Staple Food: Harmony Bowl

At the Laughing Seed in Asheville, NC, they have on the menu The Harmony Bowl, which is:
Layers of organic brown rice, organic pinto beans, grilled organic tofu, seasonal steamed vegetables, and our addictive sesame ginger sauce.

It is such a wonderful, simple dish that it is easy to recreate at home. The key is Annie's Goddess Dressing, which is similar to the Laughing Seed dressing, as seen at left. I usually have a bottle of that dressing on hand along with cans of pinto beans and brown rice. Then you add seasonal vegetables. Onion is the only constant, then I recommend mushrooms and broccoli. In the summer, yellow squash is a wonderful addition. In the fall and spring, any variety of greens will work. I cook a bunch of rice to use leftovers for something else latter. Saute the onions with the vegetables, then layer over the rice and pinto beans. Smother with as much dressing as you like. Tofu or tempeh can be good, but I almost never add them. The beans are plenty for me.