1. Soak the porcini in the cold water for 30 minutes. Lift the mushrooms from the soaking water, squeezing them over the water to return any liquid to the cup; dice the mushrooms. Strain the porcini water through a fine-mesh sieve and add it to the stock.

2. Heat the stock until it reaches a low simmer, then adjust the heat so that it stays just at the simmering point.

3. Heat the olive oil over low heat in a wide heavy pot. Add the shallots & sauté until they begin to soften, 3-4 minutes. Add the rice and stir well to coat the grains. Add the porcini and portobello mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes.

4. Add a ladle of stock (about ½ cup). Stir until the liquid is absorbed. Add the salt and pepper. Keep the heat under the rice at medium and the liquid always simmering.

5. After adding 3 or 4 ladles of stock, add the wine. Continue to stir frequently and to add a ladle of stock at a time. When the rice is almost cooked through, in about 20-25 minutes, reduce the amount of stock added each time. As soon as the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and serve hot.

"The Occasional Vegetarian" by Karen Lee. Posted by Diane Lazarus