Color Wheel Cooking

There is a lot of discussion over "Colorful Cooking" lately. In my mind, I'm wondering why all of a sudden it seems revolutionary to eat a colorful variety of food. While new diets are emerging, prompting people to 'eat the colors of the rainbow,' I feel like this concept is really as old as time, and biologically ingrained in us.

Just like we like to look at things that please us aesthetically, it only makes sense that we'd like to eat in a similar fashion. So much fuss is made over beautiful presentation in fancy restaurants, that sometimes we forget the most basic and simplest form of beauty...color.

Last night's potluck helped remind me of that, as our plates were truly bursting with a variety of color and that transfered into the enjoyment of the meal. Of course, I neglected to bring my camera, so there are no pictures. Instead, you'll have to use your imagination to visualize the bright, orange pureed butternut squash (sweetened with home tapped/boiled maple syrup!), strikingly beautiful and tasty roasted red beets, salad greens peppered with orange carrots, slivers of translucent green celery and clumps of feta cheese. We also had marinated baked tofu and brown rice dotted with dark, leafy greens.

Topped off with some leftover almond spice cookies, the meal was a vivid reminder that eating can be fun, beautiful and tasty.

While I don't have pictures from the actual potluck, I do have some pictures of what *I* made - cheesy greens & rice. Super easy and super delicious.

Start by sauteing up one small onion and a clove or two of garlic in some olive oil. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add 1.5 cups of brown rice, 2.5 cups of water/broth (I used leftover, strained chicken soup) some salt & pepper. Bring to a boil and then place in a 375* oven.

Cook for about 40 minutes then add a bunch of shredded greens (we went with kale) and a handful or two of shredded cheese (we used cheddar). If the rice is looking dry, add a bit more water or broth. Stir it up and bake for another 10 minutes.