About a month ago I made the WORST RISOTTO EVER.  I did something I rarely do and believed someone when they said a recipe was just as good as the original when done in the slow-cooker.  I was skeptical, but thought this could be a great time-saver.  So one Sunday morning I pulled the crockpot out and left it to work its risotto magic while I went off to church.  The result was that I served up saffron and white wine GLUE to a friend.

I was left both with a sense of disappointment and a taste for good risotto.  Fortunately I had this little gem of a recipe flagged and all of the ingredients on hand.  It’s perfect comfort food, hitting your stomach all warm and creamy.  It’s also perfectly decadent without leaving greatnutritional value behind.  It’s rich in butter and lycopene, iron, calcium, and vitamin C.  And flavor.  Yes, it’s definitely rich in flavor.

Tomato and Sausage Risotto

Found at smittenkitchen.com, adapted from Martha Stewart Everyday Food

Serves 4

1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed

1 small onion, finely chopped

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 cup Arborio rice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 bunch flat-leaf spinach (10 to 14 ounces), stems removed, chopped (about 7 cups)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving (optional)

2 tablespoons butter

In a small saucepan, combine tomatoes (with their juice) and 3 cups water. Bring just to a simmer; keep warm over low heat.

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add sausage and onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up sausage with a spoon, until sausage is opaque and onion has softened, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add rice; cook, stirring until well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring until absorbed, about 1 minute.

Add about 2 cups hot tomato mixture to rice; simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Continue adding tomato mixture, 1 cup at a time, waiting for one cup to be absorbed before adding the next, stirring occasionally, until rice is creamy and just tender, about 25 minutes total (you may not have to use all the liquid).

Remove pan from heat. Stir in spinach, Parmesan, and butter; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately (risotto will thicken as it cools), and sprinkle with additional Parmesan, if desired.