End of the month roundup, part two…savory
Risotto is a great weeknight winter food. You come home from work, tired and cold, right? First put on your comfy clothes, you know…those sweat pants that are like 12 years old but are so soft and so droopy you barely even know their there…the fluffy socks, the warm, soft shirt. Now pour a glass of wine, put on some music…I recommend The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed or Radiohead’s In Rainbows, and make risotto. You’ll be warm and toasty all over by the time you serve it up.
I made this risotto with the liquid I drained off the tomatoes for last week’s pizzas. I call it tomato water because it’s practically clear but it’s incredibly tomatoey…perfect for risotto. I sauteed some onion and garlic, then added some wood-hen mushroom and sauteed that. When that was tender I removed it and lightly sauteed the arborio rice until it turned light gold, then I added about a cup of white wine, and when that cooked down I began adding the tomato water mixed with about a cup of chicken stock. When it was finished cooking I added a lot of grated Parmesan, and freshly ground black pepper…it was the best risotto ever.
This is a white bean and fresh ham hock stew. Seasoned with garlic, a few crushed whole roma tomatoes, onions, thyme, and apple cider vinegar it was a great meal that got better each time it was reheated…in the spirit of a cassoulet. I trimmed the fat from the ham hocks before throwing them in the pot and they certainly contributed quite a bit of tender, tasty pork.
Since all the good potatoes are gone and I’ve been too busy to go see what’s at the winter farmers’ market, I’m stuck eating russets from another state (yikes!!!). But every once in awhile a baked potato is what you want. Maybe a simple one with butter, salt, and pepper, or…
maybe a piggish extravaganza stuffed with extras like yogurt, bacon, and cheese…it was another simple meal but we all loved it.
My post this weekend over at Accidental Hedonist is about food and film…go take a look.
8 Responses to “End of the month roundup, part two…savory”
1 Lisa 2 February 2008 @ 10:45 am
Mmmmm, nice. There are three good dinner ideas in a row — thanks.
2 brilynn 2 February 2008 @ 2:24 pm
I really enjoy making risottos, I think it’s something about the repetitive stirring, it’s just nice. Your risotto sounds fabulous.
3 JEP 2 February 2008 @ 5:50 pm
I could eat a baked potato every day! Loved the beginning of your post…how did you know I come home, change to sweats & relax by making culinary experiment:)
4 vanessa 3 February 2008 @ 8:10 am
Lisa, thanks for the comment. Easy week-night dinners that everyone will eat are the hardest for me to comeup with.
brilynn, I love the stirring too…it always makes me warm and happy.
JEP, sometimes I’m in such a hurry to cook I don’t stop to change…but really it’s much more fun if I’m in my “home” clothes. I look forward to cooking all day so I like to make the most of it. Sounds like you do too.
5 Jacob 5 February 2008 @ 10:20 am
Your bean soup looks similar to Senate bean soup. I wonder if it is based on a cassoulet. Definitely comfort food. The latest edition of Cook’s Illustrated recommends brining dried beans. Have you ever tried that?
6 vanessa 5 February 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Jacob, Brining beans? Does it make them plumper? More tender? Have you tried it?
7 Jacob 5 February 2008 @ 2:01 pm
More tender. I’ve always had trouble with dried beans. Usually they end up mushy on the outside and crunchy in the middle. I brined them for an hour, though CI recommended brining them overnight, and then I followed the low and slow, 250 degree oven method. It worked out well, though I don’t know whether to credit the brining, low heat, or both.
8 vanessa 6 February 2008 @ 11:40 am
Jacob, Dexter and I think you make the best beans on earth…perhaps that makes you the bean king!
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