Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

• 3-4 cups water or broth
• ½ cup wild rice
• 1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• ½ cup soy milk (adds a little creaminess), Optional

Bring broth and wild rice and dried mushrooms to a boil in a medium sized pot.  Cover and let simmer about 40 minutes. In separate pot sauté finely chopped onion, garlic and thyme – for 10 minutes on low, add fresh sliced mushrooms and pull out dried shiitakes from wild rice and broth, chop and add to pot.  Saute for a few more minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Pour onion mushroom mixture into pot of wild rice and broth.    Simmer 15 minutes.  Taste and adjust seasoning, add soymilk if desired.