GCC: Risotto with Springs Vegetables, Tomato, and Basil

July 21, 2013 by Monica in Cooking Club, Gutsy Cooks Club, International, Main Courses, Quick Meal, Rice, Vegetable, Vegetarian

I’m late, late, late on this posting, so let’s jump to it. This month’s Gutsy Cook is Marie from Weekend Viands. She decided that all of her recipes would be coming from the Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan.

Speaks right to my Italian roots and I was super excited with her choices. This past weekend it was the risotto. I have made it before, my first try was for the Daring Cooks Challenge and I wrote all about it here. The second time was with this choice which, ironically was also a Gutsy Cook club choice.

Risotto is one of those meals that people think is super complicated, but in reality is not. The trick is to take your time, stir and in no time you will have this creamy rice creation – Italian comfort food at its best.

GCC: Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin

May 20, 2013 by Monica in Cookbooks, Cooking Club, Dinner, Entertaining, Gutsy Cooks Club, Main Courses, Meat, Pork

This past weekend I had every intention of doing this dish, except that I spend it running around doing errands and Saturday dinner turned into pizza.

Instead I decided, I would do it for Sunday’s dinner.

Sunday came and went and back in the refrigerator everything went. But, I made a mental vow that I was going to do this for our Monday night dinner no matter what.

I had doubts that this was going to work out for a quick meal, but once more, I realized that there is always a way. And in less than 1 hour, I had it on the table for us to dig in.

GCC: Sweet & Sour Rice Salad

January 16, 2012 by Monica in Cooking Club, Gutsy Cooks Club, Rice, Salad

One of the main reasons I started Gutsy Cooks was to push myself when it came to trying new things in the kitchen. Often time, we get comfortable with our favorite dishes and tend to make them over and over again, losing the opportunities to try new flavors, ingredients, and techniques.

The whole point of calling the cooking club Gutsy was to remind myself, and those that participate every week with me to be fearless in the kitchen. That is how good cooks are born.

It may be a total bust and you may not like it, but – you.tried.it. You were Gutsy. And then there are those times when something you have never thought would work becomes your new favorite thing.

This salad is my new favorite thing.