Umami Girl’s Farro with Leeks, Mushrooms and Chestnuts

Plants on a mission is the slogan and guiding principle behind Carolyn Cope's healthy foodie blog, Umami Girl. Umami Girl is as easy to fall in love with as the Christmas window displays at Williams Sonoma, for Carolyn's love and passion for nutritious food radiates through every aspect of her captivating blog. Her mission began by hosting a weekly community-supported farm drop-off in her garage, where she learned that her life purpose no longer resided in a court of law, but rather in making fresh, whole foods delicious through thoughtful home cooking. As for the innovative name, to Carolyn, 'umami' represents a flavor much more than just the fifth taste. Umami is that little extra something that catapults food to a deliciousness far greater than the sum of its parts, and we are firm believers this is exactly what Carolyn is doing... making nourishing food irresistible. When we moved from the East Coast to London a few years ago, we also started eating a largely plant-based diet. During the December holidays, we always return to the States and stay with family, which can make food choices a little tricky. For Christmas dinner that first year, I wanted to contribute something healthful and vegan that was also savory and satisfying — something that everyone would like. This is the recipe I came up with, and it was so popular that I’ve continued to make it every Christmas since.