Risotto is a classic Italian rice-based dish that originates from rice-growing northern regions. It is an easy and quick dish to prepare although perfection is somewhat elusive. Risotto uses either short or medium grain starchy rices such as Carnaroli, Vialone Nano, and Arborio, which is readily available in American grocery stores. Risotto usually begins with sautéing onions (this recipe uses fennel too) in butter or olive oil. This creates the "soffritto" which comprises the base of many risottos. After the onion (or other ingredients that can withstand long sautéing) is edges towards translucent, one adds the rice, fully coating it in the oil and browning it lightly. This process of "toasting" the rice before any liquid is added is called tostatura in Italian. Typically the next step is to add a cup of white wine and continue heating until the liquid has cooked in and evaporated. Then the stock (usually chicken, seafood or vegetable) is added one ladle-full at at time. Wait until the stock is absorbed/evaporated between each ladle of stock that you add. When all the stock is added, the risotto should be removed from the burner and let stand for 5 minutes or so. After this you can add cold butter and Parmesan cheese (a process known as mantecatura). The rice in the finished risotto should be a bit firm (al dente). These are the basic steps for many risotto dishes. The following recipe uses fennel, Italian hard cheese, lemon zest and parsley. You can experiment widely with this dish. Try adding walnuts, peas, Italian sausage, artichokes or whatever else that tickles your taste-buds!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fennel bulbs thinly sliced
• 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 Stick) unsalted butter or olive oil divided into two parts
• 2 cups Arborio risotto rice
• 1/2 cup of white table wine
• 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock
• Grated zest from one lemon (vigorously wash lemon first)
• 5 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint or parsley, or both
• Salt and Black pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Wash and slice thinly the fennel bulbs. The green part is unused in this recipe
2. Chop the onion finely.
3. On medium in a medium pot(6 quart), saute the sliced fennel and onions with half the butter (or oil) until the onions are almost translucent
4. Add rice, stirring to coat all the rice with the butter.
5. Stir in the wine. Keep stirring until the wine has been absorbed.
6. Ladle in the broth, one ladle at a time waiting for the broth to be almost entirely absorbed between each ladle-full of broth. Stirring rather frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan will help keep the risotto from burning. A wooden spatula works well for this.
7. When all of the broth has been added, turn of the heat, and stir in the lemon zest.
8. Let the risotto rest for 5 minutes.
9. Somewhat vigorously (not too much so) mix in the remaining butter and cheese. The risotto should be slightly creamy and glistening.

Serve risotto in small bowls, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with finely chopped herbs. Garden salad and a good artisan bread are great compliments to this dish. Risotto is often served as a first course (primo), but it also make good entree for a light meal!

Buon Appetito!

Recipe by T. Johnston-O'Neill
Photo: Kathleen Johnston

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New England Clam Chowder is linguistically—if not culinarily—linked to Native Americans. The clams normally used in this chowder are commonly known as "hard clams" which are differentiated according to their size into, "Little Necks", "Chowder Clams" and "Cherry Stones" . The scientific name for this clam is,Mercenaria mercenaria, Latin for "wages", obtaining this name because of the practice of using clam shells to fashion beads that Native Americans used as currency. In New England, this particular clam is also called a "quahog" which is derived from the Narragansett Indian name for the clam, poquauhock.¹

New England Clam Chowder has a venerable history. Not only is it a culinary statement of regional American identity (set against the oppositional tomato based "Manhattan Clam Chowder"), but it also has merited august literary notice. Herman Melville devoted an entire chapter of Moby Dick to this mariner's delight.

However, a warm savory steam from the kitchen served to belie the apparently cheerless prospect before us. But when that smoking chowder came in, the mystery was delightfully explained. Oh, sweet friends! hearken to me. It was made of small juicy clams, scarcely bigger than hazel nuts, mixed with pounded ship biscuit, and salted pork cut up into little flakes; the whole enriched with butter, and plentifully seasoned with pepper and salt. Our appetites being sharpened by the frosty voyage, and in particular Queequag seeing his favorite fishing food before him, and the chowder being surpassingly excellent, we dispatched it with great expedition.

Clam Chowder is relatively easy to make, but like many other kinds of stews and chowders it tastes significantly better the day after initial preparation, once its flavors blend and mellow. There are many variations but the basic ingredients are clams, clam juice, potatoes, bacon and milk and/or cream. While in Captain Ahab's time Clam Chowder was thickened with "hard tack" ship's biscuits, today it is more common to employ plain flour. For those who must restrict their gluten, substituting heavy cream for half the milk and replacing half the Yukon potatoes with russets (which will disintegrate somewhat during cooking thereby thickening the soup) should lead to perfectly acceptable results. A strong dash of white wine also makes a somewhat merrier chowder. To save time and effort, canned clams can be used with excellent results. The following recipe is a basic recipe, there are many variations out there including adding any of the following: celery, celery leaves, thyme, sage, Old Bay Seasoning, cauliflower, corn, garlic, leeks, sherry, white wine, and salt pork (instead of bacon).

