Thanksgiving Recipe Idea: Wild Rice Pilaf

When you think of Thanksgiving dinner, you probably imagine turkey, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, etc... If you are anything like me, you probably tend to have the same kind of dishes every year for Thanksgiving. This year, since we are hosting at our house, we decided to make tons of new dishes and try to stay away from some of the standard Thanksgiving dishes, or at least spruce them up and make them slightly different and more healthy. I think this Wild Rice Pilaf dish is a great side dish idea for Thanksgiving. While it is still a starchy carb, it is something a little different and I imagine it will go great with some roasted turkey or ham. The dish also has some very good nutritional qualities.

An added bonus to this dish is that it can be cooked in a slow cooker, which means more room in the oven for your other side dishes and your turkey or ham! :)

Wild Rice Pilaf
Serves: 8 - 10 servings
Adapted from: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/wild-rice-pilaf-50400000107593/

Ingredients:
1 cup brown rice - uncooked
1 cup wild rice - uncooked
2 tablespoons light butter - melted
1 32-oz low sodium chicken broth
1 cup diced sweet onion
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 package dried cherries (5.5 oz) - coarsely chopped or about 1 cup
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Directions:
-In a slow-cooker, lightly grease or spray nonstick cooking spray in and around it.
-Combine the brown rice, wild rice, and melted butter in the slow-cooker and make sure all rice is coated with the butter.
-Stir in chicken broth, onion, and black pepper.
-Cover the slow-cooker and cook on HIGH for 3.5 - 4 hours or until the rice is tender.
-Stir in chopped cherries and stir together until completely mixed.
-Turn off heat, cover the slow-cooker, and let it sit for 15 minutes.
-Meanwhile, you will want to toast your pecans. You will do this in a nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Make sure to toast them for 4 to 5 minutes and stir often. Stir the toasted pecans into the wild rice pilaf right before serving.

Enjoy! :)