this week's featured food is...

Brown Rice
Benefits:

• Contains the antioxidant vitamin E
• Helps to lower cholesterol and flushes out toxins in your body like mercury
• Provides your body with B vitamins, manganese and selenium.
• One cup contains 3.5 grams of fiber

Brown Rice with Tofu, Dried Mushrooms, and Baby Spinach
(power foods)
1 1/2 cups short- grain brown rice
2 3/4 cups water
1/2 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms (broken if large)
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 dried red chili, crumbled
Course Salt
7 ounces extra firm tofu,drained and cut into cubes
3 ounces baby spinach
6 scallions, white and green parts only, finely chopped
1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon low-sodium tamari soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar (unseasoned)
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

In a large saucepan, stir rice, water, mushrooms, ginger, garlic, chili and salt together.
Bring mixture to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cover and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed all liquid; 45 - 50 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Gently stir in tofu and let stand covered for 15 minutes.
Stir in spinache, vinegar and sesame oil.
Serve immediately.