Holy Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash

Ingredients
1 butternut squash (2 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 ounces pancetta, diced
1/2 cup minced shallots (2 large)
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (10 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes. You should have about 6 cups. Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.

In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned. Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock. Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total. Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan cheese. Mix well and serve.

Cilantro Pork Tacos

This is a recipe from (who else?) my friend, Sara.  It's a great one to have for company because it makes a lot, and with the meat in the crockpot and the dressing waiting in the fridge, you can come back from an expedition of some kind and have dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes.

Cilantro Pork Tacos
corn tortillas
Sweet Pork (recipe below)
Cilantro Slaw (recipe below)
2 lg. cans black beans, warmed (optional, but I'm just learning to like beans, and this is a great way to have them)
8 oz. cheddar or pepperjack cheese, grated (optional--I like it better without cheese, but my kids like it with the cheese)

Warm the tortillas on a large griddle.  Have each person compose their own taco from the ingredients.

Sweet Pork
4-5 lb. pork roast (I used boneless loin, because I like how lean it is, but you can use anything)
1 19-oz. can enchilada sauce (mild, medium, or green, whatever you fancy)
1 20-oz. bottle Dr. Pepper (I've tasted it with Dr. P, and it's good, but I have used a 12-oz. can of Sprite or 1 cup of orange juice, both to good effect.  You just need something with acid and sugar to tenderize the meat.)
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Combine everything in the crockpot and cook.  I split it between two little crockpots and it's done on high in 2-3 hours or low for about 6 hours.  Remove the pork, shred it, and add it back into the sauce.

Cilantro Slaw
1 package coleslaw shreds (or shred your own head of cabbage)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fresh cilantro
3 cloves fresh garlic
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. lime juice (I used the juice of 2 limes)
1/2 tsp. cumin

Put all ingredients except the cabbage in the blender and blend until smooth.  Store in the refrigerator until just before dinnertime.  Put cabbage in a big bowl and add enough dressing to make everything moist and delicious.

Apple Nachos

I got this idea from pinterest (of course), and we made them for our family home evening treat last night.  I think it looks festive, and it would be fun for a shower or potluck.

Apple Nachos

6-7 apples (I did half granny smith, half gala)
1/3 bag caramel bits
2 tbsp. peanut butter
2 tbsp. water
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 tbsp. mini chocolate chips

Slice the apples crosswise.  Use small  circle cookie cutters to cut out the core portion of each slice.  Arrange slices on a platter.  Melt caramel with peanut butter and water.  Drizzle over apple slices.  Melt white chocolate chips in microwave and drizzle on top of caramel.  Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.  Chill in fridge until everything is set up.  Delicious!

Two delicious new recipes

This last week, my Bountiful Baskets subscription overwhelmed me with produce, so I've been trying some new recipes.  Both were AMAZINGLY delicious, so I'm passing them along.

#1  Caprese Flatbread Sandwiches (from here) That site has too many pictures for me to copy and paste the recipe.

#2  Peaches and Cream Pie (from here)  I used a premade graham cracker crust because I'm lazy like that, and it was still absolutely fabulous.  (I didn't use almond extract, just vanilla.  I think the cooked peach filling would be even better with a teeny bit of lemon juice in it, but I didn't have any to add.)

Fresh Peaches ‘n Cream Pie
**Depending on how big your pie crust is and how large the peaches are, you’ll probably have quite a bit of leftover peach filling and cream cheese filling. If you work it right, it could technically make 2 pies.**

1 cup sugar
3 T. cornstarch
1/2 c. water
2 T. butter
1/2 tsp. almond extract

5 large peaches

baked pie crust (either homemade or store bought–I just used what I already had. I have also used a graham cracker crust with success!)

Take 2 peaches, slice them and then mash with potato masher or whisk. Combine in a pot with the sugar, cornstarch and water. Cook on medium heat until it thickens, then bring to boil for 1-2 minutes. Take off heat, then add the 2 T. butter and almond extract, stir well and let sit. I like to let it cool down a bit.

1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. cream (I use heavy whipping cream and I whip it up with my Kitchenaid)

3 oz. cream cheese

Add sugar, almond extract and vanilla to the cream cheese and beat until smooth and fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Spread evenly in pie shell. Chill in the fridge.

Slice up the remaining 3 peaches. Lay them on top of the cream cheese filling.

Then add the cooked peach filling on top–bigger spoonfuls around the edge and then fill in the middle. Chill until ready to serve.

Have you guys seen this blog?
http://basicbites.blogspot.com/
Its amazing

Chicken Enchiladas With Green Salsa

This is one of the yummiest enchilada recipes I've ever eaten!!!! The green salsa just makes it sensational!

Chicken Enchiladas With Green Salsa | Real Simple Recipes

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi

I made this the other day and it's one of my new favorites!! It's a Rachel Ray but I changed a few things. I bought a bag of frozen shrimp at Sam's Club about 2 months ago and made 4 meals from it which is how I could afford buying shrimp. Try it!!!!!!

Linguine With Shrimp Scampi

Veggie Oil

Salt

3/4 p. Linguine (I used half a box since it's just Mike and I)

3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter

2 1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 1/2 Tbsp. Minced Garlic (4 cloves)

1 p. Shrimp, peeled and deveined, (about 16 shrimp)

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/3 C. chopped fresh Parsley, (I used Fresh Basil cause lets be honest Fresh basil is AMAZING!!!)

1/2 Lemon Zest

1/4 C. Fresh Lemon Juice (2 Lemons), -1 Lemon if using just half a package

1/1 Lemon, thinly sliced into half rounds

1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (I didn't have any so I substituted 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper)

Drizzle oil in Lrg. pot salted boiling water. Add 1 Tbsp. salt and Linguine. Cook till al dente.

meanwhile, in heavy bottomed pan, melt butter and olive oil over med-low heat. Add garlic, saute for 1 min till fragrant. Add shrimp, 1 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper. Saute till opaque, about 5 minutes, turning often. Remove from heat, add parsley (BASIL!!!) zest, lemon juice, lemon slices and pepper flakes. Toss with drained pasta in pot and serve.