Startcooking.com is partnering with Chiquita to bring you a great contest in which you can win a Wii Fit and have your idea made into a startcooking.com video.

Our friends at Chiquita have asked us to make a video about their great Chiquita Bites product line, pre-sliced fruit and veggies that deliver great nutrition and pack a vitamin wallop in a super quick and convenient format.

As the focus of this product is its high nutritional value and convenience, we thought it would be great to have our friends and food bloggers help us come up with the best idea. This contest was also launched in our group on facebook, if you are a facebook member and want to be Kathy's friend, join our facebook group.

How to enter the contest?

Email your ideas for a 30 second video (150 words or less) that focus on using one of the following products in a fun an creative way. All entries must be receive before July 24th.

Chiquita Bites product line includes:

• Apple Bites – Pre-sliced Apples
• Apple Bites with Caramel Dip – Sliced Apples with a caramel dip
• Apple Grape Bites – Sliced apples with washed loose grapes
• Grape Bites – washed Loose grapes
• Carrot Bites – sliced and washed Carrots
• Peapod Bites – Sliced and washed peapods

The best idea will be turned into a video on startcooking.com with full credits given to you.

The winner also wins a free Wii Fit offered by Chiquita.

Contest rules can be read here.

I’m counting on your creativity and participation! Let yourself be inspired.

And remember the script has to be 30 seconds or less (150 words or less). Email us today!

Cheers!

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Heidi Adkisson, a former professional chef and now the Editor of Ward Street Bistro, is back and is cooking up a great Risotto! Not long ago, Heidi showed us how to make Berry Fruit Crisp which was fantastic!

She has been keeping busy doing scrumptious looking photo-tutorials at the Ward Street Bistro. (For example, the Corn Fritter Casserole is a “light” take on a southern classic, and the Market Seafood Chowder is to die for!) I am delighted to welcome Heidi back to startcooking.com!

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Risotto with Tomatoes and Mushrooms

by Heidi Adkisson

Ah, risotto. Rumors are it requires constant stirring during a 20-minute cooking period. It sounds daunting. But, the fact is, you can make a delicious risotto-style rice dish with no stirring required. I'm going to share with you my mushroom-and-tomato version. It makes a special side dish for a larger meal - or works as the centerpiece for a vegetarian meal.

Here are the ingredients....

...but I want to focus a minute on the rice. Using the right type of rice (Arborio) is important to get the moist texture that characterizes risottos. Arborio is a medium-grained Italian rice that's high in starch, which results in a creamier texture than long-grained rice.

1) We'll start with 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice. To concentrate the flavors, drain the tomatoes in a colander (reserving the juice for another use).

2) To pull additional moisture from the tomatoes, sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of salt.

3) Stir to incorporate the salt evenly. Let this mixture drain while preparing the other ingredients.

4) To prepare 2 cloves of garlic, first peel the cloves. To loosen the skins, I give the them a gentle whack with an old wooden potato masher, but the more conventional method is to press down on the cloves with the side of your knife.

5) Finely mince the garlic...

...and set aside.

6) Measure out 1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, or Chardonnay)...

...1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth...



...and 1 cup Arborio rice.

7) Place a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.



8) Add the Arborio rice to the saucepan...



...and stir to evenly coat the grains of rice with the oil. (This will prevent the risotto from becoming mushy.) Saute the rice, stirring, for about 1 minute.



9) Add the garlic...



...the white wine...

...and the broth.



10) Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring once.

11) Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook the rice for about 20 minutes: you want the rice to be tender, but still slightly firm to the bite. While the rice is cooking, prepare the mushrooms.



12) Gently clean by wiping with a damp paper towel 1/2 pound of mushrooms...



...and slice.



13) Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

14) Add the sliced mushrooms...

...and saute until all the moisture has evaporated, about 10 minutes.

15) To the skillet add the drained tomatoes.



16) As soon as the rice is cooked, add it to the skillet.

17) Stir to combine.The texture should be moist and creamy. If necessary, add a bit more broth. Taste and add more salt if desired.



18) Serve immediately garnished with some freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

This is a basic recipe that can be used with all sorts of ingredient combinations (vegetables, sausage, seafood, herbs...). Rather than garnishing with cheese, you can stir it in at the end. For extra richness, finish the dish with a tablespoon of butter. Risotto makes a great weekday meal and really doesn't take much more time than making a pasta.

Serves 2 as a entree; 4 as a side-dish.

You can view and print this recipe here.

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Mmmm ... sausage. Whether it’s Jimmy Dean at Sunday brunch, juicy ballpark franks at the game, or spicy merguez hot off the backyard grill, there’s no denying the delicious-ness of sausages.

They’ve got a solid fan base year round, but they are definitely the darlings of barbecue season. So, in the spirit of our popular 50 Ways to Use Bacon post, today we give you 35 Ways to Use Sausage.

Sure, there’s a bit of a “mystery meat” aura about sausages, because they are often made of leftovers, including organ parts and fat. The key to buying good sausage is to go for high meat content (70 per cent or higher) and all-natural varieties (which contain no fillers or artificial ingredients). If you’re buying hot dogs, go for the all-beef varieties.

