The Risotto Workout

When I woke up this morning, I knew I would be engaging in one, possibly two fitness activities.  I did not expect three.  The first was my aquatics class in my supersuit, the second was a hike with Joe at Red Rocks for 50 minutes (40 of which I was in THR), and the third was making dinner tonight.

I have been planning to make Butternut Squash Risotto since last week but I had to put it off because of my Florida trip.  Though Joe had to work tonight, I thought I would go ahead and make it.  O  M  G  it was difficult!  First let me show you the two pictures of my meal so you can see how deceiving it is...it looks very simple.  (And yes, this glass of wine was necessary after I finished cooking.)

So the first challenge was in the butternut squash itself.  Are we positive that humans are meant to eat this plant food?  It was so hard to cut into that I wonder how the first person ever got into it enough to know that it was edible!  I tried three knives and worked my muscles to the brink cutting that sucker into chucks and peeling it.  When I felt I couldn't go any further, I re-read the recipe and saw that I only needed 1 cup of puree, so I gladly stopped hacking into the remainder of the squash.  The chunks had to then be boiled and put into a blender to puree.  Did you know that not all blenders have a puree mode?  I didn't and mine does not.  The pieces just kind of sat in the blender looking at me like there was no way in hell they were going to go get pureed.  I added a little water and that kind of helped, so I then used a spatula to push the softened chunks closer to the blade.  Wouldn't you guess that I pushed that spatula too far and out popped the spatula and a squash chunk that landed too close to comfort to my cat.  He wasn't happy.

Once my ordeal with the stupid squash was done, I went on the recipe.  I had measured everything out into cute little bowls while the squash was boiling, so I was all set to be like a cooking demo and casually dump all ingredients into the pot.  Of course, it couldn't be that easy.  Did you know that risotto has to be stirred constantly until it absorbs the broth/puree mixture one ladle full at a time?  I didn't.  Did you know that process can take 25-30 minutes?  I didn't, but my hand sure as heck knows it now!  I'm exhausted!

Plus, the recipe said, "SERVE IMMEDIATELY!" Maybe not in those cap letters, but once I finished the process of cooking it, I rushed to the table, got my spinach salad and wine ready, dumped too much dressing on my salad, took my pictures and starting eating it entirely too quickly.  Eventually I reminded myself to eat mindfully and I slowed down to enjoy it.

How was it?  Good.  Worth the effort?  Heck no.  I think any risotto in my future will have to be artfully crafted for me by someone else.  Takers?