Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto • theVintageMixer.com

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto

Written by Becky

So, we’ve been slow cooking a lot already this season.  I’m a mom and I work, so the slow cooker is like my little helper these days.  I shared with you my Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli with Three Grains from the Slow Cooker and you all gave me your ideas for healthier slow cooked recipes, which I’m incredibly grateful for. Then, I went back too the drawing board and came up with this Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe that I think you’ll love!

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto

Today you can get the full Butternut Squash Risotto recipe today on Hamilton Beach’s blog.  I shared my recipe with them and they’re giving away another slow cooker to you!  Since you’ve already shared your slow cooker favorites, please leave a comment with your favorite Butternut Squash Recipe or use and for a second entry, share a Vintage Mixer recipe on Pinterest (include with your comment what recipe you pinned).  This giveaway will end on Friday Natalie B is the Winner! I don’t know a better kitchen gadget to have this holiday season than a slow cooker so good luck!!

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto • theVintageMixer.com

About the Recipe

There are a few extra steps to this recipe that really amp up the flavor.  One is roasting the butternut squash.  I think you could just put cubed butternut squash in the slow cooker with out roasting it but the passive time it takes to roast it is made up for in flavor.  So if you have the time, roast, even if you need to do it the day before.  Also, if you’re around the house while the risotto is cooking give it a little swirl and stir every 30 minutes to an hour. Again, this is not necessary but helpful for sure.

Find the full recipe on EverydayGoodThinking.com

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto • theVintageMixer.com

On another note, I’ve been struggling to find ways to share more life with you here on this blog.  I have more to say (that I hope you’ll enjoy) but often times it has nothing to do with my recipe and it seems to difficult to try and weave the life story into the recipe story. So, I’ve decided to not try to hard to blend the two but separate them.  If you come for the recipe, stick to that, but if you want a little more, I’ll be sharing that too.  Under the recipe intro paragraphs I’ll be adding a subtitle with a little story, quote or idea that has been impaction my life.  I hope you enjoy it!

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto • theVintageMixer.com

A Little Story about Sleeping Babies

Everett has never been a good sleeper. No wait, I take that back, between the months of 1-4 he slept well. Then, never again, until recently. Sleep deprived and weary, it was hard to ever be on a schedule and we often gave in to soothing car rides scheduled near bed time, and letting nursing soothe to sleep. Now, Everett is sleeping through the night and we can think a little more clearly.  I wanted to get him in a better routine so I started something simple. Before I get to that, I want to say that I hear all the time how parents dread bed times, the resistant crying, the tantrums, etc and I was going down this road. Bed times weren’t pleasant around our house. I knew I needed a change in perspective and as always God is good at giving me just that.

A dear friend once told me that she took the quite moments of feeding her little one in the middle of the night to pray. I was reminded of this lately as I’ve been rocking little Everett to sleep.  We came up with an easy routine (routine is hard at the Rosenthal home!!) but here is what we came up with: dinner, play, bath, read, then bed time. Bed time now consists singing and swaying Everett until he relaxes in my arms then rocking until he falls asleep. While I’m rocking, its quite, the most peaceful moment of my day. I pray. I think. I’m still.

All of the sudden I find myself looking forward to bedtime, those sweet moments of enjoying my cuddly child and the silence. We rock indefinitely and time seems to stand still. As he falls asleep, our breath rises and falls together and our bodies like candle wax, melt together. Once he’s fast asleep I peel myself off of the rocking chair and gently place my sweet boy in his crib, saying a blessing over him, and a little prayer that he’ll sleep through the night.  Who knows how long this stage will last (as I’ve learned most stages don’t last long in child rearing!) but I will soak in every bed time I can get for now.

There are many thoughts on this and I’m not here to say what’s right or wrong, black or white, I just want to share what I feel God is teaching me in the process of learning to love bedtime.

Comments (28)

    • What a sweet memory! It’s nice to have a slow cooker version for those times that you don’t have the time (or extra hands) to stir risotto for 30 minutes.

  1. I love making Apple Sausage Squash soup! Cook together chicken stock, apple cider, 2 apples, butternut squash, and sage til veggies are tender. While doing this I pan fry Italian sausage cut into bite-size pieces. Add sausage to soup. Top with grated Parmesan. I (pinterest user Lorettoberg) also pinned your homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate- looks so comforting!

  2. Butternut squash lasagna! With sage and lots of cheese. It’s so warm and comforting. Also, I pinned your prosciutto-wrapped turkey recipe to my Thanksgiving Board, and I fully intend to make it next week!

  3. The bedtime story is so precious! I still remember rocking your sweet husband! Those times I pray will never be forgotten!

    • Thanks Lana. I know many parents these days dread bedtimes but I really do look forward to it now! And I’m sure I’ll never retreat taking the time to rock him to sleep!

  4. Butternut squash is one of my favorites! I usually keep it simple. Roast it up in a huge batch and eat it for the rest of the week. Usually with spicy beans or chickpeas.

  5. I love this, Becky. I used to cherish the middle of the night feeding with the boys. It was quiet, so peaceful and I too, used that time to reflect on the good. It goes by so quick. Being a parent it challenging, no doubt about it. But it’s also a privilege. Thanks for the sweet reminder to give my boys an extra hug! xo

  6. Risotto in a slow cooker? Sign me up! I made a truffled butternut squash lasagna for Thanksgiving last year that was delightful.

    I’m also looking forward to trying the Berry Scone recipe that I just pinned. I always love a maximum berry ratio!

  7. I’m actually on a search for butternut squash recipes because I have a gorgeous butternut squash and no idea how to prepare it. I’ve never had one before. I don’t honestly have a recipe or use – yet. But by next week I hope to have something delicious under my belt.

    I’m leaning towards a soup or pasta, I think. Roasting it first.

  8. Thank you for offering such a wonderful giveaway! One of my favorites is roasted butternut squash. So simple, delicious, and a holiday must.

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