Meatless Munchies - Saffron Rice w/ Mushrooms

So, a client of mine gave me a packet of real saffron. I'd never eaten it, cooked with it or, quite frankly, even heard of it before. Pulling up info on that source of sources - Wikipedia - I learned that it is:

The most expensive spice in the world - about $600 a pound
The stamens of the crocus flower grown around the Mediterranean
Hand picked (which is why it is so expensive)

The packet was about an eighth of a teaspoon - enough to season two servings of rice. I did look up to see that turmeric is often substituted and I've used that before.

Sliced up some regular button mushrooms and sauteed them a bit with some green onions. Added the rice, water, saffron, salt and pepper and simmered about 15 minutes. The rice turned an awesome yellow color and it was quite delicious. (The packet, by the way, was about $3). Not an everyday thing but something different and tasty to be sure.

Meatless Munchies - Stuffed Acorn Squash

Found a couple of heirloom squash on sale at the market and was deciding what to do with them. Going through the cupboard I found a package of Trader Joe's brown rice / wild rice mix. Had some shiitake mushrooms and, voila! - an idea for dinner was born. I re-hydrated the mushrooms and then used that water to cook the rice in. To the rice I added the slivered mushrooms, 1/4 tea of garlic powder, 1/4 tea of salt, 1/4 tea of pepper and a good splash of left over chardonnay that's been taunting me from the fridge. (Hey, if I can't drink it, I might as well cook with it). Simmered and added to the cooked squash halves. Result? Awesomeness! Can't wait to do that again.