Wild Rice, Sausage and Leek Stuffing with Walnuts

This is my most favorite stuffing because of its luscious flavors and texture. It’s not only delicious, it is also a healthy dish given the nutrients in whole grains combined with walnuts and leeks.

Added to which, gluten-free members of the family can also enjoy it. And you can make it vegan by omitting the sausage.

[su_expanding_quote_book source_author=”Marge Wittenberg” source_title=”The Essential Good Food Guide” full_quote=”When it comes to nutrition, the clear winners (in the rice family) are the whole grain varieties, easily distinguished by their medium to dark colors including brown, red, purple, black. With only its inedible hull removed, whole grain rice is a good source of fiber, vitamin E and trace minerals.” short_quote=”When it comes to nutrition, the clear winners (in the rice family) are the whole grain varieties”]

This is part of the Thanksgiving 2016 Menu and goes with a 14 – 16 pound turkey.

Variations

  1. Add 2 cups washed and chopped mushrooms when cooking leeks
  2. Use 4 cups thinly sliced fennel instead of leeks
  3. Use 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary instead of thyme
Wild Rice Sausage and Leek Stuffing with Walnuts
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Servings
12 servings
Servings
12 servings
Wild Rice Sausage and Leek Stuffing with Walnuts
Print Recipe
Servings
12 servings
Servings
12 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan toast wild rice over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add broth and bring to a boil. Turn down heat to simmer, cover and cook 45 minutes until rice is tender.
  3. While the rice is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet and cook turkey sausage, breaking up with a spoon and stirring occasionally until it turns brown.
  4. Add leeks, celery and thyme and cook over medium heat. If it is too dry, add 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil; cook until leeks and celery are tender. Remove from heat.
  5. Mix wild rice with vegetables, parsley and chopped walnuts.
  6. Bake Stuffing in Turkey: Fill neck and main cavities of turkey with stuffing. Spoon remaining stuffing into a buttered baking dish. Cover with foil and bake about 25 minutes. Uncover stuffing and bake until the top is golden and it is crisp around the edges, about 15 minutes. OR
  7. Bake Stuffing in Baking Dish Only: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Place stuffing to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side down. Bake until heated through, about 40 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is slightly crisp and golden, about 20 minutes longer.
Recipe Notes

[su_original_recipe]

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A Healthy Twist on a French Classic

I find bison a better alternative to beef, because bison are grass-fed and industry standards don’t allow the use of hormones or routine antibiotics, which are often given as growth promoters to cattle.

Meatballs are usually associated with spaghetti sauce, but this recipe takes them to another level, rich, hearty and satisfying.

My daughter eats just about everything, but she balked at the wine sauce, so here are two options to make it child friendly:

– Omit the brandy and replace 1 cup of wine with another cup of beef broth for a total of 2 cups of broth. It tastes much lighter. Some adults might prefer it this way too.

– Reserve some of the baked meatballs and serve them to children without the sauce.

My favorite way to serve this is with rice, but is also pairs nicely with roasted potatoes, or even noodles with poppy seeds in a goulash-like style.

Bison Meatball Bourguignon
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Bison Meatball Bourguignon
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Ingredients
Meatballs
  • 3/4 cup oats old-fashioned
  • 1 1/2 pounds bison ground
  • 2 eggs large, beaten
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons parsley fresh, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons thyme optional, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt kosher
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground
Bourguignon sauce
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Units:
Instructions
  1. To make the meatballs, mix all the meatball ingredients—oats, ground bison, eggs, onion, parsley, salt, and pepper and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F. Lightly oil a metal roasting pan.
  3. Using your wet hands rinsed under cold water, shape the meat mixture into 18 equal meatballs. Arrange in the roasting pan and bake until lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
  5. Meanwhile, start the sauce. Heat canola oil and butter in large saucepan over medium heat and add the mushroom and onion. Stir occasionally, until browned, about 7–8 minutes. Stir in the carrot. Sprinkle with the flour and stir well. Stir in broth, wine, brandy, tomato paste, and thyme and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, reduce to low heat and simmer until lightly thickened, about 10 minutes, checking periodically to make sure it does not dry. Add a couple of tablespoons of water if needed.
  6. Return the meatballs to saucepan and cook another 10–15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Serve hot, sprinkled with parsley.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Epicurious: Beef Meatballs Bourguignon

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Mushroom Barley Risotto

[su_expanding_quote alignment=”right” source_author=”Joel Fuhrman, M.D.” source_title=”Super Immunity” affiliate_link=”http://amazon.to/to come” full_quote=”Consuming mushrooms regularly has been associated with decreased risk of breast, stomach and colorectal cancers…mushrooms stimulate the immune system, prevent DNA damage, slow cancer cell growth.” short_quote=”Consuming mushrooms regularly has been associated with decreased risk of cancers”]

Mushrooms evoke an almost-forgotten childhood memory of tromping through a forest in Austria with my grandfather, breathing in the aroma of wet earth. He had an amazing knowledge, honed through severe hunger having lived through World Wars I and II, not only of mushrooms, but all edible forest plants. Taking those mushrooms into the kitchen to sauté with a little bit of butter made for heavenly bites that I can still savor.

