It's been ages since I last blogged, I haven't stopped cooking (or eating) for that matter just forgotten to write about what I've been cooking.
This week we've had sub-zero temperatures, several centimetres of snow on the ground and no windows for a couple of days while we had the old double glazing replaced in four rooms (including my 'den'). Now the house is snuggy again and the cats are lounging on the window sills looking out at the birds pecking around in the snow and clinging to the bird feeders. Last night we had a nice warming risotto to give us our own central heating. While I was out feeding the birds I pulled some leaks from the frozen veg patch. Serves three.
Ingredients
1 medium cauliflower broken into florets.
3 small leaks, trimmed, washed and finely sliced
1 clove of garlic, crushed
225g risotto rice
750ml hot vegetable stock (or thereabouts depends on the age of your rice)
Small bunch of parsley
2 tablespoon olive oil
20g of butter
1 glass of white wine (something you'd like to drink with the meal) - Optional.
50g of parmesan cheese, grated plus some shavings for serving.
Method
Drizzle half the oil over the cauliflower and season with salt and pepper. Roast in a medium oven (150-180C) while you make the risotto. Check and shake the cauliflower until it is cooked, browned on the edges with soft stalks.
Meanwhile melt half the butter with the oil and gently fry the leeks until softened. Add the rice and stir until coated with oil and butter. Add the wine if using and stir until evaporated. Gradually add the stock, ladle by ladle, until the rice is cooked. Add the parsley and stir, add the rest of the butter and parmasan and stir. Add the cauliflower and stir through. Serve with the parmesan shavings on top.
