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Pioneer Woman’s Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole (Giveaway Winners Announced!)

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Congratulations to our giveaway winners Adrienne, Heather, Wanda, Mary-Jo and Kiki on winning Ree Drummond’s new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. Enjoy!

Today we’re featuring Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole, one of Ree Drummond’s Thanksgiving side dishes from her new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. Even better we’re giving away five copies!

Believe it or not, in her acknowledgements Ree credits me with giving her the idea for this book a few years ago. She ponders whether the idea came while we were sitting in her kitchen “sipping coffee (or was it wine?).” Hmm.

Maybe I’m a bit biased, but I love Ree’s Year of Holidays. Bookended by New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, this book is exquisitely crammed with recipes, photos, decorating ideas, and tips for all twelve big holidays in between. Imagine, all your favorite holiday recipes—stuff you really want to make—done well and in one place.

As I page through the book, there are so many dishes I want to share with our readers. Like Ree’s brilliantly simple Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries or her to-die-for Caramel Apple Pie. As David was leafing through the book, he stopped at a photo of an Easter brunch plate, pointed to the Eggs in Hash Brown Nests, and boldly proclaimed, “I want that!” And even if there are no kids at my house on Valentine’s Day, I’m definitely making those Candy-Dipped S’Mores.

I also loved all the pictures of the family—Ree’s kids, her mom and dad, her mother- and father-in-law, and her sister, Betsy. There are even some vintage photos of her. These photos make an already great book feel warm and special.

Because I’ll be reaching for it regularly, this book has been added to the select group that actually lives in my kitchen. I am looking forward to this year of holidays, and to adding some wonderful new recipes to our traditional ones.

Thanks for the gift of new holiday inspiration, Ree. You can call me for coffee (or wine!) any time!

Let’s keep it simple. To enter the contest to win one of the five books we’re giving away, leave a comment telling us what dish you can’t wait to make or eat this Thanksgiving. Contest ends this Sunday night, November 17th at 9 PM Eastern Time. We’ll announce winners the following morning.

(I’m pretty excited about trying those Brussels sprouts!)

Pioneer Woman's Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole
 
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Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 cups wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 2 to 3 broccoli crowns, cut into small florets
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
  • 1 medium-large onion, cut into small dice
  • 1 pound domestic white or baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
  • 2 celery stalks, cut into small dice
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
  1. Place rice in a large saucepan, along with 5 cups of the broth; bring to boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice is just tender and broth is almost absorbed, 35 to 45 minutes; set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot of boiling, salted water. Add broccoli florets and cook until bright green and tender crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately drain broccoli and plunge it into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. When cool, drain and set aside.
  3. Heat 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms; saute until tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add carrots and celery; saute until all of the vegetables are soft and mixture starts to turn golden brown. Sprinkle in flour; stir to incorporate. Stir in remaining 3 cups of broth; bring to a simmer and continue to simmer to thicken slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in heavy cream; continue to simmer to heat through. Remove from heat.
  4. When ready to assemble, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread half of the rice in a 13- by 9-inch pan or other 2-quart casserole. Add enough broccoli to cover the surface. Repeat layering with remaining rice and enough broccoli to cover the surface. Ladle on sauce to evenly cover the casserole.
  5. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter; toss with panko crumbs to coat. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over casserole. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until breadcrumbs and golden brown and casserole is bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley and serve or as Ree would say, “Then dig in!”
Notes
Says Ree, “Beware: This heavenly side dish takes everything you ever knew about broccoli-rice casserole and turns it upside down, shakes it up, messes with it, rearranges it, and totally changes things forever. The wild rice adds a nice chewiness and color, and my homemade approach to cream of mushroom soup might keep you from ever cracking open another can of the stuff as long as you live. This is utterly luscious.”
We agree, Ree.

 

About Pam Anderson

Pam Anderson considers herself Every Cook. A New York Times bestselling author, she has been cooking nearly everyday for over 30 years. With seven published books, she brings satisfying recipes and sage advice to both novice and veteran cooks. Whether you’re on a quest for the perfect brownie, wanting to get dinner on the table effortlessly, hoping to entertain more simply, attempting to shed pounds permanently, or looking to eat delicious meatless, Pam can help. AARP’s official food expert, she is a chef contributor at Runner’s World magazine. Pam is former Executive Editor of Cook’s Illustrated magazine. Her food articles have appeared in many food magazines. She teaches cooking classes across the country and appears frequently on TV and radio. She currently is blogging at her new site, Copper House Events.

2,543 Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    Last year my sweet 80 year old Granny taught me how to make her famous chicken and dressing. She has never used a recipe so I had to watch closely as she made it. She wrote down the ingredients on a piece of paper that I will keep forever. I can’t wait to try make her dressing this year.

  2. Diana B. says

    We like to try different dishes each year, and this Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole looks like it could make the table this year!

  3. Amelia Hooper says

    Since I just had a baby two weeks ago, I am looking forward to cooking nothing this year, and simply going to Kroger and pick up my Thanksgiving dinner. I love cooking, bug I’m taking this holiday off!

  7. Danielle hodges says

    I’m interested in making an apple pie FROM SCRATCH!! I always buy filling and premade shells! My family deserve more! Thank you!
    Danie

  12. Ginger Ritchie says

    I am looking forward to making all the desserts with my children – fudge, cookies, pies! Cooking is great bonding time.

  15. Cheri says

    EVERYTHING!! I can’t pick just one. And all of these contests I’m entering trying to win this cookbook for my niece’s bday are just making me more hungry for it all. 🙂

  16. Carol kennedy says

    I am rebuilding my collection after a tornado took my house. I would love to start with Pioneer Woman’s cookbook. She has amazing recipes.

  25. Amy says

    Definitely the broccoli wild rice casserole! I was just telling my husband the other day how delicious this sounds.

  29. Janet Jorgensen says

    My daughter discovered she had celiac disease this past year so I’m looking forward to a making a gluten free pie crust with cup 4 cup flour. : )

  30. Tifani Hardaway says

    We love my grandma’s homemade rolls for Thanksgiving now that she has passed. A caramel apple pie sounds pretty good for a new recipe though. Mmm

  35. Sara Mahan says

    I feel that turkey is probably the “right” answer, but I gotta go with the carb-y one and answer dressing (luckily I get both the bread and cornbread types). And I’d love the new cookbook!!

  40. Judy says

    Roast turkey! The wonderful smell wafts through the house and reminds me of all the happy holiday moments I’ve enjoyed through the years.

  41. Samantha says

    I can’t wait to make potato latkes since it’s also Hanukkah and we will be celebrating both!

  45. Tracey says

    If I had nothing but mashed potatoes and gravy I would be happy! This wild rice casserole looks it would make a nice addition, though. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks!

  47. ELIZABETH SHORT says

    I cant wait to make and eat my bacon weaved turkey. I made it for the first time last year and my whole family raved (including my 8 children) about it. They cant wait for Thanksgiving dinner! I hope to receive one of the copies of this fantastic looking cook book! Thanks for posting these awsome opportunities.
    Liz

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