Herb risotto

Its spring here at Catslide and not much to be had in either allotment or garden. We finished the leeks last week but we still have a few garlic left though these are minute and already beginning to shoot in hope of the burgeoning spring. Too BAD, but I know that there is no point in trying to crush them at this time of year, witness the piles of re-cycled garlic presses that are to be found in re-cycling centres accross the land at this time of year.

So this uses what we do have. Rosemary is very proud of her herb garden and that is about all we have to go on. Lets see she has two sorts of parseley, a bit of sage, lots of mint, some fennel, bit of rosemary and lots of hen bane. So you takes yer chances at this time of year, or at any other time of the year come to that

Now you know I'm not very good on quantities but here are a few hints, First you have to go to Stoupa and go to Katerina's super market. Here you will be able to buy 100ml wine tumblers and you will find these to be very useful, If you are with Terry, he will insist that you buy six, if you are with me you will succumb to his admonitions and then break one once you get home. You then resist Terry who will insist that you can't have less than six by saying 'When I get these home, Rosemary will demand to know why I have bought so many and where Iam I going to keep them', you will then be forced to give one to tw and be down to the acceptablenumber of four.

So in this recipe, when I say 100ml or 100grams, I mean one of those small wine glasses full and make sure you fill the spare one several times over with something you like to drink.

  

Ingredients for two

• 100ml white wine'
• 300ml stock,
• Olive oil,
• juice of one lemon plus half a teaspoon of sugar,
• 1 onion sliced
• chopped garlic, lots
• a knob of chopped fresh ginger
• lots of fresh herbs from the garden including hen-bane, rosemary, mint, fennel, parsely
• 200gm risotto rice

Gently fry the onions and garlic in the olive oil and then add the risotto rice and then the rest of the ingredients except the herbs. Bring the lot back to the boil and then add the herbs and stir well. Continue cooking over reduced heat until the rice is done..