That Girl Guide

This is a basic recipe that can be used with all sorts of ingredient combinations (vegetables, sausage, seafood, herbs…). Rather than garnishing with cheese, you can stir it in at the end. For extra richness, finish the dish with a tablespoon of butter. Risotto makes a great weekday meal and really doesn’t take much more time than making a pasta.

This is from StartCooking.com

Mario Batali 4-qt. Enameled Italian Kitchen Risotto Pot, Pesto Soup, risotto and polenta are true comfort foods in Italian cooking. They are generally served as the first course along with pastas. This beautiful 4 Qt. Risotto Pan and Saucier, made of sturdy cast iron and finished with enamel, is not only the perfect vessel for cooking a hearty risotto or pasta sauce, but also makes a wonderful centerpiece when presented at the table. With each order, comes a sampling of wonderful Italian recipes from my cookbook “Molto Italiano” to help you make perfect Risotto. Through his restaurants, cookbooks, products and television shows, Mario Batali breathes the spirit of the Old World into modern day America and shows us how to revel in the inherent joys of daily life. Copco, a leading manufacturer of kitchenware products, has joined forces with award-winning chef Mario Batali to create The Italian Kitchen, a unique line of kitchen tools and serveware. The elegant and functional assortment draws on the best of Copco’s design and manufacturing experience and Mario’s cooking expertise. The result – a perfect blend of classic quality and contemporary function – addresses the needs of all consumers, from kitchen novices to experienced cooks. These are the tools that Mario wants in his kitchen. You’ll want them in your kitchen too.

Tips for going from ordinary to extraordinary….

1. Use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. They add a freshness that cannot be duplicated with dried herbs.
2. When a recipe calls for wine, use a wine that you enjoy drinking. It is also nice to serve the same wine with dinner since you already know that it pairs well if it has been added as an ingredient.
3. Use sea salt, it comes finely ground and coarsely ground. You will be amazed at the difference from this small change. And you can use a little less of it, which will cut back on your overall salt intake without sacrificing a bit of flavor.
4. Use freshly ground black pepper instead of the pre-ground pepper. Pepper mills are available in a wide variety of prize ranges and the taste of freshly ground pepper is superior to pepper that was ground months or even years ago.
5. Use high quality olive oil. It is worth the extra money to invest in extra virgin olive oil so you can use it when cooking and when making salad dressing. Extra virgin olive oil comes from the first press of the olives, which is why it is a bit more expensive.
6. Try to use fresh produce instead of frozen whenever possible. Food is healthiest and more nutrient rich when it is not processed.