Valentine’s Day is “a day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love. When we love someone, we experience the same positive thoughts and experiences as when we like a person. But we also experience a deep sense of care and commitment towards that person”.

Being “in love” includes all the above and also involves God’s love for us; He loves us so much that he gave us Jesus so that we might have eternal life of problem free in heaven. I trust our feelings of respect and understanding of our loved one feeling should be like Jesus out of His pure sacrifice.

Do you know Love can begin in the very middle of your heart? You know it when you see a baby smile. When you are willing to give your time for your loved one. You can express your love in cooking for your loved one. It does not need extravagant expensive meals. It can be a simple easy budget meal in your pantry and fridge.

All you need is to produce a romantic dinner that your loved one loves to eat or you can surprise your loved one. I am sure your loved one is much less interested in all the necessities gifts than in the right responses from you – Love. Which is at no cost: Love is sharing, respecting, understanding, sacrificing your time and showing appreciation.

When you are cooking risoni risotto, you have to be patience. Waiting for the water to completely absorb before putting another ladle of water. All you needed are four pieces of bacon, some peas, some snow peas, dried mushrooms, butter and Grana Padano cheese. Serve it with a glass of white wine.

The same with your heart. Loving your loved one deeply as the years goes by. The bacon is cooked till crispy like sharing your innermost feelings, peas and snow peas are respecting and understanding without complaining.

Dried mushrooms will expand when soaking in water like sacrificing your time listening to your loved one and showing appreciation is butter and cheese melted like your love wrapping around. The wine represents your Love is as sweet as your pure heart. Place your love into the risotto. Let’s cook your loved one a delicious, simple, budget meal and make her/him feel like love is made in heaven.

Ingredients

300 g risoni
4 pieces bacon, cut into bite size
150 g baby peas
150 g snow peas
20 g dried porcini
4 c boiling water
2 Tbs oil
2 Tbs Grana Padano, plus extra for garnish
1 Tbs butter
chili flakes, (OPT)
salt
black pepper

Method

Heat oil in a deep pan on medium high heat. Cook bacon until crispy and brown. Add snow peas and toss around for a minute or two. Next in goes the peas.

Now add in risoni and mix it in with bacon, snow peas and peas. Next pour 2 1/2 c boiling water. Add salt and pepper then turn down heat to low. Leave to simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Do check on risoni and give a couple of stirring to stop it from sticking to the pan.

If you want risoni to be a little oozy or too dry add a little more water, add 1 c more water. Stir to mix well. By now risoni should be al dente and starchy and water has absorbed. Add in butter, Grana Padano cheese and the remaining 1/2 c water into the pan. Check the consistency, seasoning, add black pepper.

Serve immediately in a bowl with more Grana Padano cheese and chili flakes. Also serve with a chilled white wine. Enjoy!!!!!

Note: Snow peas are also called snap peas. You can use vegetable stock instead of water. You can use pancetta instead of bacon. If using pancetta, be weary of saltiness; reduce or don’t add salt.

You can omit chili flakes. You can use any cheese of your choice. You can use spinach instead of snap peas or leave it out.

https://helenscchin.com/2021/01/26/risoni-bacon-and-vegetables-risotto/

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