Dried Fruit Multigrain Pilaf

Yummmmm. This was really good. It didn't look quite so red in person... This was our side dish to dinner tonight, and Abby loved it!

Dried Fruit Multigrain Pilaf

Total time: 1 1/2 - 2 hours

1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 1/4 + 1/2 cup water
1 stick cinnamon (about 1 inch long)
1/2 vanilla bean, split open
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup assorted dried fruit (raisins, currants, golden raisins, papaya, apricots, craisins...)
1/4 cup wheat berries
1/2 cup brown rice
1/4 cup barley
1/4 cup steel-cut oats

In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup water with the dried fruit. Set aside.

In a pot, combine the juices and water, the cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, spices and salt. Bring to a boil. Add the wheat berries and simmer for 45-60 minutes. Add the brown rice and barley, and bring back to a boil, and then simmer for 30-45 minutes. Add the oats and dried fruit (and the water the dried fruit was soaking in) and simmer for another 15-20 minutes, until grains are tender and liquid is absorbed.

Abby and I both slurped this all down, and honestly, I'll probably have the leftovers for breakfast tomorrow!