Spring Vegetable Paella

Ingredients

• Rice
• 5 -6 artichoke hearts, packed in brine
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch saffron (I didn't have saffron, so substituted turmeric)
• Vegetables
• 2 cups minced onions
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 lb asparagus, rinsed,trimmed,and cut into two-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh green peas or 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas (10-ounce package)
• 1 cup chopped tomato
• salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped chives or 1/2 cup scallion
• steamed snow peas (optional)