Verdict: Not terrible, but a bit mushy. There simply is no lazy way to cook risotto. It must be done on the stove top.
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1 1/2 cups aborio rice
1 can tomato puree
500ml carton chicken stock
500g packet frozen royal red prawns
Garlic
Silverbeet or asparagus (finely choppped)
Parmesan (fresh)
½ tsp Chicken stock powder
lemon juice
Put rice, tomato puree and chicken stock into slow cooker, stir and cook on high about 1.5 hours, reduce to low, add 2 cloves chopped garlic, squeeze lemon, prawns (frozen), veges. Cook 1.5 hours on low.
Add small amount of cheese and chicken stock powder. Give a good stir and turn back to high for 30 mins. Serve.
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I had to sub about 1/2 cup of basmati rice as I didn’t have enough Arborio. Perhaps this was the reason for the mushiness. I also sub’d Passata, and a dash of pizza sauce, for the tomato puree. The prawns held up though. I was a bit worried they might disintegrate in the slow cooker.
Not bad, but not great either.
Posted on July 21st, 2008 by muser
Filed under: Home stuff | 1 Comment »
Here’s a preview of the cot quilt I’m making for Lincoln’s room. Miss Bindy helped me make a nappy stacker for Fraser when I was pregnant way back then and I’m now putting the scraps to work on this matching quilt. 
The lime is for the border, to match the bedroom, and the circles/stars is the backing. I’m a total beginner with quilting so this is basic squares. I was actually intending to use the navy corduroy left over from my skirt as the backing for the quilt but didn’t have enough. We went to Canberra on Sunday so I went shopping while Matt and Fraser went to the movies and came away with this spotty fabric on sale. Yay! I worked on the quilt top all Saturday and then as soon as I shut up shop on the sewing machine, I got busy in the kitchen making a lamb roast for dinner guests.
There are other hard workers in this household. Lincoln is on the verge of walking. He’s taken a few steps but yesterday he stood up by himself for the first time. Any day now. He’s also cutting several teeth at once. The top two have broken through, two more either side of the bottom ones are coming close behind. It’s looking very bumpy in there.
There’s prawn risotto in the slow cooker for dinner. Will report back on how that went as I’ve been curious, and slightly nervous.
Posted on July 21st, 2008 by muser
Filed under: Lincoln stuff, Crafty stuff | No Comments »
Saturday was great! Some shopping, a late lunch, of King Prawn caesar salad and a glass of chardy, at the Sheraton on the Park, a free room upgrade and plenty of getting ready time for the black tie do. I spent a birthday gift voucher on expensive eyeliner and diamond lip gloss; bought some books; and found some attractive cheapo jewellery additions to my outfit.
Of course, trips to Sydney these days require a visit to the Apple store. Matt wanted the iPhone, so I just went inside for a gawp and then left Matt to his nerdy lineup to continue my shopping mission.
And if it wasn’t a crowd of nerdy pilgrims at the church of Apple, it was a crowd of faithful pilgrims at the tents of WydSyd. Thank god for kid-free shopping time.
After a leisurely two hours to prepare I joined up with my teammates and headed down to the company Black & White Awards night. I didn’t win any awards or prizes, (dammit! One was a trip to Hong Kong!), but the special guests were Hamish and Andy. I don’t need a prize - I got a picture of Hamish standing next to me. Hot.
The food was nice but I guess the expense of appearance fees meant we couldn’t afford dessert and coffee. Or perhaps the Company didn’t expect a group of pissheads would be interested. Granted, as soon as the presentations and main meals were done everybody was dancing or mingling, anyway. My outfit went down a treat. The new shoes very comfortable, and control undergarments very uncomfortable. And if you buy a cute evening bag at a ‘clearance’ price of $15 expect it to have a blowout so that you end up carrying your possessions around in something more like an evening folder.
A night like that should always fuel some good gossip so I’m hoping to get into work on Wednesday for the big stories. I’m yet to find a full-length photo of me so there’s nothing to post as yet.
The boys behaved well for Nanny and Poppy. Fraser has stayed on up there for a couple of extra days. It’s been much quieter around here today. Lincoln and I will go and meet Nanny half way tomorrow to pick him up.
Posted on July 14th, 2008 by muser
Filed under: Work stuff | 1 Comment »
Last night I tried on my outfit for this Saturday’s work function. It’s turned out quite well. I chopped the elastic waist off a short skirt and stitched it to the bottom of a dress. The inital plan involved bedazzling the dress with sequins but I didn’t get around to that. Nevermind. I think the sparkly, fluffy white wrap and some sparkly earrings will do the job. Here’s a sneaky peak.
Toenails need painting and note to self: do not forget the control-top undergarments. Hmmpf.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 by muser
Filed under: Crafty stuff, Work stuff | No Comments »
Chez Larsson is one of my favourite blogs. Benita is the organisation queen. I can only aspire to her heights. I’m having a Tupperware party in a few weeks and so my already shambolic tupperware storage will become even more so. I emailed Benita for some ideas which she’s addressed in today’s post. *blush*
Posted on July 4th, 2008 by muser
Filed under: Home stuff | 4 Comments »