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds of fresh quahog/hard/cherry-stone clams or 2 (7 1/2 once) cans chopped or minced clams
• 2 pounds Yukon Gold or round white potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 medium carrots sliced and quartered
• 3 slices thick bacon cut into 1/4 inch pieces
• 3 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt & ground black pepper (to taste)
• several sprigs of finely chopped parsley for garnish
• oyster crackers

Preparation: Using Fresh Clams: (if using canned clams, skip to step 7)

1. Scrub fresh clams vigorously and thoroughly.
2. In a large pot steam the clams in one cup water for eight minutes until the shells open.
3. Remove clams from pot and let them sit until they are cooled enough to handle. Reserve the water the clams were steamed in.
4. Over a bowl to catch the clam "liquour" remove the clams from the shell (but not the connective mussle) with a small paring knife.
5. Chop clams into small pieces.
6. Strain the reserved water from the pot and the liquor from the bowl through cheese cloth to remove any sand.
7. Fry the bacon in the empty pot over medium-low heat until the fat renders and the bacon crisps, 5 to 7 minutes.
8. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
9. Add the flour and stir until lightly colored, about 1 minute.
10. Gradually whisk in the reserved clam broth.
11. Add the potatoes, carrots, bay leaf, and thyme and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
12. Add the clams, cream, parsley, and salt (if necessary) and ground pepper to taste; bring to simmer.
13. Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaf, and serve immediately.

At the table allow guests to garnish their bowls of chowder with chopped parsley, additional ground pepper and oyster crackers.

¹ Olsen, Stephen, Donald D. Robadue, Jr and Virginia Lee. 1980. An Interpretive Atlas of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island Sea Grant, Narragansett, Rl.

Recipe by T. Johnston-O"Neill

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Simple Ingredients Lead to Colorful and Tasty Results! Some form of fried rice can be found nearly anywhere people eat rice. From Nasi Goreng (lit. fried rice) in Indonesia, to Thai Khao Pad to Cuban Arroz Frito to Filipino Sinangag to Hawaiian style fried rice (often with Spam) to Cha Han Japanese fried rice to the many varieties of Chinese Rice

Fried rice works best with day-old rice that has dried and hardened a bit. If you are really pressed for time, cook the rice with a bit less water than usual and the rice will be a bit firmer. It is a good idea to refrigerate rice after it is cooked as cooked rice is a great medium for bacterial growth. Uncooked rice--if kept dry--lasts practically forever. Long grain white rice is preferred, but Jasmine rice also works. Japanese and Basmati rice are less than suitable.

The Chinese sausage, know as Lap Cheong or La Chang is usually made with pork. It is possible to find Chinese sausages that are a mixture of pork and chicken, but they are not as flavorful. Chinese sausages can be found in almost any Asian grocery store. It keeps well in the refrigerator or freezer.

The following recipe is somewhat minimalist with regard to ingredients. Fried rice is often made with left-overs so the options are plentiful. Other than the peas, frozen vegetables should be avoided. Possible additions are: shrimp, shredded or diced pork or chicken, carrots, bean sprouts, snow peas, green beans or whatever else you have on hand. For best results, each ingredient should be cooked separately so that the flavors do not blend. Some recipes call for chopping or dicing the Chinese sausages, but we prefer slicing.

Many thanks to Lu Ping for sharing this recipe with me so many years ago. It has become a family favorite; easy to make and delicious.

As always, it is a good idea to measure, slice ingredients and keep them in separate bowls before you begin cooking.

Ingredients:

• 4 Lap Cheong sausages sliced diagonally (1/8 to 1/4 inch slices)
• 4 Eggs
• 8 cups of day-old rice
• 2 cups of frozen peas
• 4 sliced scallions, use both white and green parts (discard root and very
  top of the green part)
• 4 cups of quartered and sliced zucchini
• 1/4 cup of peanut oil
• soy sauce

Preparation:

• Cook 4 cups of rice. Fluff rice and refrigerate for one day (see comments above)
• Slice Vegetables and Sausages
• Beat eggs in a bowl, but do not whip
• Add sliced scallions to beaten eggs and mix
• Add 1/4 cup of peanut oil to wok and heat until oil is very hot but not yet smoking
• Carefully add egg and scallion mixture to wok
• Cook until eggs just start to brown and then flip "omelet" over and cook briefly (20 seconds or so) and then remove eggs and return to bowl
• Add Chinese sausages to wok, moving the pieces briskly about to keep them from burning
• When sausage pieces just begin to crisp, remove them and set them aside in a bowl
• Turn down heat under the wok to medium high
• Add peas and a little water (no more than a 1/4 cup), cover and cook for one minute
• Remove cover and add the remaining vegetables
• Cook while moving vegetables until they are about half-cooked (about 2 minutes)
• Turn heat up to high, add rice and mix everything in the wok thoroughly. Keep everything moving!
• When rice is hot, add egg omelet and fold into the fried rice. The omelet should break into small clumps.
• Mix in cooked sausage
• Serve in individual bowls

At the table, soy sauce can be added according to individual taste. To add some kick you can season your fried rice with red chili flakes or Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce (with or without peanuts).

