“I am always looking for new ideas for easy, hearty weeknight meals that I can prepare quickly for dinner with my kids without fretting too much about missing a recipe step, and chef Joseph Johnson’s pineapple black fried rice fits the bill.

It takes a lot of patience.“The fungus that produces the truffle lives in the roots of the tree.

When the trees are really young, you introduce the fungus to their roots, and you hope they develop a symbiotic relationship," she explains.. Olivia Taylor.You can dip the baby tree roots into a fungus milkshake.. — Olivia Taylor."You can dip the baby tree roots into a fungus milkshake.

Inside each truffle are spores and when you expose the roots to that genetic material, it will germinate.After checking on the growth under a microscope in a year and a half, and then plant the tree, in five to six years, it should produce truffles.”.

The truffles have to remain attached to the tree for nourishment, through a threadlike piece of fungus.

“Like spiderweb thin,” says Taylor.Trim ends off brussels sprouts, reserving about 1 1/2 cups whole outer leaves that fall off.

(You may need to remove additional darker outer leaves.)Finely shave sprout cores using a mandoline to yield about 6 cups shaved sprouts; set aside.. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.

Add reserved outer leaves of sprouts, and cook until bright green, about 30 seconds.Immediately remove leaves from water, and place in ice water; let cool 1 minute.