I found a FABULOUS new blog that has a ton of good recipes,
Mel's Kitchen Cafe. I decided to try the risotto recipe, and boy was that a hit! Everyone loved it (yes, even
Alayna!!). This was the first time I have ever made risotto, and I now look forward to trying more recipes like this.
Sugar Snap Pea and Ham Risotto 4 1/2 C chicken broth 8 ounces sugar snap peas 2
Tbl olive oil 1/2 C chopped onion 1 1/2 C thinly sliced leek ( I didn't have leeks, and omitted this part) 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 C
Arborio rice (or any other medium grain rice) 3/4 diced ham 1/2 C freshly grated
Parmesan cheese Bring the chicken broth to a boil, add peas and cook 2 minutes until crisp tender. Remove peas with a slotted spoon, and rinse with cold water. Heat oil in a saucepan, add onions (this is where you would add the leeks) and cook until soft, then add garlic, cook 30 seconds. Ad rice, cook 1 minute, then add 1/2 C of broth. Cook until broth is absorbed. Continue adding 1/2 C broth to rice mixture and cooking until all is absorbed. This process is a bit time consuming, as you have to stir constantly, but
ohhhh so worth the effort! Once all the broth is absorbed into the rice, add ham and
parmesan cheese. I served this with homemade crescent rolls and a salad.
So anyhoo, we've been getting these for about a year, and usually once a month (ok, maybe every couple of months, but who's counting) we try to have a craft night together. I am going to attempt to do this once a week (I know, right?) because it really is fun to get out a big craft bin and go to town. Rachel made a pet picture frame that she loves. Unfortunately her poor kitty is on his last life, he keeps pooping and peeing on the couch....but that's another post....Emma made a girls only diary that has a bunch of pages to fill out. It is soooooo her type of thing! Alayna made a card and found a pic of all of us at the pumpkin patch. I laughed when the girls asked what I was going to make. I said I would never have time to make anything because I would be helping them with their projects. Oh well, that's what scrapbooking weekend is for, right? 
