Quinoa Risotto with Shiitake Mushrooms

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil

7 oz Shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (1 container from TJ’s worked fine for me)

1 cup quinoa, rinsed

5 cups vegetable broth, kept warm in a pan (3 cups was plenty for me)

1/3 cup white wine

1 shallot, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup créme fraîche

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

“In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the Sliced mushroom and sauté until golden and soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside. Lower heat, add shallot and garlic to pan and sauté slowly until they begin to soften and become translucent, about 5 minutes. 

Increase the heat to medium high and add the quinoa. Stir for about 3 minutes until the quinoa is coated with oil and slightly toasted. Lower the heat to a simmer; add the wine and continue to stir until it is absorbed. Once the wine is absorbed pour about 1/2 cup of warm broth into the quinoa and continue to stir and simmer until it is completely absorbed. Allow pan to almost dry out between additions of broth. Keep stirring in broth 1/2 cup at a time until the quinoa is creamy and the quinoa germ has burst, about 20 minutes. Taste for doneness (should be creamy and a little al dente) and add salt and pepper to taste. 

Once the last addition of broth is almost absorbed, stir in the parmesan cheese, remove pan from heat, cover with a lid and let stand for 2 minutes to help develop the creamy texture. Then, stir in the mushrooms and créme fraîche. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan on top.”

Have been treating my guests to some newly found recipes..Today's breakfast:

Baked French Toast with Blueberry Sauce

The sponge-like nature of French toast gives it that “special occasion” feel, though why hold it back when it’s one of the easiest ways to get egg and bread together in the morning? Bring it on with a tangy blueberry sauce. —Debbie Johnson, Centertown, Missouri

4 ServingsPrep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 4 Eggland's Best Eggs
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 8 slices Texas toast
• BLUEBERRY SAUCE:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 tablespoons thawed orange juice concentrate

Directions

Pour melted butter on a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan; lift and
tilt pan to coat bottom evenly. In a large shallow bowl, whisk the
eggs, milk, vanilla and nutmeg. Dip both sides of Texas toast into
egg mixture; place on prepared pan. Bake at 375° for 20-25
minutes or until lightly browned.
For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch,
cinnamon and cloves. Stir in blueberries and orange juice
concentrate. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Serve with French toast. Yield: 4 servings (1 cup sauce).

© Taste of Home 2013

Week of Mishaps

WOW! This has been a week of mishaps. Monday started with a badly clogged kitchen sink...plumber was able to fix it in the afternoon but couldn't help with some other issues so they had to send Jerry out on Tuesday to repair the leaky faucets and HORRAH!! after 5 years of tepid showers I now have HOT water in my personal bath! Thursday I went to an auction and was able to bid on only box...with a brand new Alaskan Ulu Chopping Bowl and the rest went into the the dumpster. Good lunch at Der Dutchman though. This afternoon we discovered that the upright freezer door was not shut properly and all the food was thawed and water all over the floor. Floor was washed and freezer re-started and some of the items could be saved. Went to basement to see if maybe a fuse had blown and found the front of the furnace on the floor....where's a screwdriver when you need it?!?!? Found the screwdriver and replaced the cover correctly (I think) Landmarks' Ghost Tour was a hit...and now to think about breakfast for 12 guests tomorrow...should it be a ham and egg casserole or baked French Toast? One or the other for Saturday and Sunday...maybe the question should be...what would be better for the Sunday hangover crowd (OSU game is 8pm)

TripAdvisor is delighted to recognize Harrison House Bed and Breakfast with a 2013 Certificate of Excellence

• Harrison House Bed and Breakfast

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http://www.sewtospeakshoppe.com/

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