Yeah, yeah, it takes forever, your hand gets sore, it’s hot standing over the steamy stovetop, blah blah blah. Just quit yer whinin and make it already, princess.

6 1/2 cups vegetable stock, blended with a 1/2 cup of lemon juice, kept at a low simmer on the stove top
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
4 cups sliced mushrooms
1 large red onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 shallots, minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cups arborio rice
4 tbsp margarine (Earth Balance is best)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
salt and pepper to taste

Melt 2 tbsp of the margarine in a large sauce pan. Add the mushrooms, onions, garlic and shallots and saute for a few minutes. add the rice and stir for two minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering stock to the pot and stir until it is absorbed. Continue adding 1/2 cup of stock at a time, and letting it absorb into the rice before adding the next ladelful. Fear not! 2 cups of rice will indeed absorb 7 cups of liquid. The rice will begin to release starch and the whole mixture will take on a creamy consistancy. Once all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is al dente, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chopped basil, the nutritional yeast, the last 2 tbsp margarine, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Makes enough for 6 as a side dish; or 4 as a main course.