Stolen from nestie FayeD

Beer and Cheddar Risotto

½ a small onion, diced
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbls un-salted butter
2+ Tbls olive oil
2 cups Arborio rice
1 12-oz bottle Bass beer
1 49.5-oz can chicken broth
5 oz medium or sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
¼ tsp cayenne (optional, but it brings out the sharpness of the cheddar)
Ground pepper to taste

Heat pressure cooker over med-low heat. Add butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil; heat until butter just starts to brown. Add onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes, allowing them to get soft and translucent. Turn down the heat if they start to brown. Add the minced garlic, turn up heat to med-high, and sauté for 1 minute. Add rice and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, adding more olive oil as necessary to coat the rice. Pour in beer, turn heat up to high, and wait for it to start to simmer. Add the chicken broth and stir in some ground pepper, then lock the pressure cooker lid into place.

When the pressure cooker has reached full pressure, set the timer for 5-7 minutes, and then turn down the heat to where the pressure regulator is gently rocking back and forth. (5 minutes for al dente, 7 minutes for extra creamy) At end of cooking time, use cold release method to release pressure.

Return pot to stove and turn heat to med-low. Allow to simmer for a minute or two to evaporate some additional liquid, if needed. Stir in the cheeses, cayenne, and extra ground pepper to taste.

Garlic-Parmesan Risotto

Garlic-Parmesan Risotto
1/2 onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon blanc)
5 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan/Romano mixture

Melt the butter in a large pan. Saute the onions and garlic until the onions are tender and translucent. Add the rice, wine, 3/4 cup chicken broth and stir.

When the risotto has absorbed nearly all the broth, add 3/4 cup chicken broth. Stir frequently and continue adding the chicken broth 3/4 cup at a time. Do not let the last addition of chicken broth cook away completely. Add the cheese, stir well, and test the risotto:

Drop a large spoonful of risotto onto a saucer and give the saucer a shake. The risotto is ready when it “relaxes” and settles some on the plate after shaking. If liquid runs away from the rice, it needs to cook a bit longer.

Taco Rice Salad

Stolen from Cooking light (pic and tortilla bowl from Sugar and Spice)

Taco Rice Salad

Cooking spray
1 lb. ground beef
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups cooked yellow rice
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
6 cups torn romaine lettuce (about 10 oz.)
3 cups chopped tomato (about 1-1/4 lbs)
1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

Dressing:
2/3 cup fat-free sour cream
2/3 cup salsa
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Remaining ingredient:
1/2 cup (2 oz) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese

To prepare salad, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add beef and garlic, and cook until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain; return beef mixture to pan. Stir in rice through next 4 ingredients (through pepper). Cool slightly. Combine lettuce and next 4 ingredients (through beans) in a large bowl; toss to combine.

To prepare dressing, combine sour cream, salsa, chili powder and cumin, stirring with a whisk. Spoon dressing over lettuce mixture; toss to coat. Place lettuce mixture on plate or in tortilla bowl. Top with rice mixture and shredded cheese.

Tortilla Bowls

Inverted two ramekin cups on a baking pan, coat them with cooking spray and lay the tortillas on top. Brushed them with some olive oil and bake them at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, until browned and crispy.

Dirty Risotto

Stolen from Giada

Dirty Risotto

Ingredients:
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 T. butter
2 oz. pancetta, chopped
6 oz. Italian sausage, casing removed
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
4 oz. button mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 1/2 c. Arborio rice
3/4 c. dry white wine
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 T. chopped fresh Italian parsley

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. Cover the broth and keep warm over low heat.

2. In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the pancetta and sausage and saute until golden brown about 5 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper and mushrooms and saute until tender,s craping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering brother and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still firm to the bit and the mixture is creamy, about 25-30 minutes total.

4. Remove from heat. Stir in 3/4 of the parmesan. Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the parsley and remaining parmesan and serve immediately.

Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Risotto

Stolen from the Cooking with Rachel blog

Ingredients:
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoons butter

2 links of Trader Joe’s Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Sausage

¾ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)

4 ounces baby Bella mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups Arborio rice

3/4 cup dry white wine

3/4 cup Trader Joe's quattro formaggio cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. Keep broth warm over low heat.
In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add chicken sausage and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms and sauté until tender, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of simmering broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 25 to 30 minutes total. Remove from the heat. Stir in 3/4 of the Parmesan. Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the basil and remaining Parmesan and serve immediately.

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

Stolen from Sweet-Savory-Southern




Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
2. Stir in chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 - 20 minutes.
3. Mix in Parmesan cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to shallow bowl. Garnish with basil sprigs

Parmesan Chicken and Rice

Parmesan Chicken and Rice
(Source: Cooking Light)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, and mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add chicken; sauté 4 minutes or until the chicken is lightly browned. Add wine, salt, and pepper; cook 3 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates.

3. Stir in rice and broth. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

4. Stir in cheese and parsley.