Champagne , Risotto and Coffee ... Oh My!

Woke up this morning and discovered I didn't have any milk for my coffee. I can't drink coffee without some kind of "mixer" if you will. So I had to go to the local grocery store (not my favorite), without any caffeine in my body and I'm not good in the mornings.

Breakfast

When I got home I immediately fixed myself a cup of much needed coffee:

To help my mood, I drank my coffee out of my new mug that I adore!

I also made myself a fantastic bowl of banana oats with peanut butter. I wanted to eat it right away and that is why I don't have a picture to share :(

Lunch

Yesterday I read (Marathon Val) about a risotto in which one of the ingredients was champagne. I just had to try it. I wasn't able to follow the recipe exactly but my dish still turned out really good.

Ingredients

• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cups skim milk
• 1/3 cup Champagne (YUM)
• 1 ounce pine nuts
• 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
• 1 small onion
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

• Toast the pine nuts

• Chop the mushrooms, finely chop the onion and garlic.

• Heat the veggie broth in a saucepan

• Add 2 tablespoons of EVOO to a hot pan, add the mushrooms, onions and garlic

• Once the onions become transparent add the arborio rice.

• Add the Champagne

• Begin to add the veggie broth and 1 cup of milk, about 1 cup at a time

• Then all you need to do is follow the typical risotto instructions. Add 1 cup of liquid at a time and stir until the rice absorbs all of it. Then add another cup and so on, until all the liquid is absorbed.

• Once all the liquid is absorbed stir in the pine nuts

• Add salt and pepper to taste.

• Top off with cheese, I used grana padano shaved cheese.

Thanks Val for giving me the idea for this wonderful dish!

My husband and I both enjoyed this recipe. I had to include the instructions on my blog so that I will be able to make it again!