from Easy Gourmet: Awesome Recipes Anyone Can Cook printed with permission of Page St. Publishing Creamy and comforting, risotto is one of the best things you’ll ever learn how to cook. The first time I made risotto I stirred until my arm was about to fall off. It took forever until my rice was al dente and creamy. I later realized that heating the stock before stirring it into the rice is key, as is toasting your rice kernels. Once you have the technique down, risotto is quick and easy to make. If you leave out the peas and bacon in this recipe, you’ll have a blank slate risotto that you can customize as you please.