Yum! These salads are inspiring me to finally uses all the grains I have in my pantry but never know what to do with. Here is my salad, Bulgur with Tarragon and Chicken
http://www.culinate.com/user/J.Meier/recipes/grains/bulgur_salad_with_tarragon__chicken

Gina - the tomato pie is a lot like quiche, without the eggs. But if you skipped the crust, I think your idea of turning it into a dip would be really good. And yes, I am a Pacific Northwest fruits and nuts girl now living in CA. :)

Has anyone on Culinate self-published a cookbook based on their blog using websites like Blurb.com? I’ve just started working on one and I’m realizing its going to take much longer than I anticipated to finish, but it’s a fun challenge. I’d be interested in hearing how others tackled the process of self-publishing a cookbook (either for fun or for profit).

I second the vote for a rice cooker. It’s a kitchen gadget well worth the space it takes up - you can put in the rice and walk away without worrying about the rice getting over-cooked etc.. I also use it for all sorts of healthy grains like quinoa.