Vincent Price Cookalong!

Halloween time or not, there’s little more terrifying than liver.

We kid, we kid.

This 1970s chicken liver risotto recipe from Vincent Price — courtesy of Jenny from Silver Screen Suppers — is more treat than trick.

My mother armed her cooking arsenal with Vincent Price recipes early and — lucky us — his Yorkshire pudding, Quiche Lorraine and Sweet Mouthful (Boccone Dolce) remain in heavy rotation.

When Jenny announced her Vincent Price Halloween Cookalong, I was keen to take part in the virtual reality potluck party because I am a Halloween freak, and I knew the recipes were going to be solid.

She assigned me this recipe for Chicken Liver Risotto from Cooking Price-Wise:

When I first saw the bacon, chicken livers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese, the flavours made me think of autumn. How woodsy and fitting for Halloween. If there was a killer lurking nearby, even better.

Price’s recipe is brief: there are no fussy risotto instructions warning that you’ll fail if you aren’t simmering your stock in a nearby pot, or that you’ll end up with a sticky clump of something resembling risotto if you don’t add slowly as each ladleful evaporates.

No matter. It works. I’ll admit I was frightened the bacon fat is never drained, but I got over it when saw the glistening grains of rice coated in that swirling sheen of fat.

If you are a chicken liver hater, you could leave them out and enjoy a bacon mushroom risotto, but in truth the livers break down and impart an earthy flavour that really gives the dish body.

This is a creamy, rich risotto and perfect as it is. I was so tempted to add a splash of brandy to the livers, or a glug of white wine as I usually do as I’m stirring the rice constantly. But I’m glad I made it as written.

Thanks Jenny for your deliciously demented idea and letting me play along, and kudos global potluckers — I’m loving your blogs!

Here are links for your enjoyment:

Jenny of Silver Screen Suppers – Oxtail Creole

Emily of Dinner is Served 1972 – Beef Heart Stewed

Brian of Caker Cooking – Fish Fillets Nord Zee

Cathy of Battenburg Belle – Deviled Shrimp and Rice

Sally of My Custard Pie – Deviled Rib Bones

Ruth of Mid Century Menu – Unwealthy Wellington

Angela of Glamorous Glutton – Steak Moutarde Flambe

Lauren of The Past on a Plate – Ayrshire Poacher’s Roll

Mimi of The Retro WW Experiment – Chinese Chicken

Carol of Craftypants Carol – Deviled Crab

Erica of Retrorecipe – Cucumber Crocodile and Melon Monster 

Susie of Bittersweet Susie – Carolina Deviled Clams

Lisa of Beyond the Fringes – Calf’s Liver Marine

Michael of Michael MacMahon – Chicken in Vermouth

Helen of Zelda’s Secrets – Champignons Grilles Marie Victoire

Cathy of Battenburg Belle also made the Pumpkin Pie

Ruth of Mid Century Menu also made version 2 of Vincent’s Bloody Mary and his Pumpkin Pie