Mushroom Barley Risotto
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Mushroom Barley Risotto
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Heat expeller-pressed canola oil in medium saucepan. Add onion and cook over medium heat until it begins to turn transparent. Add mushrooms and cook until edges of mushrooms are browned.
  2. Add carrots, garlic and barley and cook, mixing for 3 – 5 more minutes.
  3. Add thyme, bay leaves and 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until broth is almost absorbed, about 5 minutes. Add remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time; as it gets absorbed, add more until barley is tender, about 45 – 50 minutes.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Serve with chopped parsley on top.
Recipe Notes

A Color My Food Original Recipe

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Dijon Chicken Breasts

This is a quick recipe. You can double it and use left over chicken for sandwiches the next day—cut thin slices and replace processed ham or turkey. Or make a chicken salad with a nice crunch of bell peppers or celery.

Dijon Chicken Breasts
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Dijon Chicken Breasts
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
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Instructions
  1. Combine first 5 ingredients in heavy large skillet.
  2. Bring to gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Meanwhile, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
  3. Add chicken to skillet. Cover and poach about 15 minutes. Add spinach and cook another 5 minutes until chicken is just cooked through.
  4. Transfer chicken to platter. Boil liquid in skillet until reduced to sauce consistency, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Epicurious: Dijon Chicken Breasts

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Brussels Sprouts, Mushrooms and Fingerling Potatoes

I’ve discovered even people reluctant about eating Brussels sprouts enjoy this dish. I love the aromatic flavors and textures that result from roasting vegetables. Not only is this blend of vegetables flavorful, it packs a might nutritional boost for the immune system.

Brussels Sprouts, Mushrooms and Fingerling Potatoes
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“Certain plant food contain significant amounts of substances that enhance human immune function and defenses against acute illness and chronic disease…Cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts are in this group) are twice as powerful as other plant foods. A 20% increase in cruciferous vegetables intake corresponds to a 40% decrease in cancer rates… …Mushrooms contain many unusual disease-fighting compounds that empower the body to react quickly and powerfully when we are exposed to disease-causing pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Mushroom phytochemicals may even be helpful for autoimmune diseases because of their anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects… …New research shows that organosulfur compounds in the onion family have anti-inflammatory actions that protect against osteoarthritis and ward off infections. The highest consumers of onions (in a multicounty study) had less than half as many cancers compared to people who rarely consumed onions.” Super Immunity, Joel Fuhrman MD
Brussels Sprouts, Mushrooms and Fingerling Potatoes
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“Certain plant food contain significant amounts of substances that enhance human immune function and defenses against acute illness and chronic disease…Cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts are in this group) are twice as powerful as other plant foods. A 20% increase in cruciferous vegetables intake corresponds to a 40% decrease in cancer rates… …Mushrooms contain many unusual disease-fighting compounds that empower the body to react quickly and powerfully when we are exposed to disease-causing pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Mushroom phytochemicals may even be helpful for autoimmune diseases because of their anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects… …New research shows that organosulfur compounds in the onion family have anti-inflammatory actions that protect against osteoarthritis and ward off infections. The highest consumers of onions (in a multicounty study) had less than half as many cancers compared to people who rarely consumed onions.” Super Immunity, Joel Fuhrman MD
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. In a little bowl mix extra virgin olive oil with garlic and red onion.
  3. Toss all ingredients together in a roasting pan and place in oven.
  4. Roast 30 minutes. Test a potato, if it is tender, remove pan from oven, if not roast for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes

Variations

  • Use 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary instead of thyme and mix in as indicated\
  • Use 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes instead of herbs
  • After roasting, add 1/2 cup finely chopped mint or parsley – or a combination of both

Serving suggestions

  • For a vegan meal, serve with a quinoa pilaf with cranberries and toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecan etc) and a Red Cabbage and Romaine Salad
  • For a special dinner, serve with Baked Salmon with Cranberry Thyme Crust or Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Pork (if you choose this option, make the Brussels Sprouts dish with mint or parsley instead of rosemary) and a Mediterranean Salad with Pomegranate
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