Harvest Wild Rice Bowl with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette

Harvest Wild Rice Salad with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette

Cook's Notes: A bowl full of healthy fall inspired ingredients. Make a big batch and enjoy it  for several days. Drizzle the salad with a fig balsamic vinaigrette and the dish is irresistible.  
Recipe serves 4-6  as a side and was adapted from iowagirleats.com 
Salad Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry wild-brown rice e.g. Lunberg
• 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium, fat free) 
• 3 cups butternut squash cubes
• 2 TB. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp. each dried thyme, parsley and cinnamon
• Salt and pepper
• Brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise and then quartered (2-3 cups)
• 1 large or 2 small apples, chopped (Use a crisp apple e.g. Haralson or Honeycrisp)
• 1 cup diced white cheddar cheese 
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds or pepitas
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

For the Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or Fig Balsamic 
• 2 garlic, cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 3 TB. fig jam or fig preserves
• salt and pepper

Directions:

• Follow package directions substituting chicken broth for the water and cook rice until al dente.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 
• In a bowl add 2 TB. oil, minced garlic, spices, butternut squash cubes and Brussels sprouts. Evenly coat the mixture and spread out on baking sheet. 
• Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring halfway through. Set aside to cool slightly. Can be done early in the day. 
• Dice apples. In a large bowl combine cooked rice, roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, apples, almonds or pepitas, cheese, and dried cranberries. 
• Drizzle Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette on top then toss to coat. There may be extra dressing left over.
• Serve salad at room temperature and refrigerate any leftovers.

For the Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette:
In a blender add all ingredients. Taste then add more salt, pepper if desired.

In the Moon of Falling Leaves 
by Joseph Bruchac

Joesph Bruchac is of Abenaki Indian and Slovak descent. He is one of America's most respected and widely published Native American authors and poets. His birth date is October 16. Bruchac's poem is reflected in this autumn scene.

I was born in the Moon of Falling Leaves,
that time when summer's harvest
falls from every maple tree,
painting the forest trails
golden as sunlight
and crimson as Great Bear's blood.

Each October brings back the scent
of fires burning on the hills,
the first etchings of frost
on my bedroom windows,
the departing wings
of a thousand geese
cutting the clear cold sky.

There is no time closer to my heart,
than this season of changes
when the balance tips between
darkness and light,
when the last flowers
nod in our garden,
when so many things
are about to end,
so many about to begin.