Tomato Sauce and Pasta

I have confidence you can handle this one.
Suggestion: Add some olive bruschetta to your pasta if you are a fan.

Jar of Olives

Enjoy straight from the jar.
Suggestion: Drain your olives and gently warm them in a pan. Add a splash of white wine vinegar, chopped sage, a pinch of chili flakes and orange peel. A perfect wintery snack.

Olive Bruschetta

Slather onto the rosemary flat bread.
Suggestion: Serve over a log of goat cheese warmed. Great for cozy nights with a movie.

Cookies

The Ciambellini are a classical Italian wine dipping cookie but also great for espresso dipping.
Biscotti are a friend of espresso as well.

The Holiday Bar

Slice like a piece of salami and serve on a cookie board. This is a fun presentation, and please refrigerate after opening.

This recipe will serve two as an entrée or four as a side

Mise en place (ingredient list)

For the fans of Master Chef “mise en place” means everything in its place. It is how we begin in a professional kitchen.

• 8 cups of 2 litres stock of your choice (mushroom, vegetable or chicken
• 1 small, diced onion
• 2 ounces of butter, plant-based butter or olive oil
• 3 ounces dry white wine (optional)
• 12-ounce bag of Arborio rice with Porcini mushrooms
• 4 ounces Parmesan cheese

This will be a two-pot method. One pot to warm your stock and one to create your risotto in. The first pot should be large enough to hold 2 liters of stock and a ladle. The second pot should be able to hold around 3.5 liters of rice as it expands and absorbs the stock.

Pot One

• 2 litres or 8 cups of your choice of stock

Bring the stock to a simmer. Have your ladle ready.

Pot Two

• 1 small onion diced
• 2 ounces butter, plant-based butter or olive oil.

Sauté these ingredients in your second pot on medium heat until soft.

Add the content of the Arborio rice package to the sauteed butter and onions. Stir to coat the rice with the sautéed butter and onions.

Deglaze with 3 ounces of dry white wine if you like at this stage.

Begin to ladle your stock into the sautéed ingredients, a ladle at a time until absorbed being sure you are stirring constantly. This will take around 15 minutes to incorporate the stock. Just keep stirring.

Okay, time for the cheese and other ingredients. This is the point you may add more vegetables, cooked protein, and as much cheese as your heart desires. My heart usually desires more mushrooms, baby spinach and far too much parmesan.

Season to your taste with salt and pepper and enjoy a warm meal on a snowy day.