Despite the fact that it has been been between 80 to 100+ degrees
every day for the past few weeks, I have been craving risotto like a mad
woman. Nevermind the fact that it requires about an hour (maybe a
little less) over a hot stove in a house that doesn’t have central air
conditioning. I know it’s not just for the excuse to open a bottle of
wine (or beer, in this case), and I certainly don’t enjoy sweating any
more than necessary. Risotto is fun to experiment with; it’s an
enjoyable way to pass the time and end up with a dish that feels like I
put a little work into it, even though all it really requires is
stirring and sipping a cool beverage.
I usually use a dry white wine for risotto (see here and here), but this time I wondered if beer would be a successful switch. I’ve been obsessed with Firestone’s summer release, Solace, so that was the beer I decided to use…because of course I had to drink my accompaniment! It will be fun to experiment with beers of different intensities. Solace is on the lighter side. I’d be very curious to try a porter risotto – but maybe I’ll wait for the fall for that one!
When I asked what I could bring for dessert to a recent gathering, my friend told me that her husband loves “anything pumpkin” - particularly healthy recipes - but also a little decadent.
I’ve got to admit it – I’m a total cheese snob. I blame my foodie parents – I got wedges of brie in my preschool lunchbox when the other kids got string cheese. My first winery job, at Vihuela in downtown Paso Robles, was fabulous because we shared a space with Vivant Fine
Cheese – therefore, I lived on a strict diet of wine, cheese, and
baguettes for almost a year (sorry, arteries!). I learned so much from
Danika, from wine and cheese pairing to the particularities of making
the perfect platter – what an education!
Quick and easy is what this stew is all about. It does not require a four-hour simmer, so it’s perfect for a last minute craving. With preparation time, it took me about 50 minutes to get this on the table. The best part is that it is absolutely delicious.
With this Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip, your friends and family will never know they are eating lots of vitamins A and K from fresh dark green spinach leaves and fresh, fragrant basil leaves. They won't know they're adding fiber to their diet. They won't even know they're getting vitamins and nutrients from artichoke hearts.