In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta squares until al dente, about 5 minutes.

Add 1 cup of the warm stock and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until nearly absorbed.Continue adding the stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until it is nearly absorbed between additions.

The risotto is done when the rice is al dente and suspended in a thick, creamy sauce, about 20 minutes total.Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter.Add the mushrooms and shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned, about 10 minutes.

Scrape the mushrooms into the risotto and stir in the cheese and parsley.Intense, blackberry-scented red from Rosso Conero in Italy's Marches region..

Originally appeared: February 2009.The white elephant gift exchange will be here before you know it, so it's a good idea to get ahead while quick delivery is still an option.

Many people end up buying a safe pick like a. coffee mug.She has reported stories on food, lifestyle, and culture in other works, including The New York Times, Bon Appétit, GQ, VICE, The Guardian, TASTE, Vox, and Harvard Magazine.

She provided additional reporting and expertise for this piece.Getty Images; Antonis Achilleos.When Prince Harry’s book “Spare” hit store shelves, royal followers and the ultra-curious among us tore through its pages to find some rather salacious details of royal life.

While we’ll leave most of that up to our friends at., there was one particular passage that caught our attention.