Happy Friday, Y’all! Before we get into all that I have to ramble on about tell you, I have to explain that I’ve got a bit behind on things with this here website – I’m looking at you, Jennifer – after all you are my most loyal stalker friend!
The truth of the matter is we’ve had a bit of family troubles. Chris’s dad has been in the hospital. He’s a widower and lives alone now. We’ve spent a lot of time in the evenings driving 45 minutes to his house to take care of things and check the mail, then going 1.5 hours away on the weekends to visit. The good news is that there is some progress, and hopefully he’ll be home soon. And I’m kind of exhausted.
My public service announcement here is: please get your estate planning documents in place. That’s it.From your friendly neighborhood attorney.
So, moving on to Pumpkin Beer Risotto! We are just hours away from Halloween, so pumpkin is required. However…..
I have to confess and do the FULL DISCLOSURE here…
I actually do not like Halloween. It’s creepy. I can’t stand the Monster Mash and scary movies make me suck my thumb and hide under the covers. Don’t even ask me about that dang clown from Poltergeist. The original one.
Call me a buzz kill or a party pooper, but I’m totally afraid of the dark and I DO NOT like scary stuff. Seriously, that stuff keeps me awake for months! Sometimes years! Ok. We’ll talk about it. Poltergeist clown – I’m so scared of you! I can’t get out of my bed in the middle of the night without thinking about that murderous clown under the bed. I used to do a run-fly-jump into the bed when I had to get up in the night. Chris would fly 2 feet into the air and be all “damn chick!” but now I have a flashlight. Just like Jennifer’s 8 year old son. Yay me!
I’ve talked about this ridiculousness before, but it was back when only my mom and Jennifer were reading this here website. So, y’all probably are not quite as informed as they are about my hot mess issues sensitivities.
Seriously, the only things about Halloween I like are the candy, pumpkins, and Hocus Pocus! Amuk! Amuk! Amuk!
Pumpkin Beer Risotto
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1 12 ounce bottle pumpkin ale - I used Southern Tier Pumpking
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 can 15 ounce can of pure pumpkin puree
- 1 cup grated parmesan additional for topping
Instructions
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Melt butter into olive oil over medium heat
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Pour chicken stock into a pot and heat on low, keep warm
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Add shallot, cook for 1-2 minutes
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Add garlic, cook another 1 minute
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Add rice, cook and stir until coated, and cook another 2 minutes
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Pour in beer and cook until absorbed, about 1 - 2 - minutes
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Add chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time, make sure absorbed before next addition, before last 2 additions, add pumpkin and stir until combined. Keep adding chicken stock until all is absorbed and rice is creamy
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Stir in parmesan
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Garnish with parmesan
Amuk! Amuk! Amuk! I totally ran around one year chanting that all the time. But I forgot about it…until now! I suspect my wife is about to get really annoyed at me…amuk, amuk, amuk! Sorry to hear about Chris’ Dad. Hopefully things get better soon. And this risotto? Love the flavor combo here! Amuk, amuk, amuk!
Dead man’s toe! Dead man’s toe!
I think candies are the best part about Halloween! 😀 love the flavors in this risotto, hope life settles down for you a bit! Have a great weekend!
Candles! Yes! I hadn’t thought of that! You have a great weekend too!
I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through. You, Chris and his Dad are in my prayers. One of these days when we finally meet up I’ll have to tell you about my father. He passed away from Mesothelioma almost 3 years ago and I am STILL going through the law suit and estate affairs (I’m his sole heir). So I HEAR your public announcement all too clear. 😉 anyways, fabulous risotto!!! I loooove the pumpkin addition!! This is absolutely perfect for this weekend! No trick-or-treaters, just me, Boy and a big ole vat of this risotto! Cheers doll! Xo
Thanks Chey! You told me about your dad, and I’m still sorry to hear about that. I hope you have a good attorney. Seriously, let me know if I can help. Yay to a quiet evening with just you and Boy! Cheers! XO
Sounds delicious, Rachelle! Love the thought of beer in risotto!
Thanks Gayle!
