Friday

Brown Basmati Rice with Vegetables



i made this last night to go with chicken. i came up with this dish to try and use some of the vegetables that came in box delivery. i really liked it because the vegetables still had some crunch to them. here's the recipe...

...recipe my own creation
1 cup brown basmati rice
1 clove garlic, minced
spring onion, sliced
carots, peeled and diced small
radishes, sliced
zucchini, diced small
olive oil

Cook rice according to the package instructions, set aside.

In a large saute pan heat oil. Add garlic and the white parts of the spring onion, cook 3-5 minutes. Add the carots and radishes, cook 3-5 minutes. Add the zucchini, cook 3-5 minutes. Add the cooked rice and stir around. Sprinkle with the green parts of the spring onion.

Thursday

Fried Cornmeal Shrimp with Butternut Squash Risotto



i made this last night for dinner and it was delicious. here's the recipe...

...recipe from the october 2007 issue of Bon Appetit magazine
1 2 pound butternut squash
24 large uncooked shrimp, peeled
3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
5 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
4 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/2 cups white wine
vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F. Pierce squash several times. Place on baking sheet and roast until tender, about 1 hour. Cool. Cut squash in half, discard seeds. Scoop flesh into a food processor. Puree until smooth. Measure 1 1/2 cups puree.

Place shrimp, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and 3 smashed garlic cloves in a large resealable bag, turn to coat. Chill 2-3 hours, turning occationally.

Stir cornmeal, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add shrimp; toss. Arrange in a single layer on a large plate.

Bring broth to simmer in a heavy saucepan, reduce to low and keep warm. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan. Add onion and cook until starting to brown. Add 2 chopped garlic cloves and half the thyme, cook 2 minutes. Add rice and stir 1 minute. Add wine, stir until almost absorbed. Reduce heat. Add 1 cup hot broth and cook until liquid is almost all absorbed, stirring often. Continue adding broth one cup at a time and stirring frequently until rice is almost tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, add enough vegetable oil to a large skillet to reach a depth of 1/4 inch. Heat oil over high heat. Working in batches, fry shrimp until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side.

Rewarm reserved squash puree in the microwave. Add puree to risott and stir until rice is tender, but firm. Stir in parmesan cheese and remaining 2 teaspoons thyme.

Baby Sweater.



i made this sweater for a friend's baby. it was a little bit different, because it was knit in only one piece. i got the patter from Knit Simple magazine.

Wednesday

Organic Fruit and Veg



last week i ordered a mixed box of organic fruit and vegetables from abel & cole and today i got my first order delivered to my door. when i left the flat this morning it was sitting outside my door waiting for me! i will be getting delivered every wednesday. abel and cole sends me a box of mixed fruit and vegetables and it changes from week to week depending on what's in season. this week i got potatoes, onions, carrots, celeriac, radishes, zucchini, butternut squash, bananas, apples, and plums. so i've never done anything with radishes so if any of you have any great radish recipes let me know!