20 September 2009

Executive Chef

On the other hand, the fact that my husband isn't going to work every day means that he's cooking dinner every night. Oh, he cooked a lot before, but now he's got more time to devote to it, so it's not just hamburgers and a salad alternating with pasta. And I've become the executive chef. What's been happening is I look at the list of vegetables from the CSA, the list we keep on the fridge because otherwise stuff gets skanky because we forget about it, and I say "how about you make ______?"

We had beautiful baby Red River kale, plenty of onions, and one Delicata squash. So the other day, I suggested risotto with roasted squash, kale and caramelized onions. He makes a fine risotto, though he usually sticks to ham and peas, or ham and asparagus - but he was game for the vegetable variation I suggested. Both the squash and the onions take a while to do, so it's totally not the kind of thing you start after work.

I can't give you a recipe, but he roasted the squash, pulled it out of its shell, and chopped it. He cooked four onions until they were nice and golden brown. The squash and onions were added to the risotto about midway through. The kale got rough chopped and thrown into the risotto about five minutes before the end - just enough time to wilt it. There was plenty of parmesan involved.

And it was good.

17 comments:

The Library Lady said...

Sounds similar to a baked squash and rice dish I make--it's made with arborio rice, so it's essentially a risotto.

Haven't tried using kale that way though. We've used it as a spinach sub and I'm trying to grow some in my garden this fall, so I may have to experiment with this!

AnnetteK said...

Mmmm, risotto. Can you ship me the leftovers? ;)

Life As I Know It said...

I LOVE risotto, but can't seem to get it right when I try and make it at home.

Unknown said...

I'm no good at risotto. What I do make is a very fragrant version of old fashioned school paste.

Anonymous said...

Oh, creamy carbohydrates! I'd have spooned it right from the pan.

kathy a. said...

sounds delish!

Kirsetin Morello said...

Ummm...should I not be making hamburgers and a salad, rotating with pasta?!

Just kidding! I realize I shouldn't, of course, but I'm in a bit over my head right now. We're all lucky to get fed. Maybe I'll throw in a quesadilla this week.

Janet said...

that's a beautiful kale shot!!!

flutter said...

yuuuuuuum

mayberry said...

Sounds just perfect. (And, you know, WTG on finding that silver lining.)

Kyla said...

I don't eat food with onions in it, but that does look tasty!

RuthWells said...

Oh, yum.

And thank goodness for men who cook.

nonlineargirl said...

We just had my favorite late summer tomato risotto last week. Yum.

(We do the list too. Without it there is no hope of remembering what is in the fridge, especially if Chris has put the veggies away while I am not there.)

shrink on the couch said...

Oh yum. Husband swap? Mine can make some fine cabinets. And grilled chicken?

Mama Goose said...

Mmmmmmm.

Gwen said...

Risotto is the best comfort food I know. Did it improve anyone's mood?

heidi said...

nomnomnomnomnomnom.