum Hit, and preparing for a baby boy's also thrilled to be a part of this exciting contest, and will be recording her own version of the Libby’s jingle, which will debut in September. So if you love the concept of having dinner together with your family, and have a fun idea to sing and share the sentiment, you know what to do.

Visit Libby's on Twitter @LibbysTable, Hashtag #LibbysJingle and online at www.getbacktothetable.com for more details. Good Luck, and may the best jingle win!

Carrot Cookies- Healthy & Tasty Treats

With a toddler growing up in your house, you do end up baking cookies and treats a bit more often than you'd like, because no matter how healthy you'd try to feed them, sometimes, there is just no alternative to a cry for cookie:) luckily for moms like us, it is possible to introduce a healthier twist to your desserts too, just like these wholesome Carrot Cookies courtesy of Whole Foods. With amazingly nutritive ingredients like whole grain flour, oats, nuts, apples, carrot and banana, you will fell good about feeding them to your kids, and it would do no harm to sneak a couple bites for yourself too!

Carrot and Walnut Cookies
Makes about 24 cookies

Ingredients
1 cup raw unsalted walnuts
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 carrots, grated
1 apple, grated
1 very ripe banana, peeled and mashed
1/4 cup apple juice

Method
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine walnuts, oats and raisins in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger.

Add carrots, apples, banana and apple juice and stir until combined. Drop by rounded tablespoons an inch apart on the prepared baking sheets, making about 24 cookies.

Press down on each cookie with the back of a fork to flatten them slightly. Bake until tops and bottoms are lightly browned, about 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate the baking tray by 180 degrees, midway, to ensure even heating.

You can store these cookies in an airtight jar for almost a week, and they'll stay nice and fresh. Its a great way to get some good vitamins and fiber into your toddler's body by means of fruits and flour. A guilt-free treat that is perfect for mommy and baby!

Related Recipes
Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Heart-Healthy Buckwheat Cookies
No-Bake Thumbprint Cookies