a walk down memory lane

on this crazy humid day, i have lost all energy to run errands so i am going to do a few posts of some of my favorite dishes. i made these before the blog but it was when i first moved to chicago (round two) so they're still pretty new. 

a new favorite for fancy dinner parties or family dinners, which are not necessarily un-fancy, is baked chicory and rice, or as we like to call it raddich-ulous. kelly thinks

 it looks like eels but it 

is a really simple, healthy and filling dish that goes good with a salad and some bread. (and there are no eels in it)

1/3 cups olive oil

1 med onion, chopped

2 tsp finely chopped garlic

2 1/2 lbs of radicchio, cored, chopped, no big pieces (about 6 heads) -- you can also you belgian endive, once i used a 

mixture of both

1/2 cup uncooked white rice

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 cup bread crumbs

salt n' peppa

grease baking dish (or else!)

in large pot add olive oil and onion. cook until wilted. add garlic. cook until aromatic or until you're like, 'who's cookin' garlic?!' add large handfuls of chicory and stir until thoroughly coated and wilted. [here is says to add sorrel or lemon balm. every time i make this i forget to put it in and everyone still likes it but try it if you want!] keep cooking until tender. set aside. preheat oven to 400 degrees.

bring water to a boil and cook rice for 5 minutes.

transfer rice plus 1/2 cup of cooking liquid to chicory. Add 1/2 cup cheese and mix together. pour into baking dish and spread evenly. sprinkle the leftover cheese and bread crumbs over the top. 

bake until rice is tender. (about 30-40 minutes)

i got this recipe from farmer john's cookbook but no i didn't pay $30 for it, i checked it out at the library and turned it in late so i paid $0.25 for it. take that angelic organics! that's for not having enough space in your urban gardening class! 

love,

keighty