Wild Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
2 c. wild rice
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. bacon, diced
2 c. sliced mushrooms
2 Tbsp. Porcini Mushroom Olive Oil
1 c. onions, diced
1 c. celery, diced
1 tsp. Spice Affair GPS
2 Tbsp. Black Garlic Balsamic
2 Tbsp. Soya sauce

Preparing the rice: Wash wild rice in cold water till the water runs clear. Add 6 - 7 cups cold water to a large pot. Add 1/2 tsp salt to the water and bring to a  boil. Add the rice and stir. Reduce the temperature so that the rice continues at a soft boil or simmer. Stir occasionally. Check the rice beginning at 50 minutes. The rice should be starting to split open and curl but remain a bit chewy. Cook no longer than 59 minutes. Drain rice in a colander.

While the rice is cooking, fry the bacon till nearly crispy. drain on paper towel. In the same pan add the mushrooms and fry. When done, remove them and set aside. Now add 2 Tbsp. of Mushroom olive oil and heat.  Once heated, add the onions, celery and 1 tsp. Spice Affair GPS and saute' together. Add the mushrooms back to the pan. Combine the Black Garlic Balsamic with the soya sauce and add to the onion mixture stirring until everything is coated and heated together.

In a large casserole or slow cooker, combine rice, bacon and onion mixture and heat together before  serving. For garnish add some slivered almonds and sliced green onIons.

** Wild Rice or "Manoomin" is not actually rice, but rather a grain from a tall aquatic grass. When cooked it swells to 4 times its volume, bursting into fluffy brownish/grey curls. It is high in protein, Vitamin B, iron and manganese.

Submitted by staff member Irene