Mushroom Risotto

I made this mushroom risotto for Ian's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and I want to post about it before I get wrapped up in the fun I had cooking with Kristen in Massachusetts.  This was his birthday dinner, and it was delicious.  We also went to Longman and Eagle with a friend to celebrate.  If you have never been, go.  Book a flight if necessary and follow the signs to the outdoor beer garden because it is a glorious place.  The foie gras is out of this world too.

A Look at Things to Come!

Hello everyone!

I am out in the Berkshires visiting my sister, but we have been cooking a bunch!  I will be back soon and look forward to posting about making our own cheese and homemade blueberry jam, as well as recipes I've made at home like mushroom risotto and peach ice cream.  I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny heatwave! 

The Strawberry Jam of all Jams

Everyone has heard it: once you make something homemade you'll never go back.  Well, this is most definitely the case with strawberry jam.  Last year my sister picked seven pounds of strawberries and made jam.  Then she made blueberry jam (which I was supposed to participate in, but the stupid bushes weren't ready yet), and then she made apple butter.  So all of late last summer and fall I envied her stock of homemade jams and swore that next year would be different.  You all saw the amount of strawberries I picked... so I am sure you are aware that it was indeed different.  Kristen is at the point where making jam is no big deal. She can just talk on the phone when she's doing it!  I am certainly not at this point, but I intend to be by the end of the summer.

The Strawberry Saga, Part 1

Last weekend I decided it would be a fantastic idea to go and pick as many strawberries as possible and figure out how to use them after.  It was a brilliant idea... for the first 3 containers.  BUT, there was a sale.  And being the wise shopper I am, who am I to say no to a buy five 4-quart containers, get the sixth free.  Oh, and also, they didn't look that large in the fields.