A Lovely Little Risotto

I just made the most perfect little dinner for myself.

To be quite honest my throat is scratchy, I’m tired, and I’m annoyed I have to work on New Year’s Eve instead of enjoying it with my friends….all of that equals “I don’t know what I feel like for dinner”. So, what do we do in situations such as these? Break out the new lovely copper risotto pot!!!

Last year in college I was a risotto-wiz. I must had made risotto about 3 times a week and experimented with different ingredients, flavors and cooking methods. One of my good college friends had studied for a year in Italy and together we would throw little “dinner parties” for ourselves experimenting with different “real” Italian food such as homemade gnocci (her recipe with homemade gorganzola cheese sauce=too die for) and risotto. I love risotto because it’s pretty easy and it’s filling for being a small quantity. It also beats out any other food (to me, at least!) for being downright yummy and comforting.

Tonight I made a Mushroom-Olive Risotto using chopped portobellas and kalamata olives. I always keep kalamata olives in my fridge. They are delicious in risottos such as this, in salads, in pasta…in just about anything! I just love the salty flavor of them. I’m going to now sit and write out the recipe I used for you guys and post it in my “recipes” page because I really think this was a winner….def. will be in my future cookbook! 🙂 The serving on the back of the risotto jar says 1/4 cup=150 calories but I always have, and always will, make 1/3 cup for myself. A fourth of a cup is just not enough and a third seems just about right!

Those of you all worried about silly things like getting fat from eating carbs, I have two words for you: Stop It. You WILL NOT get fat from eating wonderful things like bread, pasta and rice. You WILL get fat by eating too much of them, or too much of anything for that matter! People have been eating these vital foods for centuries while the obese epidemic has only recently took hold in the past 30 years really. Hmm…strange that fast food has evolved in the same period of time! Please,please,please don’t be scared of carbs. Carbs are wonderful and without them your brain would basically shut down and you would cease to live! This dish has rich ingredients (gasp!) such as a smidge of real butter, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Yet my entire dinner (4 ounces of wine included) was barely even 500 calories. So, moral of the story: eat in moderation and you will never be fat and you will always be happy. Ok, I’m off my soapbox now. 🙂

Ta-Dah!

With this risotto I also had a 4 ounce glass of merlot and a small green salad that I drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The total calorie count (salad and wine included) was 509 calories.

Oh, and don’t think I won’t be back for dessert later….. 😉