French Friday with Dorie: Creamy, Cheesy, Garlicky Rice with Spinach

I watch Top Chef. So, I know that the chef who doesn't cook their risotto perfectly is often the one sent to pack their knives and go home. When I read Dorie's intro to this week's French Friday with Dorie recipe, I admit that I got a little nervous because I have never made risotto.

But, I should realize by now that I can trust Dorie. You bring chicken broth to a boil, add a cup of Arborio rice and simmer until the broth has almost been absorbed which was about 26 minutes on my stove. Turn off the heat and let it finish cooking. I chopped the onion and garlic and grated some Gruyère cheese while the spinach was cooking. These are all the ingredients that make this dish so delicious. I found some beautiful bell peppers at the store and they are at the lowest price they will be all season, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to try Dorie's Bonne Idée to stuff the peppers with the rice.

An hour later, you have this wonderful way to serve and eat your risotto. 

I tasted the risotto before stuffing the peppers and thought it tasted so good alone, but eaten with the mild pepper took the risotto to another level. Both my husband and daughter said, "This is excellent!" And they both ended up picking their pepper up with both hands and eating it that way. I could tell by their expressions how much they were enjoying it. I couldn't believe that I was eating a stuffed pepper. I grew up with my mom making stuffed green peppers, but I would always eat the stuffing and leave the pepper because green pepper tastes too strong for me. I had the orange pepper and it was a perfect combination of flavors.

It was so worth turning the oven on and heating up the kitchen on a 100 degree day. And, I am so glad that I stashed some of the risotto in a dish in the refrigerator to take for lunch today. I wonder what the other group members thought about this dish? Head on over to French Fridays with Dorie with me to find out.