This was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson. His cook was a slave from Africa and created many delicious meals. You could say that Jefferson's cook, Hemings, cooked his way to freedom. In 1793, Jefferson signed a document that emancipated Hemings if he promised to train a new chef for Monticello! Note: you can shortcut this recipe by using fast-cooking rice and adding the browned pistachios and pine nuts in at the end. Delicious either way!