Let’s face it, brown rice needs a good P.R. person. The plump, pale brown grain is often shunned by folks who think its flavor is bland and its texture is loose and water-logged.
Even the baby-boomers who bought 100% into the "Moosewood Cookbook" and "New York Times Natural Foods Cookbook" craze of the early ‘70s have largely reverted to the white stuff that is de rigueur in most of the world’s cuisines.
Until now, that is. The wildly popular book “You On A Diet” has made millions of people (including this one) sit up and listen once again to the virtues of whole grains:
---Valuable source of nutrients including fiber, trace minerals and certain vitamins.
---Helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
---And, in the words of authors Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., a critical asset in “waist management.”
Home cooks who want to follow this advice have some help at hand. RiceSelect, one of the first companies to successfully cultivate basmati rice in the U.S., has introduced a product line of whole grain rice blends that are highly fragrant, satisfying, versatile and delicious. The company’s Royal Blend line includes one mix of Texmati brown and red rice with pearled barley and rye berries, and another mix of Texmati brown and wild rice with soft wheat and rye berries. Other blends include lentils, red beans and the like. 
All produce a hearty rice dish with great eye appeal and terrific texture. All come in sturdy, easy-to-use plastic jars with screw caps to keep the rice dry and free of pests. A 32-ounce jar costs about $7. It’s showing up, slowly, in upscale supermarkets. It’s also available at Amazon.com (where "You On a Diet" is also available) and on the RiceSelect Web site.
That Web site also includes recipes. I found the following “cheese spread” very interesting. It’s best with one of the Whole Grain Royal Blends, regular cheese (not reduced fat) and regular mayonnaise.
RICE 'N' CHEESE SPREAD
1 cup cooked Texmati® Rice
1/2 lb. grated Cheddar Cheese (low fat may be substituted)
1-2 tablespoons minced onion
3 tablespoons minced green pepper
3 pimiento stuffed olives, chopped
3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon chopped pimiento
1 hard cooked egg, chopped
1/2 cup finely crushed saltine crackers
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Combine first 7 ingredients. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well. Shape into a log or pack in a crock. Serve with assorted crackers and/or vegetables.
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