Five Cheese and Mushroom Slow Cooker Risotto

Start to finish: 2 hours
Impresses: 8

Ingredients
2 tablespoons salted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
8 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
½ teaspoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1¾ cups Arborio rice
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup white wine 
1 10-ounce can cream of mushroom soup
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 
¼ cup grated Asiago cheese 
¼ cup grated fontina cheese
¼ cup grated Romano
¼ cup shredded Gouda
¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped

Method
Heat a Dutch oven or a slow cooker with a saute setting over medium heat. Add butter and olive oil until butter is melted. Add shallot and saute until slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms, and cook until softened and all moisture is cooked out, about 10 minutes. Season with pepper and thyme and toss to coat.

Add Arborio rice and toss to coat. Cook about 2 minutes. If sauteing in a Dutch oven, transfer rice mixture to a slow cooker. Add chicken broth, wine and cream of mushroom soup. Stir to combine and cover.

Cook on high for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until almost all moisture has absorbed. Stir in Parmesan cheese, Asiago cheese, fontina cheese, Romano and Gouda until melted. Stir in parsley and serve immediately. 

Grilled Beer Cheese Dip

Start to finish: 20 minutes
Impresses: A crowd

Ingredients
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
6 ounces fontina cheese, shredded
4 ounces Gruyere, shredded
1½ teaspoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons salted butter
½ white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 ounces beer, a lager preferred, such as an Oktoberfest or Pilsner
¾ cup heavy cream
Kosher salt, to taste
Paprika, for serving
Green onions, sliced, for serving
Soft pretzels, for serving

Method
Place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat on the grill. Allow the pan to heat 5–7 minutes. While the pan heats, toss the cheddar, fontina and Gruyere with the cornstarch and set aside.

When the pan is hot, add the butter and onion. Stir to coat, cooking the onions for 3 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the flour and stir to combine, cooking for another minute.

Add the cream cheese and stir vigorously until melted and smooth; mixture will be thick. Whisk in the beer until smooth and well-combined. Add the cheeses and heavy cream. Move pan to indirect heat, and stir until dip is smooth. Taste and add kosher salt as needed.

Remove pan from heat and sprinkle with paprika and sliced green onions to serve.

Notes: Heat the pre-made soft pretzels on the grill. Brush the pretzels with melted butter, sprinkle with salt and place over direct high heat for 2–3 minutes, or until warmed through.