Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese Risotto; Excellent!?

I spent 3 hours wandering aimlessly around my house yesterday afternoon.

As many of you know (you readers....) I have been outrageously busy lately, barely enough time to eat and sleep. 

So what am doing, doing nothing?

Poor planning.

The first thing I do in the morning, when I wake up, is a quick run through of my day: what I need to get done, what I hope to get done, and the order that I'm going to tackle it all in.

Thus, I found myself hoovering the floor at 1:35, in the middle of a desperately need, albeit  cursory, house-cleaning, carefully scheduled for the afternoon, when the vacuum died.

I, immediately, went to yell at ask  mon mari what the problem was...

Before I found him, I remembered a letter I had received 2 weeks earlier from EDF (electric company).  It was still sitting on my desk, buried in the clutter.

It was to inform me that there would be no electricity between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 on this Monday.

Had I remembered, I could have vacuumed first, then done the none-electrical-requiring cleaning bits. 

Had I remembered, I could have done the weekly shopping.

Had I remembered, I could have done any number of things differently.

Had it not been raining, I could have simply moved my cleaning urges into the garden.

As it was, I had nothing.  There was so much to be done, I couldn't just settle down with a good book and take advantage of the situation.  Besides, I hadn't planned on reading...  It wasn't scheduled....

I seriously need to take a look at my life.  There is something wrong when I can't take advantage of 3 hours free time to just do nothing, to play; have fun.  Life is short, I know this.

I need a break....

I'll try to pencil one in.

Enough pondering, back to work:

Margot, of Coffee and Vanilla, was so sweet last week:  She received the much-deserved 'Excellent' award and was kind enough to pass it along to me! 

Thank you, thank you Margot!
It just what I have been needing lately: a pat on the back.

Maybe, once we have several successive days of sunshine, my world will suddenly right itself. 

And we can get into some serious summer cooking.

In honor of yet another rainy day, I have the perfect comfort food and one last risotto for the season.

Be warned: this is seriously decadent!

Be cheered: this is seriously healthy decadent!

Let's see:
Small amount of fish = fish is good.
Small amount of goat cheese, lower in calories and fat then cow cheese = goat cheese is good.
Generous amount of spinach = spinach is good

Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese (Chevre)  Risotto  Serves 2

1/2 cup plus 2 tbs Arborio rice (or other rice specifically for risotto - Carnaroli or Vialone Nano)
1/2 cup dry, white wine
2 cups plus 2 tbs chicken or fish stock
1 onion
5oz (150gr) smoked salmon
3oz (90gr) chevre, goat cheese (the creamy kind in the little square carton, in Europe it's Chevraux, in the U.S. Chavrie)
2oz (60gr) spinach
1/4 cup fresh, snipped chives
1 tbs fresh snipped tarragon
1 tbs olive oil
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese - freshly grated This is important! Trust me on this. Don't be tempted.....

Heat chicken stock and keep hot over low heat. Finely chop onion. Slice salmon into strips.  Slice spinach into thick strips. In medium sauce pan heat oil; add onion and sauté 5 minutes, until starting to get tender. Add rice and sauté, stirring, for 2 - 3 minutes until rice has white center. Add white wine and stir. When wine is almost absorbed add a 1/2 cup of stock and stir. (No need to stir constantly but do stir from time to time.) When stock is almost absorbed add another 1/2 cup and continue adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring. Before the last 1/4 cup is added taste a few kernels of rice. They should be just 'al dente' - slightly resistant to the tooth but fully cooked. If more stock is needed add it 1/8 cup at a time and waiting until almost completely absorbed. At this point risotto will be thick but not stiff - it will not hold it's shape on a plate. If you cook it until it's stiff it will be dry. Stir in the goat cheese and spinach, and heat through.  Stir in the smoked salmon, herbs and  Parmesan, pour into a platter and serve immediately. It will continue to absorb liquid and by the time you pour the wine will be perfect!  The risottos that we have eaten in northern Italy have all been served in soup plates (flattish bowls) and eaten with a spoon - not a fork.

Sorry folks - you can keep your 'mac and cheese'.

There were no leftovers.

