Perfect Recipes for Having People Over
by Pam Anderson

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Book Reviews of Perfect Recipes for Having People Over

Book Review: Excellent Source for Easy Entertaining for Experienced Cooks
Summary: 5 Stars

Summary of Perfect Recipes for Having People Over

From Perfect Recipes for Having People Over: Easy Baked Risotto

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, butter, or rendered bacon fat if using bacon
• 1 small onion, cut into small dice
• 2 ounces prosciutto, bacon, or pancetta or 4 ounces ham, sliced and cut into small dice (optional)
• 2 cups Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 ounces (1 cup) frozen green peas and/or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Flavoring Ingredients (see next list; use a total of 1 pound; optional)

Flavoring Ingredients
For sauteed flavoring ingredients, choose 8 ounces (heaping 2 cups) of one of the following:

• Winter squash, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• Fennel, halved lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced
• Mushrooms, thinly sliced
• Cabbage, thinly sliced

• Asparagus spears, tossed with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and roasted on a baking sheet in a 450-degree oven for 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch lengths.
• Baby spinach or arugula
• Bay scallops
• Medium shrimp, peeled

2. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or large ovenproof (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat.Add onion, prosciutto, if using, and any ingredients to be sautéed and sauté until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in rice.

3. Add wine and simmer until evaporated. Add chicken broth and 2 cups water. Cover pot with a sheet of heavy-duty foil, pressing down so that it rests on broth, crimp foil around edges of pot, and cover pot with lid for a tighter seal. Set pot in oven and cook for 25 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and carefully remove lid and foil. Set pot on low heat. If you've chosen flavoring ingredients that are to be added at the end of cooking, stir them in now. Cook, stirring, until rice is cooked but still a little chewy at center, liquid is creamy, and flavors have blended, about 5 minutes. Stir in Parmesan and peas and parsley (if using) and serve.

Any Shortcuts?
Stick with flavoring ingredients that need little or no preparation?sliced mushrooms, prewashed baby spinach, scallops, or peeled shrimp, for example.

How Can I Vary It?
With this formula, you can create whatever flavor risotto you like.
Suggested Combinations:
Risotto with scallops, spinach, and bacon
Risotto with fennel and scallops
Risotto with shrimp, asparagus, and prosciutto
Risotto with winter squash and prosciutto
Risotto with asparagus and ham
Risotto with cabbage and bacon
Risotto with mushrooms and cabbage

What About Leftovers?
Just add a little chicken broth to loosen the rice and heat slowly, stirring occasionally, on the stovetop.
If you have 2 cups leftover risotto, make Risotto Cakes (see below).

RISOTTO CAKES
Ingredients

• 2 cups leftover risotto, chop any large flavoring ingredients into small chunks
• 1 beaten egg
• 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons oil

2. Measure 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs into a pie plate. Drop 1/4 cup risotto into crumbs, covering risotto mound with crumbs and twirling it to coat completely. Pick up risotto mound and form it into a patty, then drop it back into crumbs to coat again. Transfer to a plate.

3. Repeat to make 8 cakes. Heat a generous 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add cakes (8 fit perfectly) and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on or alongside a bed of vinaigrette-tossed baby greens sprinkled with crumbled goat or feta cheese.

Special Occasions Books

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