I am so happy to have a kitchen again, it isn’t even funny. Not only do I really enjoy cooking, but even better than that is finally having a place where Mr. Man, DD and I can all sit down and enjoy dinner together as family – something thats been in short supply these last six months or so. Dinner usually consisted of us sitting down in front of the television or eating at our desks – since there wasn’t really any place else we could eat. Tonight I got to make a simple but comforting and hearty side dish that DD dubbed “FoRo” – short for “Faux Risotto”, since it’s made with Brown Rice instead of Arborio rice. I actually have some Arborio rice on hand, and could have made ~real~ risotto, but chose not to because the brown rice is a little bit healthier. (I know – I know – you add enough butter and cheese it kinda negates the health benefits anyways – but leave me my illusions!)

The rice came out a little chewy (typical of brown rice) and not quite as creamy as a real risotto, but it was still really good. I might have had creamier results if I had used a short grain brown rice, which has a higher starch content, but since I didn’t have any I made do with the Texmati rice in my pantry. It was a nice change of pace – and since it has a longer cook time than regular risotto, I started this dish and then started the rest of dinner, letting it simmer and stirring occasionally while making our pork chops and Brussels sprouts.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Brown Rice
• 1 to 2 quarts chicken broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbls butter
• 2 tbls white wine
• 1 cup Romano cheese, finely shredded
• 1/8 cup Fresh Italian Parsley, finely chopped
• Kosher Salt

Method:

• Melt Butter in skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and saute until softened and translucent.
• Stir in Garlic and Rice. Heat until rice smells slightly nutty.
• Add the white wine and enough chicken broth to cover rice completely.
• Stir in a pinch or two of Kosher Salt
• Bring Rice and Broth to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Simmer rice, stirring in more broth as it becomes absorbed
• When rice has reached desired tenderness, remove from heat.
• Stir in Romano Cheese and Fresh Parsley