Breville Risotto Plus!

So friends, this bad boy is my Christmas present from Matt.....even thought I bought it and he doesn't really know what it is! HA! This is also my Christmas present to my Mom, she picked it out so I have to give her the credit! What this is....is genius! I am in love..................

This is from Sur La Table (HERE) and this is everything you need to know..............
Not only will this easy-to-use machine make perfect fluffy rice every time, but it also takes the hassle out of preparing rich and creamy risotto, and can sauté too.
An electronic controller ensures that the temperature is precise throughout the stir-free risotto cycle, while the gently simmering stock agitates the rice grains. The sauté feature means you can also brown mushrooms, onions, meat and more to include in the risotto.

Or use this versatile machine as a 10-cup rice cooker, and the machine turns itself to a “keep warm” setting once the rice is its fluffiest. The included steamer tray lets chefs steam vegetables for a healthier option. The generous four-quart capacity yields 20 cups of cooked rice.

Settings include:
Stir-free risotto setting
Sauté setting
Low/high slow-cook setting
Automatic keep-warm setting
Steam setting

 I used it for the first time last night when I made dinner for Mom and I.......it was so neat! I love it and yes, the risotto was perfect! But I also love that it is a steamer, a small slow cooker and it does SO much more!

If you know someone who loves to cook and be in the kitchen and you are willing to spend a little more on them you really can't go wrong with this! It's so funny how excited I can get over a kitchen appliance, but whatever floats our boat huh??
TGIF!!!

Celebrity Chef

You all have requested in the past that I share with you things I am doing before hand so you can come......well this morning I got my mom and I's tickets to this years annual St Anthony's Celebrity Chef demonstration! In the past we have seen and met Giada, Sandra Lee and Curtis Stone.....this year is is Robert Irvine! I am so excited!
Below is all the info.....leave me a comment if you going so I can look for you!!!!

Timing can be everything… especially when you’re in the kitchen. Chefs spend their time racing the clock to make a tasty dish for guests. Saints Heart & Vascular Institute is excited to present the 11th Annual Celebrity Chef event. This year Saints is taking the seemingly impossible… and making it possible with Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine.

Chef Irvine will showcase his more than 25 years of culinary perfection. Irvine has cooked his way through Europe, the Far East, the Caribbean and the Americas, in hotels and on the high seas. He brings his experience from Food Network as host of Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant: Impossible and was most recently seen on The Next Iron Chef, Super Chef.

With a mission this important, we want to give you plenty of chances to meet Chef Irvine and learn his secrets to a successful mission of healthy eating.

Cooking Demonstration/Dinner – $20 Ticketed Event
Tuesday, Jan. 17
7:00 pm
Rapp Foundation Conference Center
St. Anthony Hospital
535 N.W. 9th Street, 4th Floor
Limited seating; reservations required. Complimentary valet parking.
Call (405) 272-7383 or click here to reserve.

JUST what I needed.......

Yes, it's me...I am back.....3rd post of the day.....but I couldn't wait to share with you all something exciting!! So...I have been having an awful day, just down right crummy for many reasons and reasons I don't (shouldn't) post. It is also gloomy here in OKC which is enhancing my awful mood when the door bell rang! (The dogs went wild) The postman had a pretty heavy box to deliver and I am thinking "Gosh Nicole what did you order now"?!?!? But the box was weird no markings...................

And I open it up much to my COMPLETELY SURPRISE.....I WON something! I entered awhile back a contest at The Chew's FB site and I WON! This is legit................check it.........

I got a "The Chew" hoodie in my favorite color GREY, all I need to do is shrink it a tad.....................

And I then won 4 BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 book from each of the hosts (except Carla)! I can not believe it! SO cool..........

I mean I REALLY needed this today.............. I never win anything and I won something that I love....cookbooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe this is the "worlds/Gods" way of telling me things will get better.

SO thank you to The Chew for picking me......too bad there wasn't any tickets to come see their show in the box (I double checked)! HAHA, I know beggars can't be choosers, right?

So I just had to share! I am off to devour my new books!

Salt

Let me start off this post by saying I am sorry, I now realize that alot of the "cool/different" things I do such as a coupon class and this cooking class are things that you my friends and followers would like to do to! SO I am going to try from here on out by announcing things as I find them and not only talking about them AFTER the fact! Last night I did a cooking class/5 course dinner with my mom at the International pantry in Norman.These classes sell out in about 5minutes after they are posted and always have a wait list (they only allow 12 per class) so for starters friends....go to the International Pantry website and sign up to be on the mailing list and you can hear about future classes if this is something you like. They are usually $50 a person! You can visit their site thru a link at the end of my post.............
Mom & Me

The class last night was "Salt" uh hello....yumm! And it was taught by the executive Chef at Cheevers in OKC Mark. And remember a while back I won a brunch contest for Cheevers by giving him (the chef) the idea of Maple Bacon Bread pudding? Well, he remembered me and actually told me he used that as a dessert recipe in the last class he taught! WOW!!!!!!!!!

Ok, ignore the paper goods that is what they use to be easy and efficient............
Course One; Kiwi-Lime Consume in a watermelon shooter finished with Sel gris (divine and makes me excited for Spring)

Course Two; Zucchini and Honeydew Salad salt cooked with Hand shaved manchego and ripe strawberries!
LOVED this so much! And yes, I will be making this again!

Course Three; Black Truffle Scented Seared Filet Brochette with creme fraiche!
This was more than good, this picture does not do it justice! OMG! And I laid out the big bucks and went home with some of my very own black truffle salt! *swoon*

Course Four; Fleur de Sel Crisped Atlantic Striped Bass, Hasselback potatoes studded with garlic and black sea salt topped with local honey roasted corn relish!
This was so light and filling at the same time! I helped mom finish hers (shocker)

Course Five; Red Hawaiian Sea Salt Sunday laced with Blood Orange olive oil and vanilla bean whip cream!
Ok, I know this sounds so weird......olive oil on ice cream? This was the best thing I have ever tasted! The oil was so delectable I could of eaten it with a spoon and the salt gave it the best finish!

Of course I love Cheevers but now after taking such a wonderful class I am an even bigger fan!!! And yes, I did buy some stuff but it is a secret because I got the same stuff for someone who reads my blog that has a Birthday next week! (wink wink)

The Chef was so nice, down to earth and gifted! Just writing this post I am salivating all over my keyboard!

SUCH a fun night! And my mom and I are both signed up for Italian Cooking in May by another local chef! Can not wait! To visit the International Pantry site click HERE!
And for Cheevers click HERE!