Recipe: Asparagus Risotto

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 1" lengths on a diagonal
4 - 5 cups chicken stock (heated)
2 tlbs. olive oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tlbs. unsalted butter

Directions: Blanch asparagus in salted water until just tender (2 minutes); set aside. In saucepan over medium heat, bring stock to gentle simmer and maintain over low heat. In large, heavy saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and stir until each grain is well coated with oil and rice is translucent with a white dot in the center (about 3 minutes). Add the wine and stir until it is completely absorbed. Add the simmering stock...a ladleful at a time, continuously stirred after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed before adding the next ladleful. (This is the secret to great risotto!) Reserve 1/4 cup to add at end. When the rice is almost tender to the bite, but slightly firm in the center and it looks creamy, add the asparagus and a ladleful of stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is heated through and the rice is al dente. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and reserved stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve a once. Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!

Did you know that...

the Inns at Blackberry Commons is a proud member of the Passport to New England group?

This exclusive group features 12 New England inns located in 6 different states, all members of Select Registry, the highest standard of excellence achievable in the industry. These 13 inns offer passport members savings, credits toward free nights stays, gifts as a guest at the member inns, and much more. Please visit the website for more details at http://www.passporttonewengland.com/. Keep in mind, when you visit us or any of the member inns, you can request to become a member and receive your passport card with credits for your first stay! Planning a bed & breakfast tour? Visit the website for a variety of special packages available and plan to make the passport member inns your first stop! Check our Special Packages page for two of these packages that combine stays at fellow passports member inns with the Inns at Blackberry Commons!

We are very proud to announce that the Inns have been certified as Environmental Leaders in Hospitality by the Department of Environmental Protection for the State of Maine. Due to our "green" efforts, we are one of 77 locations in the state that have recieved this cerfitication, and we continue to improve and expand our program every day! You may have seen an earlier entry regarding all of our efforts here at the inn to contribute to reserving our natural resources, recycling and conservation. We are always making changes, and welcome your suggestions and input. While you are here as our guests, we are happy to help you with recyclables and any other "green" practices you keep toward improving our environment!