Recipe and photos by Shari K. Johnston-O'Neill

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Ratatouille is signature dish of the the Provence region of southeastern France. The word ratatouille is derived from the verb touiller which means "to stir up." The dish is tremendously popular throughout France because it is easy to prepare, uses abundantly available ingredients, and can be served cold or warm.

The Provence region lies along the Mediterranean Sea just west of Italy. Provence's diverse topography is characterized by mountains, valleys, and beautiful beaches. (Sound familiar, San Diegans?) Originally a Greek colony, Provence was once a part of the Roman Empire and was eventually incorporated into France in the 15th century.<

The region's warm weather, coastal location, and the impact of other Mediterranean culinary influences has produced a cuisine at odds with stereotypical notions of French food. The Provencal cooking is more akin to neighboring Italy than to the rest of France.

It is said that there are three foundations to Provence cuisine: olive oil, garlic, and aromatic herbs (such as herbs de Provence). This makes ratatouille a quintessential Provencal dish

Our recipe and preparation follow the notion that in order to “do ratatouille right,” the component flavors should not be mixed and muddled. The vegetables should be cooked separately and then arranged in layers so that each will retain their distinct flavors.<

The following recipe is was adapted from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Simone Beck, Louisette Bertholle, and Julia Child.

Ingredients

• ½ pound eggplant
• ½ pound zucchini
• 1 tsp. salt
• 4 tablespoon olive oil, more if needed
• ½ pound (about 1 ½ cups) thinly sliced yellow onions
• 2 (about 1 cup) sliced green bell peppers (orange peppers were used in this preparation.)
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, if necessary
• 2 cloves mashed garlic
• 1 pound firm, ripe, red tomatoes, peeled, seeded and juiced to make 1 ½ cups pulp
• 3 tablespoons minced parsley (Italian parsley used here.)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Peel the eggplant and cut into slices 3/8 inch thick, about 3 inches long, and 1 inch wide.
2. Place in a bowl and toss with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. Salting and rinsing—"known as "degorging"—will soften and remove much of the eggplant's bitterness. Eggplant is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, allowing for very rich dishes, salting process will reduce the absorbtion of oil absorbed.
3. Scrub the zucchini, slice off the two ends, and cut up like the eggplant.
4. Place in a bowl and toss with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes.
5. Drain the eggplant and zucchini slices and dry them on a towel.
6. One layer at a time, sauté (for about one minute) the eggplant in hot olive oil. When lightly browned on each side, remove from pan and set aside. Sauté the zucchini in a similar fashion.
7. In the same skillet, cook the onions and the peppers slowly in olive oil for about 10 minutes, or until tender but now browned. Stir in the garlic and season to taste.
8. Boil a small pot of water and immerse the tomatoes for about 10 seconds. Remove, cool, and peel off the skins.
9. Slice the peeled tomatoes through the center, and gently squeeze them over a bowl to extract the juices and seeds. Slice the juiced and seeded tomatoes into 3/8 inch strips. Lay the sliced tomato pulp over the onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the skillet and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes have begun to render their juice. Uncover, baste with the juices, raise heat and boil for several minutes, until juice has almost evaporated.
10. Place a third of the tomato mixture in the bottom of a heavy casserole pot (the recipe calls for a 2 1/2 quart fireproof casserole about 2 1/2 inches deep) and sprinkle over it 1 Tb. of parsley.
11. Arrange half of the eggplant and zucchini on top, then half the remaining tomatoes and parsley. Put in the rest of the eggplant and zucchini, and finish with the remaining tomatoes and parsley.
12. Cover the casserole and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Uncover, tip casserole and baste with the rendered juices Correct seasoning, if necessary. Raise heat slightly and cook uncovered for about 15 minutes more, basting several times, until juices have evaporated leaving a spoonful or two of flavored olive oil. Be careful of your heat; do not let the vegetables scorch in the bottom of the casserole.
13. Set aside, uncovered, and reheat slowly at serving time, or serve cold.

Bon Appétit

Text by David Craven
Photos and dish preparation by Pattie Anderson

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