Archive for August, 2008
Simply Delicious
Whew, Friday night! Finally! Instead of going out to unwind in a bar with my peeps, I thought I’d stay home and tell you about this Green Bean Risotto. In truth, I could really use a plate of this tonight. I’m a little tattered around the edges after a long week of intense classes on such inspiring topics as agronomy (the science of soils) and entomology (the science of bugs), not to mention mathematics for professionals in the green industry. I’m sure you can judge by my tone that I’m not a huge science and math fanatic. I signed up for all of this classroom fun though so I could be a better organic and sustainable grower, and thus am ultimately pleased as punch to be learning about mud and bugs and (eek) converting improper fractions so I can better construct a greenhouse should I ever choose to do such.
Is it any surprise then that I’d like a substantial serving of some of the best comfort food imaginable? Too bad I ate all of it the same day I made it, which happened to be earlier this week, before the pop quiz in botany when my nerves began their unfortunate decent into “frazzled”.
Okay, I have a secret to share. No, it’s not the formula for calculating the volume of a square container with tapered sides (I’m not kidding; I have to learn this stuff), but it’s pretty shocking nonetheless. Here it is: I’ve never made my own risotto before. GASP! Seriously, I haven’t. I always squirmed at the idea of standing around and stirring the stuff for 20 minutes. And frankly, no risotto I’d had out somewhere had ever piqued my interest enough to make the effort seem worthwhile.
Of course I had to pick the hottest, most humid, late summer day to finally try risotto at home (which, for those of you that are risotto virgins too, involves not one, but two steamy pots right under you the entire time). Perspiration included (but not in the dish, I’m pretty sure…), it was absolutely, positively, beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt worth it to make risotto at home! Yes, it was a tad time consuming, but I kept a notepad and pen handy while I was stirring and just jotted down my grocery list and then my to-do list and then a list of friends I really should take the time to call, if only I’d been smart enough to charge my phone before starting to stir…you get the idea.
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