Its So taboo; its forbidden!!!

HAHAHA pun intended! In the food world there is this dark purple black little grain called, Forbidden Rice! OMG!!!! What you never heard if it? Let me tell you its beats all other rice out the water... My first experience with the forbidden stuff was a romantic dinner at the Getty center off of the 405 in LA.  It decorated the white plate with great contrast on top of the rice lay duck breast so well seasoned. Really the meal was fantastic I almost weep with joy. Ok not really but it was so good I remember it to this day. Trust me had nothing to do with the company I was with. That life was short lived.
      I little info on the dark gain. As the legend has it the rice was reserved for the emperors of China. It was so well treasured it became to be called the forbidden rice. We may not be an emperors but you will enjoy the rice like if you where one. I has soft texture, nutty flavors and you can not miss its deep rich color.  The rice also high in antioxidants. Similar to the ones found in blueberries and acai. Here is the kick no sugar like the fruits. Let me just say I am a huge fan!!   It has been gray for a few days with some rain. I am on my 3rd use of a chicken this week, but that is a different blog all together.  I am not a soup fan either but its easy so its soup tonight.  But this wasn't your grandmas chicken noddle soup either. Take one roasted chicken store bought is ok too. One huge pot, I love using my 1970's Le Creuset. Boil the chicken in water that almost covers the chicken but let some it it peek out for about 2 hours. Turn the heat down and let simmer the rest of the time. at this time I added 4 whole peeled garlic cloves. 1 bay leaf, black pepper, salt, celery seeds, 2 squirts of sricacha mostly for taste not for heat. While that was bubbling all together. I roasted some frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. This is a step you don't want to skip! adding roasted veggies to a dish it has more favor and earthly-ness. Just trust me.  After the as some good color to it add the veggies to the soup. (The rice takes 30 min to cook) So adjust for serving time.  The soup will darken in color and some of the chicken will look kind of purple... But its is so worth it.
   Did I tell you I hate chicken and rice soup?  The soup tormented me as a kid, I couldn't eat noddles do to allergies and the Campbell's crap is gross.  I turned my nose ups to soup for a long time. I apparently my pallet was more advice than I was at the time. I still claim to tell me Mother," I'm not picking my pallet is different then everyone else's."  I will admit it does make the house smell fantastic.