Risotto

It is starting to cool down here in Chicago. My students are so excited about being able to see their breath now, but somehow think they don't have to wear their winter jackets outside? I am getting use to the common request, "Will you zipper me up?" and kids wondering where they put their gloves and hats. I have already had one kid put on another kid's jacket and go home with it on. Seriously, how do you not know you are not wearing your own jacket? Only in kindergarten do things like this happen.

Because it is cooling down, I wanted a warm dish. I decided to make a risotto recipe I found online. I bought asparagus on Monday under the pretenses I was just going to roast it with lemons, garlic, pepper, and olive oil. I'm glad I found another use for it.

Risotto Recipe

Blanche asparagus for 2 minutes in 3 cups veggie stock

Strain asparagus and save the stock and put on simmer

Cook 3/4 cup onion in 1 1/2 tbs olive oil for 3 minutes

Add 2 tablespoons minced garlic and cook for 3 minutes

Add 1/2 cup white wine and 1/4 teaspoon saffron

Add 1 cup rice and cook until rice is opaque

I then added collard greens for B vitamins

Add artichokes

Once liquid is absorbed, add 1/2 cup stock and stir

Once the liquid is absorbed, add another 1/2 cup

Do this until you only have 1/2 cup stock left 

Add asparagus into the pot

Add tomatoes (I used several stewed tomatoes that were in my fridge)

Add 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

I served dinner with mixed fruit and salad. John ate all his meal. The wine added an interesting flavor when mixed with the nutritional yeast. I would add less onion next time. I am not the biggest onion fan. I have just recently started cooking with onions. All these years I had no idea why I hated onions. John and I were talking about McDonald's one day, and it dawned on me. When I was a kid, on occasion, I would have a McDonald's hamburger. On the hamburger were tiny, little minced onions. I remember thinking they tasted horrible. I think this is where my onion aversion originated. 

I need to brainstorm what to make tomorrow night. John will be at a work event so it will be just like old times; kicking it with the boys (my two cats, Max and Handel). 

Happy Cooking!

Fancy Pizza

I LOVE that I moved to Chicago and Indy is getting snow before the Windy City! If you don't know me very well, I absolutely loathe snow. I totaled my car in a ditch in high school on a two hour delay and every since, I have been a nervous wreck when it snows. I am content with the 60mph gusts in Chicago.

I wanted to make a quick meal tonight with minimal dishes. I bought a pre-made whole-wheat pizza crust at Whole Foods. I didn't want to do the traditional tomato sauce base with toppings. I used Toffuti as the creamy base for the pizza.

Pizza Sauce:

Toffuti: spread a layer onto the pizza

Drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar and stir together

Toppings:

4 cloves of garlic

1 roma tomato

marinated artichokes

half of an orange pepper

arugula 

fresh pepper

I baked the pizza at 425 for ten minutes. I served with a small salad and a glass of Merlot. John liked the creaminess of the sauce. If you are using a thin crust, the pizza can get weighed down and/or soggy while cooking. I tend to hide any leafy greens under the toppings so they don't get crispy while baking.

This was a super quick meal with minimal dishes...yeah! Also, Butler won tonight! Go Dawgs!

Happy Cooking!