The Joy of Food

Friday, October 26, 2012

Butternut Squash Risotto

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Ingredients

2 cups cubed butternut squash (feel free to buy the pre-cut squash)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, minced
1 cup Arborio rice
1/3 cup dry white wine
5 cups hot chicken stock
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Place squash cubes into a saucepan. Add water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow to boil until the squash is tender (10 to 15 minutes), then drain, and mash in a bowl with a fork.
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir for 2 minutes until the onion begins to soften, then stir in the rice. Continue cooking and stirring until the rice is glossy from the butter, and the onion begins to brown on the edges, about 5 minutes more.
  3. Pour in the white wine; cook, stirring constantly, until it has evaporated. Stir in the mashed squash and 1 cup of the hot chicken stock; reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir until the chicken stock has been absorbed by the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the remaining chicken stock (2 cups), and continue stirring until it has been absorbed. Finally, pour in the remaining stock, and continue stirring until the risotto is creamy. Finish by stirring in the Parmesan cheese, and seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Avocado Shrimp Ceviche



Ingredients

  • 2 pounds large shrimp - peeled, deveined and chopped
  • 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 5 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
  • 16 saltine crackers

Directions

  1. Place the shrimp and lime juice into a large bowl, and stir to coat. Let stand for about 5 minutes, or until shrimp are opaque. The lime juice will cook them. Mix in the tomatoes, onion, and cilantro until coated with lime juice; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  2. Remove from the refrigerator, and mix in the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, hot sauce, salt and pepper. We have our own hot sauce recipe, but you can use whatever hot sauce you like, or leave it out and let people add their own when serving.
  3. Serve in glass tumblers and top with avocado pieces. Set out extra Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, lime wedges and hot sauce for people to individualize their dish. Serve with saltine crackers.