Just in time for summer, Match.com’s Stir Events held a cooking class attended by 16 singles in Los Angeles. Knowing I could improve on my culinary skills, I was one of the first to sign up.
The event was held at Sur la Table at the trendy Farmers Market at The Grove with an even mix of men and women. Sure there was a lot of comparing dating disasters and bad dates, but everyone had a wonderful time.
We prepared three dishes, led by Chef Alexx Guevara including Perfect Risotto, Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Kabobs, and a light summer desert of Mixed Summer Berries with Zabaglione.
My favorite dish was the Perfect Risotto, worthy of being featured in our Love Potions and being served to impress your next Internet date.
Enjoy!
Ingredients (yields 4)
6-8 cups chicken stock
Boiling water, as needed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/3 cup (about 2 medium) fine chopped shallot
2 cups (about 14 ounces) Arborio or Carnaroli rice
3/4 cup (1-1/2 ounces) finely grated Parmean cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives, for garnish
Directions
Pour the chicken stock into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to the lowest setting, cover, and keep hot. Fill a small saucepan with water and heat over high heat until boiling. Lower heat, cover and keep hot.
In another large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat until butter foams. When foaming subsides, cook shallots until softened, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, about 3-4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly until evenly coated with butter and heated through, about 3 minutes.
Increase heat to medium and, using a ladle, add about 1 cup of hot stock to the rice. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, over medium heat until stock is almost fully absorbed. Add the remaining stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and adding more broth after the previous addition has been absorbed, until the rice begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 16-2o minutes.
Adjust the heat so the rice simmers rapidly throughout the cooking. Use boiling water if stock has been used and rice requires more cooking time. The risotto is done when it is creamy and the grains are plump and tender with a slight resistance to the bite.? Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. If risotto is thick, use any leftover stock to thin as needed. To serve, ladle risotto into 4 warmed shallow serving bowls. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately.
For more romantic recipes worth serving on a date, Visit Love Potions.
Julie Spira is an online dating expert, bestselling author, and founder of Cyber-Dating Expert. She creates irresistible profiles for singles on the dating scene. For dating advice, sign up for our Weekly Flirt and like us at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert.
Julie Spira is America's Top Online Dating Expert. She's an award-winning dating coach who's been helping singles find love online for 25+ years. Follow @JulieSpira on IG.
