A Favorite: Radicchio

I can't quite call it an old favorite, this radicchio, because I never ever had or saw it as a child, although it is akin to our Belgian endive. But it is an old favorite in these pages, and I've made a whole rice risotto with radicchio last Sunday which two impromptu guests enjoyed.

I have two pre-Xmas dinners lined up in the coming weeks where I'll don the apron and serve dinner to friends, one for four, the other for seven people. Contrary to previous years, I haven't had time to plan ahead and prepare, let alone try out. I'm breezily happy I have time to shop for produce. Stick to simplicity, G. advised.

For the hors d'oeuvres or appetizers, I may as well resort to favorites that I can prepare in advance: why not a risotto like this one. Back in 2006, I followed the recipe at Lucullian Delights, Ilva's famous blog from rural Tuscany that got me started with blogging and which I still follow. My old take can be found here.