“Savor a symphony of flavors in our Butternut Squash Risotto, enhanced with Parmesan and peas. A culinary masterpiece that elevates every bite to perfection.”

butternut squash risotto with parmesan and peas

Sooooooo….how was your turkey day?

Was it filled with turkey wishes and pumpkin pie dreams?

Hopefully all the above.

Our Thanksgiving was pretty quiet. This was Mr. B and I’s first Thanksgiving with just the two of us. To be honest, I missed not being with family, but at the end of the day, I knew it was the right call staying home. Things have been crazy for both of us over the past six months and having a couple of days to sit and breathe at home was like experiencing a small miracle.

Plus, we made our first turkey EVER! I was a little terrified at first thinking about making a big ol’ bird by ourselves, but we managed to pull it off. It was turkey leg licking good. Let’s just say we may be hosting Thanksgiving dinner next year.#hintofamilyinkansas.

Annnnnd. . .on with today’s recipe! I saw this in Rachel Ray’s Magazine a couple of weeks ago and figured it would be a great way to transition the mind and body from turkey sweat pant wearing to the I-still-feel-good-about-wearing-super-cute-skinny-jeans-to-the-upcoming-Christmas-office-party. Hey, the holidays are hard.

butternut squash risotto with parmesan and peas

The “risotto” in the dish is not made from the typical arborio rice. Instead, it’s made with barley, which we all know has a zillion healthy benefits like fiber and vitamins. Besides the ease of cooking barley, you can throw in some leftover butternut squash or buy frozen if you can’t look at your oven anymore. If you don’t like peas, maybe green beans tickle your fancy? That’s the beauty of this dish. Switch it up, yo! If you want to keep it meatless, no problem. If not, you can always throw leftover turkey on top.

But! Whatever you do, don’t skip the cheese! That would be a terrible, terrible mistake.

Make this simple dish and stay home-away from all the Black Friday craziness. Santa will thank you.

“Conclude your dining experience with Butternut Squash Risotto—a divine blend of comfort and sophistication, leaving your palate satisfied and craving for more.”