This is a sensible dish, but also very filling. There are none of the usual warnings, so feel free to make it for dinner whenever the urge hits you. It can be varied to taste, and the seasoning easily varies without much risk of a flop. This is the cold weather recipe, but it can be done with soy sauce and chinese vegetables or a number of other taste themes with equal appeal. Don't be afraid to experiment to find your own favorites.

Ingredients:

2 cups wild rice
16 oz cooked salmon
favorite cooked vegetable mix
onion, garlic, cayenne, basil

     Before we get into specifics, let me expound on the ingredients. First the salmon. Naturally, the salmon is better if fresh, preferably broiled or smoked. But canned salmon will also suffice when time is a consideration. If using canned salmon, I prefer to remove the excess skin and bones, even though they've been pressure cooked to make them digestible. Call me picky, but in this recipe, the texture is more noticeable than in something like croquettes.
     Next to be discussed is the selection of vegetables. Again, time considerations can make a can of mixed veges preferable, but to me, freshly cooked vegetables are the taster's choice. Carrots, new potatoes, green beans, lima beans, broccoli, corn, cauliflower, peas, the typical American table fair works just fine. Steam or boil until tender. This is a great recipe for using up a variety of left-over veges as well.

     In this instance, I'll assume that you're using canned salmon and veges. If not, prepare them before you start the primary recipe. Add the rice to water and add the spices. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer. Stir often enough before the water is absorbed to assure evenness of the spices. As the rice nears completion, add the salmon, stirring to break up and spread the flakes of salmon throughout the rice. As the rice finishes, heat the vegetables in a sauce pan. Scoop the rice into a bowl, top with veges, and eat. Serves four.

     This is a great one course meal, quite filling, balanced, nutritious, low fat, and surprisingly delicious. Spice it heavily for cold weather. It microwaves well if there are leftovers. It's a great dinner for nestling in your lap as you watch your favorite movie or work on your favorite application, for it doesn't spill much. It's not labor intensive, and most of the cooking time can go unsupervised, so it's a good recipe to start when you get home from work and need to do a few things to get settled. Just make sure that the rice doesn't burn.