Chicken Cordon Bleu, Herbed Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus

Ingredients

• 1 cup Wild Rice Blend (A blend of wild and brown rice works well)
• 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (Can be substituted with olive oil for a vegan option)
• 1 medium Yellow Onion (Finely chopped)
• 2 stalks Celery (Finely chopped)
• 8 oz Cremini Mushrooms (Cleaned and sliced)
• 2 cloves Garlic (Minced)
• 2.5 cup Vegetable Broth (Low-sodium recommended)
• 0.75 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
• 0.5 tsp Black Pepper (Freshly ground)
• 3 tbsp Fresh Parsley (Chopped)
• 1 tsp Fresh Thyme (Leaves only, chopped)
• 1 tsp Fresh Sage (Finely chopped)
• 0.5 cup Pecans (Toasted and roughly chopped)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the rice and pecans. Place the wild rice blend in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly. In a small, dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pecans for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. 2

   Sauté the aromatics. In a medium pot or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5-7 minutes.

3. 3

   Cook the mushrooms. Add the sliced mushrooms to the pot, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook until they release their moisture and begin to brown, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

4. 4

   Toast the rice and add liquid. Add the rinsed and drained wild rice blend to the pot. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to toast the grains. Pour in the vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

5. 5

   Simmer the rice. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pot tightly, and let it simmer for 45-50 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the trapped steam is essential for cooking the rice.

6. 6

   Rest and finish. Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand, still covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice gently with a fork, and fold in the chopped fresh parsley, thyme, sage, and toasted pecans. Serve warm.

Ingredients

• 450 g Asparagus (About 1 bunch, woody ends trimmed)
• 1 cup Water (For steaming)
• 0.25 tsp Salt (Or to taste)
• 0.25 tsp Black Pepper (Freshly ground)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Asparagus

   • Rinse the asparagus spears thoroughly under cold running water and pat dry.
   • To remove the tough, woody ends, hold a spear at both ends and gently bend it. It will naturally snap at the point where the tender part begins.
   • Discard the woody ends or save them for making vegetable stock.
   • Align the remaining spears and trim them with a knife to ensure they are all the same length for even cooking.
2. 2

   Set Up the Steamer

   • Pour about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water into a large pot or saucepan.
   • Place a steamer basket inside the pot, ensuring the water level is below the bottom of the basket.
   • Bring the water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
3. 3

   Steam the Asparagus

   • Once the water is boiling, carefully arrange the asparagus spears in a single layer in the steamer basket.
   • Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to medium to maintain a steady steam.
   • Steam for 3-5 minutes. Thin spears will take around 3 minutes, while thicker spears may need up to 5 minutes.
   • Check for doneness by piercing a spear with a fork; it should be tender but still have a slight crispness (tender-crisp) and a vibrant green color.
4. 4

   Season and Serve

   • Immediately and carefully remove the steamer basket from the pot to prevent overcooking.
   • For an extra vibrant color, you can plunge the asparagus into a bowl of ice water for 30 seconds (an ice bath), then pat dry.
   • Transfer the steamed asparagus to a serving platter.
   • Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil or add a pat of butter if desired.
   • Serve immediately as a delicious and healthy side dish.