Holiday Gifts and Wild Mushroom Risotto

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati
Holidays are almost here and at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Kitchen we are up to ‘our ears’ in new and interesting and great product submissions for our Holiday Gift Guide, coming soon in the next The Basic Art of Italian Cooking byMaria Liberati tm ezine that you will receive in late November/early December and here on the blog.  It is really a lot of work but my staff is great in helping me select from 100’s of great products. This year’s selected products will get to display a seal showing that they were specially selected or voted best of the Holiday Gift Guide.
Stay tuned for more on some great products you may want to consider as a unique gift for that special foodie or traveler or all around bon vivant in your life.
Here is a Holiday recipe from my latest book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays &Special Occasions SEE BELOW

Wild Mushroom Risotto

(for 2 people)

*1 cup rice for risotto

*1 cup dry Prosecco

*4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

*1 slice onion-chopped

*2 tblsps extra virgin olive oil

*2 tsps butter

*4 tsps grated parmigiana-reggiano cheese

*2 ounces dried wild mushrooms

Place mushrooms in small dish, pour in ½ cup warm water, soak for 15 minutes. Heat broth till hot. In saute pan, place in olive oil and chopped onion, place in rice and toast for 30 seconds, then pour in Prosecco. When liquid is absorbed, pour in ¾ cup broth, stir, and when liquid is absorbed repeat ,place in mushrooms with their water and stir, then repeat with broth and stirring till al dente. Remove from heat. Top with butter and grated parmigiano cheese, stir and serve hot.

 Hope to see you for a Holiday Book-Signing on:

November 14th at Warren Twp Library, Warren, NJ

December 12th at Franklin Twp Library in Somerset NJ

Mangia Bene ,Vivi Bene,

Maria