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.
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.
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!