Saturday Recipe

Friday night we had the Baked Asparagus Fries and I had forgotten how very good they are. Do try them, they are absolutely delicious.

This recipe could have been made for me, I love risotto, and with shrimp and asparagus what could be better? I have never heard of carnaroli rice. I would use aborio.

Shrimp-Asparagus Risotto

Contributed by Daniele Sera

• TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 10 MIN
• SERVINGS: 6
• 
  

This easy risotto is studded with delicate shrimp and pieces of plump asparagus, and delicately flavoured with saffron—it's a perfect, fresh-tasting spring dish.

1. 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
2. 3/4 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
3. Salt
4. Pepper
5. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
6. 2 cups vegetable stock
7. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
8. 1 small onion, minced
9. 12 ounces carnaroli rice
10. 1 cup dry white wine
11. Pinch of saffron threads
12. 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1. Cook the asparagus in salted boiling water until crisp-tender. Drain and cool under running water; cut into 1-inch pieces.
2. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. In a skillet, heat the oil. Add the shrimp and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until just white throughout, 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of water and the stock to a boil. Cover and keep warm.
4. In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until almost evaporated. Add enough stock to just cover the rice and cook, stirring, until the stock has been absorbed. Stir in the saffron and continue stirring in stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until nearly absorbed between additions. The risotto is done when the rice is al dente and suspended in a creamy sauce, 25 minutes. Stir in the cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Fold in the asparagus and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper.

Have a great weekend and for my US friends, Happy Memorial Day.

PC Probs, Books, Blind Vaulting.

I seem to be having some kind of computer problems, I have written a post and then it disappeared into cyber space. The next time I tried, half of it was missing, then I couldn’t type any more on the page. So I have no idea whether this one will work or not.

I started by telling you that I am overloaded with actual books at the moment, either loaned by friends or from the library. I am reading Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb at the moment – I have enjoyed all her books in this series so far and this one appears to be up to standard. Then I have two huge Ken Follett novels to read, one from the library, The Fall of Giants and the second a loaner from a friend, Winter of the World, the first two books in the Century Trilogy.  I have been reading Ken Follett books over the years and have always enjoyed them too, particularly one of the first which was the Eye of the Needle. There is at least one more book to read and then of course, the Kindle.

Saw an incredible piece on the ABC World News yesterday about a 15 yr. old pole vaulter who is not only the best in her school but the best in Texas too. She has jumped 11’6” which is quite some height. However, the most incredible thing about this young woman, Charlotte Brown, is that she is legally blind and cannot see what she is jumping.  She can distinguish light and dark so they line side of the run up in a contrasting colour so she can make out where it is. If you check the link you will see Diane Sawyer in the link from the TV segment.

I regularly receive a blog called Closet Cooking by Kevin Lynch. He produces some very good recipes and lots of great photos. Today, funnily enough, he produced a recipe for asparagus which I have linked you to. Baked Asparagus Fries. To titillate your taste buds, here is one of his pictures.

Don’t they look delicious. I will certainly be trying these. I have found a couple of other recipes, one of which uses almonds instead of Parmesan which would be good for my vegan friends. I have seen a number of different dips suggested too or you could just use mayonnaise if you wanted to.

Have a great day