Al’s Mushroom RisottoBy HeatherLeighAl: The two most important things about making risotto are using good quality arborio rice and the stirring! I use Rice Select arborio rice which is readily available in most supermarkets, in a clear plastic 36 oz. container. All of their rices are tasty!!Stephanie’s Tex-Mex DipBy HeatherLeighIf you're all thumbs in the kitchen, this is a bright & tasty dish to keep your guests happy until your dinner reservation!Heather’s Roasted Beet & Avocado SaladBy HeatherLeighThis is from a restaurant I used to work at and is unbelievable. The power is all in the dressing, so do it right. If you're lucky, you have pre-roasted, aka ready-to-eat beets at your grocer to save a bit of time, but either way, you'll get those beet-squeamish to ask for seconds!Crab PizzaBy HeatherLeighIncredibly easy and incredibly tasty, major ROI on this one. And, as you might have gathered, the picture has nothing to do with the dish except I didn't have one and I thought this was cute. Sue’s Roasted Shrimp CocktailBy HeatherLeighWho wants bland shrimp cocktail when you can have this! Serve while the shrimp is still warm.Susie’s Roasted ArtichokesBy HeatherLeighThis sounds like a quick way to make some fanciness, so go forth and fancy it up!Debby’s Crab Melt AwayBy HeatherLeighMy mom used to make these a lot back in the 80s . . . I think she needs to bring'em back, they sound really yummy! And also sound good with a cold lager.195 Nut BreadBy HeatherLeighThis bread is C-L-A-S-S-I-C! Makes ya feel like you're right back on Hempstead Avenue! Heather’s Ricotta & Honey CrostiniBy HeatherLeighI stole (guessed with my tastebuds) this recipe from one of my favorite restaurants in New York. These are a great hors d'oeuvre when you have some vegetarians in the mix, but incredibly delicious for carnivores as well. Very simple dish, but because of this, make sure you're not getting cheap-o ingredients. And if you want to keep the carnivores happy, a slice of pancetta between the pesto and ricotta is exquisite.
