ARTICHOKE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the artichoke hearts and reduce the heat to medium high. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, or until the hearts are beginning to brown. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• To the same pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the butter and the shallots and cook for 1 minute, stirring regularly. Add the rice and salt and stir with a wooden spoon to coat all the kernels with oil. Continue to cook for 3 minutes, or until the rice is sizzling. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is almost completely absorbed. Now begin adding the chicken broth, one cup at a time, stirring frequently between additions. After the first cup is almost entirely absorbed, add the next cup. Continue in this way until the rice is cooked through and you have a creamy risotto, about 20 minutes in all. (The risotto should be slightly loose, not dry; it should run off your spoon. If it gets too dry, add a bit more broth.) Stir in the peas, feta, chives, mint and black pepper. Gently stir in the artichoke hearts and the lemon juice. Serve.

BIBA'S ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE, AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add salt. Add the asparagus tips, and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Drain asparagus, and set aside.
• If using fresh peas, bring another small saucepan of water to a boil. Add salt and peas, and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on size. Drain peas and set aside. (Asparagus and peas may be cooked several hours ahead.)
• Heat the stock in a medium saucepan, and keep warm over low heat.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter foams, add the onion, and cook, stirring, until onion begins to color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice, and stir until it is well coated with the butter and onion, about 1 minute. Add the wine, and stir until it is almost all reduced. Add about 1/2 cup of the hot stock, or just enough to barely cover the rice. Cook, stirring, until the stock has been almost completely absorbed. Continue cooking and stirring the rice in this manner, adding 1/2 cup stock at a time, for about 15 minutes. At this point, the rice should be tender but still a bit firm to the bite.
• Stir the artichokes, asparagus, and peas into the rice, and season lightly with salt. Add the remaining tablespoon butter and the cheese. Mix quickly for 1 to 2 minutes until the butter and the cheese have melted and the rice has a moist, creamy consistency. Taste, and adjust the seasoning; serve immediately with additional cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.

THREE-CHEESE-AND-MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cover the dried mushrooms with 1 cup hot water, and set aside until softened, 5 to 10 minutes; drain, and chop, reserving the soaking liquid. Put the butter or oil in a large, deep skillet or saucepan over medium heat. When it is hot, add the shallots and dried and fresh mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shiitakes begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the quinoa, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's glossy and coated with butter or oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then add the wine. Stir, letting the liquid bubble away. Add the porcini soaking liquid, being careful not to pour in any sediment.
• Start adding the stock about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition and adjusting the heat to maintain a gentle bubble. When the stock is nearly evaporated, add more. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and adding stock as necessary; the mixture should be neither soupy nor dry.
• Begin tasting the quinoa about 20 minutes after you added it; you want it to be tender but not mushy and to have released some of its starch. Once it reaches that stage, after about 25 minutes, stir in the cheeses, along with a little more butter or oil if you like. Stir until the cheeses melt; taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.

QUINOA MUSHROOM 'RISOTTO'

Steps:

• Mix water, quinoa, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, and chicken bouillon granules in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until white threads appear on the quinoa grains, about 15 minutes.
• Melt 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms, onion, and red bell pepper in hot oil until softened, 5 to 7 minutes; season with salt.
• Stir red wine and soy sauce into the vegetable mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the liquid is reduced, about 10 minutes.
• Mix quinoa and vegetables in a large serving bowl; top with Parmesan cheese.

BABY ARTICHOKE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Trim the artichokes, rubbing them with a cut lemon as you go, and slice 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Place them in a bowl of water acidulated with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Put your stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer over low heat with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that the broth is well seasoned.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and pat dry. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook gently until tender, three to five minutes. Add the artichoke hearts and the garlic, and stir for two to three minutes until the artichoke hearts are beginning to color.
• Add the rice and thyme, and stir until the grains become separate and begin to crackle. Add the wine, and stir over medium heat until it has been absorbed by the rice. Begin adding the simmering stock, two ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly nor too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is almost absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion - adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, then stirring - for 20 to 25 minutes. When the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, it is done. Add pepper, taste and adjust seasoning.
• Mince the parsley and lemon zest together, and add to the risotto along with another ladleful or two of stock. Remove from the heat, and add a teaspoon or two of lemon juice. Stir in the cheese, if using. Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than lumping in a mound.

ARTICHOKE, ASPARAGUS, AND MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• MELT BUTTER W/ 1 T OIL IN HEAVY LARGE SKILLET OVER MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT. ADD MUSHROOMS; SAUTE UNTIL BROWN AND TENDER. ADD GARLIC; SAUTE 2 MINUTES. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Heat remaining 3 T oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add quinoa; saute 2 minutes. Add wine; cook until liquid is almost absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups broth; cook 10 minutes. Add asparagus and artichoke hearts; simmer until quinoa and veg are tender, stirring often and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfulls as needed, about 7 minutes. Add parmesan cheese and reserved mushrooms. Stir until cheese is melted and mushrooms are heated through, about 2 minutes. season to taste w/ salt & pepper. Divide risotto amoung bowls, garnish with shaved Manchego and serve.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1-inch lengths and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water. (If using fresh peas, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes until the starchiness is gone.)
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, artichokes, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and chives. Serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.

ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM & ARTICHOKE SKILLET

Steps:

• Saute onion, garlic, asparagus, artichoke hearts and mushrooms in large skillet in olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook on medium for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle on parsley, breadcrumbs and cheese.
• Stir gently and cook, uncovered on high for 3 to 4 minutes until all liquid has evaporated.

ASPARAGUS AND SHIITAKE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring broth and water to a boil in a 4-quart pot. Add asparagus and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry. Keep broth at a bare simmer, covered.
• Heat oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a bowl.
• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring, until absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Ladle in 1 cup simmering broth and cook at a strong simmer, stirring, until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue simmering and adding broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding next, until rice is just tender and looks creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. (Save leftover broth for thinning.)
• Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese, remaining tablespoon butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Gently stir in asparagus and mushrooms, then cover pan and let stand 1 minute. If desired, thin risotto with some of remaining broth. Serve immediately with remaining cheese on the side.