another reason to love tia

(tia, me, mom at  tia's birthday lunch feb 2009)

besides giving me warm chocolate milk bottles as a baby, my tia just introduced me to my new favorite dish for the coming summer months....

Wild Rice Salad

1/2 C olive oil

3 - 4" rosemary sprigs 1 t kosher salt

1/2 C dried cranberries

1/4 t fresh ground pepper

2 T sherry vinegar (wine vinegar ok)

2 T honey

3 C cooked wild rice (or one package precooked wild rice at trader joe’s)

1/2 C lightly toasted pine nuts

1/2 C finely chopped green onions

 1.  Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat until simmering. Rinse rosemary sprigs and cook about one minute - turning with tongs. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle w/salt. Let the oil cool and set aside

2.  Dressing:  Combine cranberries, pepper and vinegar in a small bowl.  Let stand 15 minutes.  Whisk in honey and the oil you reserved from heating the rosemary

3.  Combine rice, nuts and green onions in a large bowl.  Crush the Rosemary over cooked rice, add cranberry dressing and toss.

4.  Chill.  (I usually can't wait and have a bowl immediately).  Gets even better the next day so, is a great salad to make ahead

even jon liked this salad....

"it's different and totally you. 

 if i am not in the mood for pizza or a burrito i would choose this."

.

but a little warning...the wild rice can play tricks on you

and  if you forget that you made some wild rice, 

 you might freak out 

and think your dishwasher is being overtaken by bugs!