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Joe’s been traveling all week. His days on the road are hectic and often doesn’t have time for a good meal. On the rare occasion he does, it’s just another restaurant to him.
When he came home last night I wanted him to have a meal he’d love. I was in the mood for a big grilled chicken salad. That’s not at the top of his list. Improvisation was my solution.
My husband loves brown rice. Something happens whenever I make a dish with his favorite grain. If you like to cook your husband’s favorite foods you know exactly what I’m talking about. He’s smiling as he eats and he can’t get enough. Most importantly, he feels valued and loved.
My impromptu menu:
- A big green salad with all his favorites – shredded leaf lettuce, slices of artichoke hearts, cremini mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and pepitas
- Grilled Balsamic Dijon Chicken
- Zucchini & Brown Rice Gratin
- Fresh baked gluten-free bread
- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Joe got a good home cooked meal and I still got my salad. And yes, he loved every bite. Even the leftovers.
What are some of the foods your family loves?
This post is linked to Two for Tuesday at A Moderate Life.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
- 2 medium zucchini squash, cut in half and sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked long grain brown rice
- 1 tablespoon freshly sliced basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sautee for several minutes until beginning to soften. Add mushrooms and sautee for several minutes more. Place into a 1 1/2 – 2 quart gratin dish. Put zucchini into pan and cook for several minutes, until it’s just beginning to soften. Place in gratin dish.
- Return to heat, melt butter, and add tapioca flour. It should sizzle when it hits the butter. Cook the flour and butter together until it’s fragrant but not brown. Whisk in cream and stock. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until it thickens and will coat the back of a spoon. Stir in half of the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
- Add brown rice and basil to vegetables and combine. Pour cream sauce over rice and vegetables. Top with remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 – 45 minutes until browned slightly on top and bubbly. If desired, place under broiler for 15 – 30 seconds to add color to the top of the gratin.
Notes
Make ahead: This can be made several hours ahead of time. Reserve final 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and place it on top of the gratin right before baking.
Barbara @moderncomfortfood
posted on August 6, 2010 at 5:13 am
What a lucky (and pampered) boy Joe is to be on the receiving end of this healthy feast! Your wonderful casserole is exactly the sort of homey, satisfying dinner we welcome around my house too. Zucchini, mushrooms, parmesan, and basil? Perfect!
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Katrina (gluten free gidget)
posted on August 6, 2010 at 6:38 am
How delicious!
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marla {family fresh cooking}
posted on August 6, 2010 at 9:36 am
Your gratin sounds great, of course your hubs loved it! I think my kids would be on board too
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carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com
posted on August 6, 2010 at 10:42 am
Beautiful amy!! this looks SO delicious! I”m always trying to find ways to use up zucchini!
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Alisa
posted on August 6, 2010 at 12:57 pm
mmmm! I wish my husband loved brown rice. He loves rice, but the white fluffy kind! This looks fantastic though!
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Pat
posted on August 6, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Yes — cooking what he likes is what my blog is about, “Gluten-Free Food That Even My Husband Likes.” I love the smile on his face, and better yet when it’s good for him.
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megan
posted on August 6, 2010 at 11:45 pm
A great recipe and dinner sounds awesome!
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gfe--gluten free easily
posted on August 7, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Travel food can be tough especially when one is working and not in full control. I know Joe loved coming home to this meal. That Zucchini Brown Rice Gratin looks divine.
Shirley
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Alta
posted on August 7, 2010 at 9:17 pm
This sounds deeply comforting. I love the rest of your menu too! Joe is a lucky guy!
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SnoWhite
posted on August 7, 2010 at 10:28 pm
oh – yum! Another brown rice goodness dish — can’t wait to make this one
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Raquel
posted on August 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I have so many zucchini from the garden this year a new way to cook it will be wonderful!
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Kim @ Cook IT Allergy Free
posted on August 9, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I am so making this! My husband loves any type of gratin! I do not know what is wrong with me lately, but I am obsessed with making everyone’s recipes but my own! Not good for my poor neglected blog or app, LOL!
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Jenn/CinnamonQuill
posted on August 9, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Oooo, love the zucchini and brown rice combination. I might even try it with wild rice. Good idea, since the farmers’ market is *full* of zucchini right now!
Would it be OK to post this photo and link on my new site, GlutenFreeFeed.com? It is kind of a photo essay of gluten-free recipes (from blogs)…Sort of like Tastespotting, only gluteun-free. Thanks
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Amy Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
@Jenn/CinnamonQuill, You can absolutely post the photo. Thanks for asking. Can you send me a link when it’s up?
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Jenn/CinnamonQuill Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
@Amy,
Thank you! It is visible now at the main page, GlutenFreeFeed.com and here is the full-page:
http://www.glutenfreefeed.com/?p=238
Thanks; the site is still a work in progress, but I’d love to feature more of your posts, too
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Carbzilla
posted on August 9, 2010 at 10:03 pm
I made this yesterday, and it is SOOOOO delicious! I’ll have to figure out what to make it with once the zukes are gone. This is a KEEPER!
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Amy Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
@Carbzilla, Thanks for sharing that with me. I think you could put any veggie in there…even spinach would be fabulous.
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Posy
posted on August 10, 2010 at 8:54 am
Printed this recipe as soon as I saw it as I was in the mood for some comfort food. My daughter saw the recipe on the counter on her way to work in the morning and couldn’t wait to get home for dinner! Delicious, thanks again Amy!
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Amy Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
@Posy, Thank you for coming back to let me know you loved it.
You made my day.
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girlichef
posted on August 10, 2010 at 9:35 am
Aw, a dish made with love is the best dish of all! This sounds delicious…and I’m with your hubs…something about that delicious, nutty, chewiness of brown rice that makes me smile, too. Thank you for sharing this with us at Two for Tuesdays this week!!
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Kim
posted on August 10, 2010 at 10:38 am
Isn’t it amazing the power of food? It can make people feel special and loved. This rice gratin would definitely make me feel special. It looks so comforting and delicious.
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Anna@Green Talk
posted on August 10, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Hi. What can sub the heavy cream with to make it nondairy?
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Amy Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
@Anna@Green Talk, Have you tried Mimic Cream? I’ve used it in scones and it works great. I haven’t used it in a savory dish, though, so I can’t promise it will work.
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Butterpoweredbike
posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Well, this is comfort food if I’ve ever seen it! Thanks for linking up with Two for Tuesday.
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Christy
posted on August 11, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Ah, food made with love is the very best kind! It fills the tummy and the heart! Thanks for linking this to Two For Tuesdays!
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Alex@A Moderate Life
posted on August 12, 2010 at 12:26 am
OH….ames! you are speaking my language in two ways here..pleasing the hubby bubby and zuccini and rice and cheese!!! This also sounds like a great take along to a summer potluck! Glad your man is home and you can hug him and glad you shared this on the two for tuesday recipe blog hop! I am still waiting for a picture of you in your pixie girl!
HUGE hugs! Alex
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Amy Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@Alex@A Moderate Life, It’s a bob, not a pixie. That might be next. I used to wear it that way for years…it looked great. I’ll put a pic up soon.
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Heather
posted on August 25, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Another great dish! The pan was empty with the entire family fighting over the 1/4 cup that was left for lunch. My 8 yo who is very particular about his food won the lunch lotto. The child does not like squash, onions, mushrooms, or brown rice. That is how good this dish is!!
Thank you so much for this.
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