Vegan by Valerie

Butternut Squash & Pea Risotto, plus the new Thrive book review

Hi there! Happy Wednesday to you all.  I’m so glad so many of you are excited about this week’s Blogger Secret Ingredient - I can’t wait to be the judge later this week! Don’t forget to submit your recipes/photos!

Also, though over a week has passed, the need has not lessened to help out the citizens of Haiti.  Please, please consider spending 10 seconds of your time to Dress Down for Haiti - it couldn’t be easier to participate, and you will be glad you did!

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Over the weekend, I had a compelling desire to make more risotto – I’ve been on such a risotto kick recently! I had some leftover butternut squash and some peas in the freezer that I wanted to use up, which became the base of my recipe. 

Butternut Squash and Pea Risotto

Ingredients: 1 T. EVOO, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 1/2 c. arborio rice, 6 c. vegetable broth, 1 c. light coconut milk, 1 1/2 c. butternut squash puree (I throw my cooked butternut squash into the FP to blend it), or you could use butternut squash cubes, 1 1/2 c. peas, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, pepper to taste

* Heat 1 T. EVOO in a hot pan

* Add chopped onion and clove garlic

* After onion becomes translucent, add in arborio rice, butternut squash puree, and 1 c. vegetable broth

* Cook on medium-low heat until the arborio rice absorbs the broth and begins to fluff up;  when this happens, add more broth a half cup or a cup at a time

* Continue stirring and gradually adding broth

* Toward the end, stir in the coconut milk, salt and pepper

So good – and this is only part two!! I also got so hopped up on risotto that I later decided to make another, dessert version of butternut squash risotto, which I’ll post about soon.

A couple fun reviews:  I was recently asked to review Brendan Brazier’s new book, Thrive Fitness! I loved reading his first book, Thrive, which was a vegan’s nutritional guide to peak athletic performance.

I just received the new book last night, and I am already half way through – I was that excited to read it!  While I haven’t gotten through it yet, I can recommend this book for anyone who wants to begin a new fitness regimen, to someone who is already an “athlete” and wants to increase their performance in an efficient way.  It covers both diet and exercise in a very knowledgeable, innovative fashion.

Yesterday I was also sent some samples from Mighty Leaf tea – of course I had to try the Chocolate Mint Truffle first!

This was good plain, but would be even better with a drop or two of nondairy milk and maybe a bit of agave or another sweetener.

Time to get ready for the gym…. maybe I can actually master the elusive chattarunga tonight?? We shall see… have a great one everyone!

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