I recently got into debate with a friend over, of all things, how to make risotto. I was taught that warming the broth before adding it to the rice was absolutely crucial for a making an excellent risotto, but my friend said she doesn't bother with this step and gets fine results. When she pressed me to explain why warm broth was important, I realized that I didn't actually know. Point, scored. Research would be required. More

I've been craving a nice, hearty risotto for a while. With the cold and wet weather recently, I decided this week would be a good time for this type of dish. I had it in my mind that I wanted to make something with mushrooms and leeks. I wanted it to be savory and woodsy, encompassing the flavors of fall. I have a collection of nice dried mushrooms waiting to be used; some chanterelles picked by friends, and some dried porcinis that I picked with my mushroom picking club. The result: savory, warming risotto, with mushrooms and leeks. More

Fluffy fragrant rice, richly spiced vegetables, and a scattering of raisins, cashews, and herbs make up this colorful and warming biryani. Whether you eat it as a one-dish meal or as part of an Indian feast, it's well worth the effort to prepare. More

I don't think I'll ever get tired of one-bowl meals. Give me a bowl, a spoon, and a comforting mix of grains, vegetables and protein, and I'm set. Kimchi fried rice satisfies all those requirements — and even includes the underappreciated "pickle" food group — but I always like to add a couple handfuls of shredded greens to the mix for a boost of color and nutrition. Funky, a little spicy, and studded with soft bits of scrambled egg and pops of bright kimchi, it's a quick one-bowl lunch or dinner I could eat anytime. More

There were not so distant times when a quick meal always meant a bowl of pasta. These were the days when everyone was touting fat-free eating and big bowls of pasta were seen as a healthy dinner option day in and day out. While I have nothing negative to say about a good bowl of noodles, whole grains are usually where I land for quick meals these days. As we find ourselves entering the cooler months, why not make bigger batches and freeze some for later? We showed you how to do this with brown rice, but it doesn't end there... More

Nutty, nourishing brown rice is a great addition to rice bowls and the perfect accompaniment to stir-fries, but its long cooking time makes it a tough sell for busy weeknight dinners. Packaged, precooked brown rice from the frozen section of the supermarket makes preparation quick and foolproof enough for last-minute meals — but why pay extra when it is so simple to freeze your own portioned brown rice at home? More

There's nothing like topping a sandwich with fresh, crunchy, nutritious sprouts. Make them even more fresh, crunchy, and nutritious by growing them yourself right on the kitchen counter. When it comes sandwich (or salad) time, just pick and rinse! More

Whole grains can often seem a little lackluster. Though, admittedly, many "healthy" foods do. Here are a few recipes to kickstart your taste buds, one of which involves a royal wedding pie made from the man himself, Jamie Oliver. More

Making big batches of grains and refrigerating or freezing the leftovers not only maximizes your time in the kitchen, it also makes throwing together a healthy meal on a busy weeknight a lot easier. And once you have them on hand, there are plenty of ways to incorporate cooked whole grains into your meals. Here are six! More

I find it a strange coincidence how once a new word or term is explained you start hearing more of it. Like a person who just happens to be getting into the car right next to you in the parking lot, it never fails. That's the story right now with me and freekeh. One day someone asked if I've ever had freekeh and now suddenly it's like a Bubba Gump is lurking everywhere I go — you can make freekeh meatballs, freekeh salad, freekeh soup, freekeh stuffing...and on and on. I can't share in this fun alone so let me jinx you by telling you more about this friggin' ingredient. More