And last night, we had a taste of summer, smack in the middle of January, with a big, creamy bowl of risotto al pesto.
I'd frozen several ziplocks of pesto, without the butter and cheese, back in late August and September, when the garden was full. It's paying off now, as the frozen stuff tasted every bit as good as it did when it was freshly made.
So for dinner, I made a simple risotto - just diced onion, butter and olive oil, and arborio rice. I used a fresh vegetable stock I made on Monday and finished the dish with a pile of grated Reggiano, a knob of butter, and a couple of tablespoons of the aforementioned pesto. I swirled in enough to just color and flavor the dish without overpowering it. I paired it with the 05 ESJ Shell and Bones, which made a very nice match. Both the Bone Jolly rose and this wine seem to pair well with pesto. Perhaps Steve is a fan? The risotto, some bread, and a green salad was very satisfying. Dessert was an orange, and a small square of dark chocolate.
Anyway, this meatless thing has been an interesting experiment, but I'm beginning to feel a bit like Starch Man. I've been eating a lot of rice.
Sticks to the ribs, y'know?