Artichoke Cranberry Risotto with Bacon

Ingredients:
1/4 C Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, sliced thin
3 Tbsp Onion, chopped
1/2 C Artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
1/2 C Craisins
1 1/2 C Arborio Rice
1/4 C Dry cocktail sherry or cooking sherry
6 C Chicken Stock, hot
1/4 Lb Cooked bacon chopped
1/2 C Grated Parmesan
2 Tbsp Heavy Cream (optional)
1/4 C Chopped Basil
Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Prepare
In a non stick frying pan or cast iron skillet
Heat garlic and onion in oil over medium heat till onion is tender
Add artichoke hearts and Craisins and cook about 2 minutes
Add rice and toss until rice is coated with oil and heat until warm but not cooked. Stir frequently so rice does not stick
Add Sherry and cook over med heat about 2 minutes stirring frequently
Ladle in stock till rice is just covered stirring frequently.
As rice absorbs liquid, ladle in stock keeping rice barely covered with stock.
Continue adding stock one ladle at a time till rice is tender to your satisfaction.
Stir in bacon
Stir in Parmesan till mixture is creamy
If more creaminess is desired add a couple Tbsp of heavy cream and stir till warm.
remove from heat and stir in basil and black pepper.
Serve
makes 6 to 8 servings.

Autumn Risotto

Ingredients:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 cups arborio rice

1 cup dry white wine

About 6 cups of HOT chicken stock

1 butternut squash: one half baked in the oven and then pureed; the other half, peeled, cut into small dice, and sauteed in a Tblsp. oil and a Tblsp. butter until tender

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

salt

freshly ground pepper

shaved parmesan (for garnish/topping)

Directions:

In a medium-size heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute, stirring continuously, just until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and continue to stir, using a wooden spoon, to coat the rice with the oil. Add the white wine and continue cooking, stirring often, until it has been absorbed by the rice. Pour in enough chicken stock to cover the rice completely, about 3 cups, and continue to cook, stirring often, until all the liquid is absorbed. Pour in 1 cup more of the remaining stock and stir and cook until it has been absorbed. Repeat with 1 more cup. Add the remaining cup and cook, stirring, until the rice is al dente, tender but still very chewy, and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the pumpkin puree and the diced pumpkin and reduce the heat to very low so that the risotto doesn't simmer anymore. Season with salt & fresh ground pepper. Stir in the Parmesan and butter to give the risotto a nice, creamy finish. Spoon it immediately into heated shallow serving bowls & garnish the top with shaved parmesan.

Sausage and Mushroom Risotto

Ingredients
1/2 Lb Sweet Italian Sausage, Bulk (casing removed) crumbled
2Tbsp Olive Oil

2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1/2C Onion, diced
1/4C Sweet Pepper, finely diced
1C Mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp Basil, chopped
1 1/2C Arborio Rice
4C Beef stock
1/2C Heavy Cream
1/2C Parmesan, grated
salt and black pepper to taste

In a large skillet brown sausage
Drain
Add Oil,Garlic, Onion, Pepper, Mushrooms and Basil.
Toss well and cook over medium heat till veggies begin to tender.
Add rice and mix well till rice is coated with oil.
Heat about one minute and add with a ladle enough of the beef stock to just cover rice mixture.
Bring to boil stirring often.
As stock is absorbed add stock one ladle at a time to keep rice just covered in liquid for about 15 to 20 minutes until rice is tender to your taste.
Lower heat, add cream and cheese and stir until creamy.
Remove from heat, season and serve.

Makes 4 full meal servings.

Jo's Sesame Shrimp W/ Fried Rice

1 c. uncooked white rice
4 T. sesame oil ,divided in 2
1 LB Large shrimp peeled and devined
2 T. teriyaki w/pineapple marinade sauce
2 t. fresg Lemon juice
2 T. kikoman soy sauce
1 Large egg
1 T. sesame seeds
opt . pea pods

1. cook rice according to directions put aside to cool.
2. In large skillet or wok heat 2 T. of sesame oil over med heat
add shrimp teriyaki sauce, lemon juice &salt and pepper to taste.
cook till shrimp are pink and not rubbery ,remove shrimp & sauce, put aside.
3. add remaining sesame oil to skillet ,add cooked cooled rice,soy sauce,& seeds.
cook and stir around a bit ,take egg scramble it up & drip it all around rice mixture,till cooked. cook rice until browned on bottom stir occasionally when sticks on bottom loosen with spatula.
4.spoon shrimp & sauce over fried rice ,sprinkle more seeds if desired & more soy sauce ( I do) if needed.
5. can add pea pods for different flavor or added color
Takes approx prep time 20-25 min & cook time 25-30 min
Serve as main dish or use as a side dish
By Joann Giugliano

Chicken and Rice

2 Small Fryers split in two
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove Garlic minced
1 Tbsp Sofrito
1 C Water
1 Green Pepper sliced
1/2 jar Spanish Olives including juice
1 small sweet onion sliced
2 green onions sliced thin (tops and all)
1 Tbsp Cilantro chopped

2 cups rice
(use perfect white rice recipe Aug 4, 2009 post and add 1/2 packet of Sazon Goya seasoning to water)

In a dutch oven heat garlic and sweet onion in oil till onions are tender
add chicken half and brown
add sofrito
Stir till chicken is coated
add olives with juice, green pepper and 1 cup water cook to a slight boil
reduce heat, simmer for one hour. stirring occasionally

Serve Chicken Half with rice garnish with cooked peppers and olives and sprinkle green onion over all.