Winter Rice Salad

Salad:

2 cups  water

1 cup long-grain brown rice

1 tsp salt

1 1-pound bag mixed frozen vegetables such as broccoli, corn and red peppers

2 Tbs lemon juice

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped scallions

3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley

Freshly ground pepper

4 cups shredded Romaine lettuce

Dressing:

1 cup nonfat yogurt

1 Tbs lemon juice

1 Tbs chopped fresh parsley or chives

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil over high heat. Add the rice and stir. When the mixture returns to a boil, reduce the heat to low, then cover the pan and simmer for 45 minutes. Set aside off heat, add vegetables still covered, for 10 minutes.

Using a fork, scrape the mixture into a large bowl. Add the lemon juice, walnuts, onions and parsley and combine by stirring and tossing with a fork. Season with pepper to taste. Spread the romaine around the rim of a large platter.

To make the dressing, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice and parsley in a small bowl.

Mound the salad in the center of the lettuce and spoon some of the dressing over the salad. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.