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Tomato Basil Risotto

Tomato Basil Risotto

Tomato Basil Risotto | TeaspoonofSpice.com

It’s nearly Halloween, but we’ve had only one frost here in Chicagoland; so I still have a few tomatoes hanging onto their vines in the ‘garden’. (The tomato patch was actually just a strip of wasted space between our driveway and the neighbor’s fence. It worked great!) So, while tomatoes are reaching the very, very end of their season, I still had a few to use up – yet with the chilly temps, I wanted something warm and comforting. Flipping through the fantastic family-friendly cookbook Cooking Light Real Family Food by Amanda Haas, I found the perfect recipe: Tomato-Basil Risotto.

Tomato Basil Risotto | TeaspoonofSpice.com

This dish containing ‘creamy’ rice, cheesy goodness, fresh basil and tomatoes is a shoe-in in terms of kid-friendliness. While being a fairly healthy dish (all the recipes in this book qualify as fairly healthy,) as a dietitian I had to add more veggies by serving up a scoop of risotto in a whole tomato. I told my kids we were having a ‘fancy dinner.’ They ate it up – literally.

Tomato Basil Risotto | TeaspoonofSpice.com

Oh, and don’t be scared off by the classic risotto preparation of adding chicken broth by the cup-full, and stirring after each addition. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes in the stirring department – and it easily takes me 20 minutes to get my three kids focused on the tasks of washing their hands, setting the table, remembering to distribute napkins, etc.

Since this Tomato-Basil Risotto recipe is copyrighted in the cookbook, I won’t share it, but it can be found here. And dozens of delicious Cooking Light risotto recipes can be found here.

Meme

Saturday 3rd of November 2012

I have a nice little herb garden but since I'm in an apartment, I don't have much so say on my back yard

Serena

Monday 5th of November 2012

An herb garden is a great idea!

Cindy Brickley

Saturday 3rd of November 2012

No wasted space, might have to buy out the neighbor! [email protected]

Cindy Brickley

Thursday 1st of November 2012

Between the large garden, the fire pit, the horseshoes, the grill, the bar and stools, table and chairs, no I don't think I have any wasted space. [email protected]

Serena

Monday 5th of November 2012

So fun to hear you have a large garden...someday!

Maureen G

Wednesday 31st of October 2012

Yes but huge trees keep the sun away

Serena

Monday 5th of November 2012

Have you found any veggies that do well in shade? I've heard some herbs fare pretty well in shade.

Elise

Wednesday 31st of October 2012

What a bummer...I don't have a yard! Living in a condo will do that to you. However, I have a couple of planters on our balcony where I grow tomatoes and basil.

Serena

Monday 5th of November 2012

Great determination to grow stuff where ever you have room!

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