Butternut squash & sage risotto,Blondies

Ingredients

  • 1kg butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size chunks
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • bunch sage, leaves picked, half roughly chopped, half left whole
  • 1½ l vegetable stock
  • 50g butter
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 300g risotto rice (we used arborio)
  • 1 small glass white wine
  • 50g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated
  • Cooking time

    Prep: 10 mins Cook: 40 mins

    Skill level

    Easy

    Servings

    Serves 4 

    Method

    1. Before you make the risotto, heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Toss the squash in 1 tbsp oil together with the chopped sage. Scatter into a shallow roasting tin and roast for 30 mins until it is brown and soft.
    2. While the squash is roasting, prepare the risotto. Bring the stock to the boil and keep on a low simmer. In a separate pan, melt half the butter over a medium heat. Stir in the onions and sweat gently for 8-10 mins until soft but not coloured, stirring occasionally. Stir the rice into the onions until completely coated in the butter, then stir continuously until the rice is shiny and the edges of the grain start to look transparent.
    3. Pour in the wine and simmer until totally evaporated. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time and stirring the rice over a low heat for 25-30 mins, until the rice is cooked al dente (with a slightly firm, starchy bite in the middle). The risotto should be creamy and slightly soupy. When you draw a wooden spoon through it, there should be a wake that holds for a few moments but not longer.
    4. At the same time, gently fry the whole sage leaves in a little olive oil until crisp, then set aside on kitchen paper. When the squash is cooked, mash half of it to a rough purée and leave half whole. When the risotto is just done, stir though the purée, then add the cheese and butter and leave to rest for a few mins. Serve the risotto scattered with the whole chunks of squash and the crisp sage leaves.
     
  • Blondies

      

    Ingredients

    1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for buttering the pan
    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 cup light brown muscovado sugar
    1/2 cup dark brown muscovado sugar
    2 large eggs
    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    1 cup milk chocolate chips
    1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted almonds
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons toffee chips

    Total Time:
    1 hr 20 min
    Prep
    15 min
    Inactive
    35 min
    Cook
    30 min

    Yield:
    18 to 36 squares

    Level:
    Easy

    Directions

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing a 2-inch overhang. Butter the lining too.

    Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

    Melt the butter in a medium saucepan; add both sugars and whisk until combined and the sugar is melted, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until combined. Add the flour mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips, almonds and toffee chips and transfer the mixture to the prepared pan.

    Bake until the top cracks slightly and is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist pieces clinging to it, 24 to 27 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. Remove the bars from the pan using the parchment handles, transfer to a cutting board and cut into 2-inch squares.


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