Risotto with fennel and green asparagus

Bring the stock to a boil. Wash the fennel and remove thebitter heart. Cut the fennel into small pieces. Reserve someof the fennel leaves as a garnish.Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy-based pan and sauté the shallots, fennel and garlic until transparent. Add the rice and stir continuously until it also becomes transparent. Deglaze the pan with the sherry and stir until it has been absorbed by the rice.Add the hot stock to the rice a ladleful at a time, stirringconstantly. Squeeze the lemon over the rice. Keep adding stock after the rice has absorbed all of the liquid in the pan.After 10 minutes, add the asparagus. Simmer for another 10minutes until all of the stock has been absorbed and the rice iscreamy and tender.Stir in the Parmesan and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with fennel leaves and lemon wedges.