How farro will you go to put a healthy and quick meal on the table? A little chicken Italian sausage, some fresh vegetables and a good bit if farro and about 30 minutes and you will be serving dinner with pride.
Once upon a time farro was only found outside of Italy in gourmet restaurants and little Italian markets. You don’t have to go all the way to Italy to get Farro any more. It’s now available in many grocery stores and markets. 
This ancient Italian grain is an early form of wheat that has recently become one of the “it” ingredients. There is a lot of confusion about Farro. There are 3 kinds that differ in taste and cooking technique. Farro Medio (a.k.a. emmer) is the most common type. It’s also the easiest to cook. Whatever kind of farro you buy, follow the directions on the package to get the best results. I like my farro on the softer side of toothsome. If you like a chewier bite, experiment with the cooking time until it’s just right.
I’ve been using Meijer Naturals Italian Farro . I cook the whole 8.5 ounce package and use the extras for hot breakfast cereal, salads, or side dishes. Yes, it is that versatile. I love this stuff! I’ve been known to stand in front of the refrigerator eating it cold. Use this recipe as a springboard to you own farro nirvana.
Farro with Vegetables and Chicken Italian Sausage
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Farro with Vegetables and Chicken Italian Sausage
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Instructions
Bring the Chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the farro, garlic and onion powder and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook uncovered until the farro is toothsomely tender and the broth is almost absorbed. This should take 15 - 20 minutes.
Heat a large fry pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes or so until it begins to soften.
Add the sausage and mushrooms to the pan and cook for another 3 minutes.
Add the peppers, zucchini and garlic to the pan. Cook everything for about 4 minutes. If the mixture seems a little dry, steal a bit of broth from the farro pan to keep things moving.
Add approximately 2-1/2 cups of the farro and any remaining broth to the fry pan (save the rest of the farro for another meal). Cook over low heat for a few minutes stirring occasionally to bring things together.
Add the herbs and half of the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Serve topped with the rest of the cheese.
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Meatless Monday doesn’t mean you can’t have some “meaty” flavor. Portobella mushrooms have a rich earthy flavor and dense texture that give you the “feel” of meat without the cholesterol. Steak sauce is the driving force in the marinade and quinoa provides fiber and a good amount of protein.
Grilled Portobella Mushrooms with Quinoa
The flavors of steak in a vegetarian dish.
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Grilled Portobella Mushrooms with Quinoa
The flavors of steak in a vegetarian dish.
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Instructions
Wipe the mushrooms to remove any loose dirt. Remove the stems and scrape out the gills. Cut in half and then cut each half into thick slices.
To make the marinade: Mix the steak sauce, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, garlic, and 1/2 tablespoon olive oil together in a small bowl.
Place the mushroom slices in a large zip top bag and add the marinade ingredients. Gently shake and squeeze the bag to distribute the marinade evenly. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or as long as overnight.
To Prepare the Quinoa: Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and the quinoa. Cook, stirring frequently 5 minutes or so until the quinoa is lightly browned.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cover. Cook 20 minutes or so until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Prepare the mushrooms and onions while the quinoa cooks.
In a medium fry pan heat the remaining olive oil. Add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions begin to soften and turn translucent.
Drain the mushrooms and add them to the onions. Toss to combine and cook for several minutes. You can finish cooking the mushrooms in the pan over high heat, stirring often. This will take 5 - 8 minutes. You can also finish the cooking on the grill.
To finish on the grill: heat a grill basket over high heat. Spray with non-stick olive oil spray. Add the mushroom and onion mixture and cook for 5 - 8 minutes stirring occasionally. everything should be kind of golden.
Spoon the quinoa into two shallow bowls. divide the mushroom mixture between the two bowls. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of blue cheese crumbles on each serving.
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