Comments

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Seriously good, yes it would seem that way. Now I'm looking for a rainy day!!
Katie I don't know what to tell you about the mind set thing, we can surely mess ourselves up when we lack flexibility. I wonder if there's any training exercise we could do to get better at it?
Most of my wonderings around the house are the middle of the night.
Congrats you are Excellent! always!

[kate]

aaaauuuuugggghhhh......this is KILLING me!

I can't imagine a better combination of flavors for a risotto....I am seriously wanting to go out RIGHT NOW and buy what I need for this!

Katie, i think i love you.....

(hehehehe)

[Lynn]

That looks wonderfully decadent. I know what you mean about feeling there's so much to do and not being able to do anything. That's my life. I run on constant overwhelm.

[Colleen]

Forget about the EDF, throw away your plans....you have smoked salmon and goat cheese. And you sat down and said, "it is good."

[Núria]

Were you living in Italy too? Have you got some italian ancestors? Your risoto looks soooooo goood girl!!! Your Mari is a lucky guy!!! And you are also lucky to be living in the middle of nowhere with such a peace around you! Take it easy Katie, stop programming things and take a free day or two or some holidays... we'll be here waiting :D

[deb]

I think it is the Catholic up-bringing that has us running on schedules. I am the same way. I was totally bummed this weekend as we had planned a kayak trip, but one day the winds were up way too much for me and the next day IT RAINED! Do you know how often it rains in Key West this time of year? NEVER! So since that was my scheduled activity, I was lost the rest of the morning! Thank you, I feel better now!
Yum on your risoto! I have been eyeing the smoked salmon at the market and now I have a reason to purchase!!!!

[katie]

Tanna, and by the time I realize how stupidly I'm behaving it's too late!

Kate, it really was pretty much of a DO (digestive orgasm)

Lynn, we really need to stop!

Colleen, sat down, with wine!

Nuria, next week I think, we're going to go and smell the flowers...

Deb, absolutely right! Blame it on the nuns!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

I'm giggling -- but cut off my electricity for three hours, and I'll get oh-so-cranky! The risotto looks obscenely delicious, by the way.

[Kevin]

Smoked salmon and got cheese risotto sounds so good! With the goat cheese the risotto would be even creamier!

[loulou]

Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum. I'm drooling on the computer.
I'm bookmarking this one.

[Heidi]

Oh, this one is a winner for sure!

Congratulations, Ms. Excellent!

Heidi :)

[FarmgirlCyn]

I've only made risotto once, I believe it was a mushroom risotto, and I could not believe how incredibly simple and delicious it was. It had always intimidated me before...fear of the unknown...plus knowing I'd pretty much be chained to the stove for half an hour. I am definitely going to give this a try. And it's healthy, RIGHT???

[Michelle]

Sounds perfect for a day like that! And delicious!! Your days sound like mine, and I am a terrible scheduler. When my husband asks me why I wasn't writing the papers I'm "supposed" to be working I on, I tell him he has no idea how busy it is to be at home all day surrounded by all the stuff that we need to be doing!!

[ilva]

Temptress!

[cakeitali.com]

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[Jeanne]

Just LOOK at the state of that! How absolutely wonderful. I adore risotto in any form and *love* the way you've rebranded it as a health food. LOL. And well done on your well-deserved Excellence award!

[katie]

Lydia, it's not like I didn't have a 2 week warning....sigh....

Kevin, it was wonderfully creamy.

Loulou, and it's so easy!

Thanks, Heidi! Enjoy London!

Farmgirl, you do NOT have to stir constantly...that's just an old chef's tale...

Michelle, sometimes the days just disappear for no reason!

Ilva, I try..

Thanks, CakeItali

Jeanne, it has to be healthy... It made ME feel good!

[Deborah Dowd]

This sounds so wonderful. How great that you could come up with something so delicious in the midst of such a trying time. I totally feel for you- about two year ago after Hurricane Isabel, we were without power for 14 days!! Not one of the more fun experiences I have had!

[Katie]

Deborah, it's amazing how dependent we are - and not just for the cooking and heating, but everything! 14 Days.... WOW!