There’s still the question of what kind of sausage to buy: Some sausages are cooked as part of their preparation, while others are raw, like most Italian sausage. Some are smoked, some are cooked and smoked, like kielbasa. While most sausage comes in a casing, American breakfast sausage is prepared in a patty format. Hey, these days there are even vegetarian and vegan sausages. To help figure out what’s what, here’s a handy guide to sausages from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

The bottom line is, there’s a sausage out there to suit your fancy! And there are many ways to prepare them. Take a look at the sausage links (pun intended) below to find the best fit.

1. First, it’s important to know that sausages can be boiled, fried, baked, barbecued or poached. The British site Sausage Links gives basic cooking instructions.
2. You can’t talk about the U.K. and sausage without mentioning Bangers and Mash, a classic pub combo of sausage and mashed potatoes. Here’s how to make a standard version, plus a healthier one.
3. To make a regular American hot dog in the microwave, just follow Kathy’s simple instructions.
4. When your hot dog or sausage is ready, why not try going beyond ketchup, mustard and relish? Here are some ideas for hot dog and sausage toppings from around the world.
5. Now, what to do with all those extra hot dog buns? Vegetarians, take note of this brilliant idea: make a banana dog. Pop a banana in that hot dog bun, add some peanut butter or other toppings and you’ve got a portable breakfast.
6. Kathy’s Sausage and Egg Casserole is another great way to start your day. Plus, with make-ahead steps, you can get it ready tonight for tomorrow’s big brunch!
7. While we don’t recommend indulging in these sausage muffins every day, they’re easy to make and sure to be a brunch hit. They’re made with Jimmy Dean sausage, Bisquick and (yes, you’re reading this right) cheese soup.
8. The blog On Pans and Kneadles gives us more of a sausage McMuffin idea that you can make with the kids.
9. Italian Sausage with Zucchini Ribbons makes an elegant summer appetizer or light meal.
10. Try these turkey sausages, made with ground meat and fried up in a pan.
11. If you want to impress everyone, you can use your homemade turkey sausage in this pasta sauce, then make lasagna with it!
12. Roasted Sweet Potato and Andouille Sausage Soup consists of about four ingredients. Andouille (pronounced An-DOO-Wee) is a smoked pork sausage often used in Cajun cooking.
13. The Perfect Pantry gives us a recipe that takes advantage of an interesting grain (fregula sarda) in combination with leeks and sausage.
14. Make a hearty meal with this one simple recipe: Chickpea and Sausage Stew with Spinach.
15. Roasted Vegetables and Sausage is a great way to take advantage of deliciously fresh summer produce.
16. Or try vegetables, sausage, and pasta together in this 30-minute meal.
17. Blueberry and Sausage Bake sounds like another delicious breakfast option.
18. For a Cajun flavor, try these red beans and rice with sausage, spiced up with some Tony C’s Cajun seasoning.
19. Try some sausage, radicchio and mozzarella pizza with easy homemade crust for a change from takeout or delivery.
20. Have you heard of anelletti pasta? Think of the “O’s” in Spaghetti-O’s, only it’s nice, real pasta. Yum! Try it with sausage and greens for a fresh, delicious dinner.
21. If you know how to make biscuits (or buy them) you can impress the whole crowd for Sunday brunch with the best sausage gravy recipe to accompany them.
22. If you’re going to a potluck, give this spicy sausage bean hotpot (with beer in it) a try. You might just be the star of lunch!
23. For the heartiest of hearty soups, try this split pea soup with kielbasa in it!
24. For an easy dinner for a family of four, pick up some Italian bread on the way home and whip up this easy Italian Sausage Casserole.
25. This orzo with chicken and sausage looks absolutely divine, and the spice mixture sounds perfect.
26. If you want pasta with a zippy sauce, you might like this eggplant sausage sauce recipe. So easy!
27. If fennel is up your alley, try this ziti with sausage, onions and fennel.
28. Deep-dish sausage tomato pizza made from scratch looks and sounds delicious.
29. Or, for a wacky twist, try this upside-down sausage pizza! Maybe with pineapple upside-down cake for dessert?
30. These cheesy sausage balls would make a great appetizer or snack for game night (whether board games or football) with your frieands.
31. Here’s a way to combine apple pie and sausage! Apple and sausage pie is especially easy if you buy a frozen crust.
32. And, of course, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, you’ll need other options. Wifemomblogger found a great recipe for vegetarian sausage.
33. This fat-free vegan raves about the same recipe, which she has used in pastas, on pizza, in soup and more.
34. And once you’ve made your vegan sausage (or bought some) you can make roasted poblano peppers with mushrooms and vegan sausage, which has beautiful presentation.
35. For more recipes, and an extensive list of fine sausage shops (only in the U.K., sorry to say), visit the Sausage Fans website. Another Britain-based haven for sausage lovers is Sausage and Bread, a site "dedicated to sausage sandwiches, hot dogs and all varieties of that magical combination: sausage and bread."

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