Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And when the beholder is presented with a warm, cozy bowl of savory rye porridge garnished with earthy morel mushrooms and just-cooked-through chicken livers, this humble-looking gruel starts to look very beautiful indeed.
If you've made risotto, this recipe feels intuitive. Just stir rye berries (or barley, or buckwheat) into a rich mushroom-infused broth, adding liquid until it's absorbed and the mixture resembles oatmeal or a loose risotto. Sure, it takes a bit of time, but it is the weekend—you've got nothing but time, right? Brown chicken livers in a bit of butter and stir them into the porridge at the last minute. The combination of earthy rye berries, tender livers, and mushrooms tastes completely new—not to mention beautiful.