My version of the Risotto Puttanesca

Being a mom is a full time job and every once in a while one needs a break from the job & one needs to unwind.

I am lucky to have a great support system in my family who encourage me to head out with my friends while they take care of RV in my absence. I think this is so so important for all mothers, you need to trust your family, husband or whoever to take care of your baby while you take a break from being mommy. You shall come back refreshed and recharged to take on your mommy responsibilities. 

One such evening we headed out to Hauz Khas village for dinner with friends and landed up at Imperfecto where we ate this absolutely delicious creamy risotto called Risotto Puttanesca. 

Thats where I got inspiration for this Risotto recipe. Now Risotto is one of the easiest dishes to cook all it needs is some time and patience. So here is rendition of the Risotto Puttanesca. I ended up adding some vegetable to this since my sister is a fussy eater and till date we need to mask vegetables in various forms to get her to eat :)

Risotto Puttanesca served Piping hot

Ingredients

3 tablespoon of butter

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, sliced

1/2 Yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

4-5 baby corn, chopped

2-3 tomatoes, chopped and pureed

1 teaspoon (more or less) red chili flakes

2-3 tablespoon of oregano (I prefer to use the ones we get with Dominoes Pizza)

1 cup arborio rice

1/2 cup white wine

6-7 cups vegetable/ chicken stock (I usually add my salt to the vegetable stock)

2 tablespoon of fresh cream

Freshly grated parmesan cheese or even amul cheese cubes would work

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Salt to taste

Method

• Sautee the finely chopped bell pepper & Chopped baby corn in butter and set aside
• In a pan, add butter and chopped garlic. To this, add the tomato puree and stir till the tomatoes reduce and the puree is cooked
• In a separate pan, add a tablespoon of butter and to this add the chopped onions. Cook the onions for a minute and then add the arborio rice. Stir the arborio rice and cook for a couple of minutes
• Now add the wine to the arborio rice and cook till the wine evaporates
• Now add a cup of vegetable stock and cook till stock is absorbed. Now keep adding vegetable stock one cup at a time till the risotto is cooked. This may take unto 45 minutes
• Once the Risotto is cooked, lower the flame. Now add the tomato puree & fresh cream and stir. 
• Also add the sautéed vegetables to the risotto
• Add grated cheese, oregano, red chilli flakes and salt if required
• Garnish with some cheese and parsley and serve steaming hot

This is a simple yet tasty recipe which one can whip up easily.You may choose to add other vegetable like mushrooms or olive as a variation based on your preference. Happy cooking :)

Product Review: Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system

Having a baby is a life changing experience. Somethings change forever, for instance earlier you could make plans at the spur of the moment, however now one needs to plan travel/ visits keeping the baby in mind.

One product that can really help parents when it comes to travelling with the baby is a Travel System. And the number of choices available in the market when it comes to a strollers, car seats and travel systems is mind boggling. Unfortunately we didn't find very helpful sales person at the stores to guide us & help us decide between strollers or Travel systems.

So we decided to reach out to some of our friends who had recently become parents. And we were rather surprised as we got a unanimous response, they recommended the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system.

Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel System
(Photo credits: www.amazon.com)

The first question that came to my mind was, why should one buy an expensive travel system when one can purchase a stroller at a cheaper price?

My friends explained to me that a travel system is a stroller which can fix a car seat on top.  These are convenient as you can just lift carseat out of car with baby and clip (facing you) onto top of pushchair. 

So how does this feature of fixing the car seat on top of the stroller come in handy?

From experience I can tell you that invariably your baby will doze off when you drive around with him/ her strapped in the car seat. Once you reach the destination all you need to do is to lift the car seat out of the base and place it on the stroller without disturbing the little one. If you are going to a restaurant you can simply carry the baby in the car seat itself. We have enjoyed many a dinners like this with the baby sleeping peacefully in the car seat at the restaurant.

The Car seat fits onto the stroller like this, allowing easy eye contact with the baby.

Additionally the car seat when fixed on the pushchair allows the baby to face you, that is not the case with most strollers. It helps when the baby is looking at you as it keeps her engaged and helps you keep an eye on them.

But does one really need a car seat for the baby?

I would highly recommend one since it keeps the baby safe during car travel in case of any eventuality. Also it serves the purpose of a rocker that one can use at home or restaurants. For instance we use the car seat at home when my little one wants sit in the sun after a bath or when we go to some restaurant.

I have been using the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system for about two months. Here are some of the pros and Cons that I have observed.

Some Pros

• The car seat is extremely convenient and easy to use. Easily snaps onto the base and easy to take out of the car
• The inserts in the carseat make it comfortable for use with Infants, providing adequate support to the baby when seated
• It can also be used as a rocker
• The car seats easily fits onto the stroller. This allows the baby to face you making it easier
  for you to engage with the baby when using the stroller
• The stroller is comfortable and easy to use & also allows one hand fold making it easy to stow and keep away
• The stroller is sturdy and stable and provides for easy storage 
• The stroller also provides for ample storage with the storage basket at the bottom & a few compartments to store smaller items or a drink when pushing the stroller
• The stroller is easy to steer and comes with lockable front wheels

The stroller provides for ample storage options- a basket at the bottom of the stroller and a small storage box for keys and other small items on the top along with a drink holder.

One hand fold design makes it easy to fold and store

Some Cons

• The car seat can be quiet heavy to lift once you put the baby in it. Also the car seat has a 30-lb weight limit for the baby.
• The stroller is a little bulky and difficult to use in narrow spaces
• This one is slightly more expensive than the other travel systems available in India and also the colour choices are very limited

Overall I am quiet happy with this product and would most certainly recommend it to other parents.