Listen Buzz-kill, you have to get over your aversion to scary movies or we can’t be blog friends anymore. Or I guess I could just save all the scary movies for myself. Don’t you have 4 dogs in your house? Ain’t no scary clown coming to your house, girl. Sorry to hear about Chris’s Dad and glad he is getting better. We have the same situation here with my Hubby’s Dad. He lives 1.5 hours away, so when he needs help, it’s a full day affair. I hope everything gets better real soon for everyone 🙂 This risotto on the other hand is a dream come true. I can drink and eat my pumpkin ale at the same time??!! Hells yeah to that! Also, Southern Tier is one of my favorite breweries but I have not had their pumpkin ale yet. I’ll have to get it this weekend.
OMG! You always crack me up, Karrie! Yes, I have 4 big dogs that are also afraid of that scary clown! I’m sorry that you have the same thing going on. It is definitely a full day affair. Southern Tier is the best pumpkin beer out there – except our own home brew!
So sorry to hear about Chris’s dad, however, so happy to know you’re seeing signs of improvement. And I am with you on Halloween – it’s my least favorite as well! I love your run-fly-jump story…laughed out loud. Laughed Out loud. I really hope we find a chance to meet in person – you crack me up, lady!
Thanks Annie! I need to pack up Chey and have a girls road trip to NY! That would be so much fun! I would LOVE to meet you in person!
Oh I’m so sorry to hear about Chris’s dad 🙁 I hope he continues to get better! I can definitely imagine how tired you must be.
But on a happy note – this pumpkin risotto sounds amazing!
Thanks Ashley! Sometimes you just reach a point that you have to put pumpkin beer in your risotto! 🙂
Oh no, hope Chris’s continues to get better! Oh my goodness, that clown freaked me out for years and now I won’t be able to sleep tonight either haha. Luckily for me, you made up for it with this amazing risotto 🙂 The pumpkin beer totally takes this to the next level!
Sorry Kelly! I hope you were able to sleep! I’m glad I’m not alone in the clown fears!
I am sorry about Chris’s dad. I hope he will return home soon. Like you, I don’t like anything scary. Watching those movies keep me up for months too, so I avoid them at all cost. Beer Pumpkin Risotto sounds like a perfect Halloween dish to me!
Thanks Thao!
Im so sorry to hear about Chris’ dad! Im not suprised the travelling has been taking its toll on you, you guys must be exhuasted. I hope he gets better soon!
(Side not: Im also not a fan of halloween either – I literally cant wait for it to be over and christmas to begin!)
😉
Thanks Lucie! Bring on Christmas!
This looks absolutely fabulous! Pinning 🙂
Thanks so much, Medha!
For me the best part of Halloween are all those cute little kids! The cutest I saw this year was this little lady bug…she must have been two! Too darn cute. See….I think you are just focusing on all the wrong things….cute lady bugs, not that clown! Focusing on pumpkin foods is another great strategy. This risotto looks delicious! Sorry about Chris’ dad. Glad he has the two of you to be there for him.
You speak the truth, Kathy! I would much rather focus on cute lady bug babies! Thanks!
Rachelle, this risotto sounds delicious! I love the pumpkin addition! Perfect fall cozy meal! Thanks for sharing and hope things start getting better!
Thanks so much for your kinds words, Mary Ann! I love pumpkin in just about anything.
I’m so sorry to hear that you and Chris are going through a tough time. Your lawyer advice is absolutely on point. It’s hard to plan for the bad stuff, but of course, we all have to.
I want this risotto right about now. I’m having a stressful week myself, and this seems like the perfect antidote!
Thanks Mir! Things are improving, so fingers crossed. If you are having a stressful week, you could always skip the risotto and go straight for the pumpkin beer! 🙂
Oh no! I’m sorry about your family issues. I know it’s difficult right now, but I’m positive y’all will get through it. I’m sending happy thoughts your way!
Thanks Meagan! We’ve made some progress, so fingers crossed!
First, I’m sending healing wishes and prayers to Chris’s dad and you both. I know how exhausting, both emotionally and physically, it is to take care of a sick parent.
The risotto sounds amazing! I had my first pumpkin beer last weekend and I really liked it. And I’m not a beer girl. Haha! You wouldn’t last a night in my house during the month of October. My husband has to watch the scariest movies possible.
Thanks so much, Linda! We appreciate your kindness!
I’m so glad you liked a pumpkin beer! What brewery? We really like Southern Tier’s Pumpking and our homebrew pumpkin is inspired by their flavors. I do have to say that it’s delicious and I think you would love it – but it is a bit potent! 🙂 I would need a bunch of it to hang in your scary movie house!