Easy & Delicious Whole Grain Appetizers

In the past few years, one of the major changes in the diet of the American public has been the push to eat more whole grains. We are all striving to eat less white flour and refined sugar, and ingest whole grains that will do more for our diets and our overall health. According to the Whole Grains Council (www.wholegrainscouncil.org), the consumption of whole grains can improve blood pressure, reduce the risk of many diseases, and enable weight loss and the maintenance of that weight loss. Whole grains are not only a good source of protein for the body, but an excellent source of fiber as well, something many of us are sorely lacking. What follows are three of my favorite whole grain appetizers. I've included these three because I think they can span a wide range of uses-everything from a house party, to a Superbowl party, to an elegant dinner party. Bon Appetit!

This is an easy, classy appetizer loved by all. In my family we add fresh blackberries or raspberries! A nice way to incorporate whole grain into the recipe, and this is a real crowd pleaser.

Baked Brie with Whole Wheat Baguette and Multi-Grain Crackers....

Need: Saucepan, 9x13 baking pan or other oven-safe dish, heat-safe mixing spoon

Cooking Time: Approximately 15 minutes

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

½ cup of packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

¼ teaspoon of nutmeg

½ cup of butter (if substituting margarine, use a little more than this)

Brie (1 round)

Sliced whole wheat baguette, warmed

Multi-grain crackers

Optional: fresh berries

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In the saucepan, heat the butter and brown sugar until melted. Mixture will be slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in both the nutmeg and cinnamon.

Place the Brie in the baking pan, and top with the sauce. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until you see the sides start to bubble (this is usually the clue that the Brie has softened).

Place on the serving dish and garnish with berries, if desired. Serve with baguette and crackers. Enjoy!

In my family we eat the following appetizer on football game day. It is easy, healthy, and quite delicious. Enjoy!

The Hummus Hoagie

Need: Cutting board, knife, large plate for serving

Cooking time: Less than 5 minutes from start to finish

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 Whole wheat baguette, sliced lengthwise & warmed in the oven until toasty

Hummus

Red pepper slices

Sprouts

Red onion slices

Sliced cucumbers

Directions:

Spread both pieces of the bread with hummus. Add vegetables to one layer. Top with other layer of bread. Cut into one-inch pieces for easy eating while watching the game!

This is a more involved appetizer that looks beautiful at a dinner party. Enjoy!

Cold Brown Rice Salad

Need: Saucepan, heat-safe mixing spoon, large mixing bowl

Cooking Time: Close to 1 hour from start to finish

Serves: Approximately 4

Ingredients:

2 cups of water

1 cup of brown rice

2 teaspoons margarine

1 can mandarin oranges (set this aside in the refrigerator)

½ cup of dried cranberries

½ cup of balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon of sugar (we substitute Splenda)

Optional: For extra color, add some cooked (and then chilled) peas before refrigerating

Directions:

In a saucepan, boil the water and margarine together. Once boiling, add rice and cover, reducing heat to low. Stir occasionally. Allow to simmer approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Keep a careful eye on this because cooking times for brown rice varies with every stove.

Once done, remove from heat and transfer to large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, dried cranberries, and balsamic vinegar. Mix well. Cover and place in the refrigerator. Just before serving, garnish with chilled mandarin oranges for a beautiful presentation. Enjoy!