Cabbage, Carrot & Apple Slaw with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
This refreshing, brightly-colored slaw from Diane Morgan’s Roots is a snap to do-ahead.
Ingredients:
2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
2 cups coarsely grated carrots (or carrots cut into matchsticks)
1 crisp red apple, cored and cut into matchsticks
2 teaspoons finely-snipped fresh chives
Dressing:
¼ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1¼ teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons honey
Method:
1. To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, oil, lemon juice, salt, honey and poppy seeds. Set aside. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead.)
2. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrots and apple. Spoon the dressing over the top and toss to distribute evenly. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the chives.
Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Incredibly sweet and juicy, these roasted beauties are wonderful atop crostini.
Ingredients:
1 pound cherry tomatoes, or a mixture of both cherry tomatoes and diced heirloom tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 300°. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the tomatoes with oil, then season with salt and pepper. Transfer the tomatoes to the prepared rack
2. Roast the tomatoes until skins are shriveled but tomatoes are still plump, about 1 1/2 hours. Let tomatoes and their juices cool to room temperature.
Variations: For added punch, toss tomatoes with your favorite fresh herb, such as thyme or oregano, or minced garlic, before roasting.
Bratwurst with Caramelized Apples, Pears & Onions
A cozy, autumnal take on the classic bratwurst supper. The sweetness of caramelized apples and pears pairs beautifully with the savory spice of Skagit River Ranch’s brats.
Ingredients:
4 Skagit River Ranch bratwursts
1 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 pear, cored and thinly sliced
¼ cup dry cider or Riesling
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish
Method:
1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the bratwursts and sear until browned on all sides, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, add the onion and cook until softened and golden, about 5 minutes.Add the apple and pear slices and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit begins to caramelize and turn jammy, about 8–10 minutes.
3. Deglaze the pan with the cider or Riesling, scraping up any browned bits, and simmer until the liquid reduces slightly. Stir in Dijon mustard if using, and season with salt and pepper. Return the bratwursts to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes, until heated through and glazed. Serve the brats topped with the caramelized apple–pear mixture and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.
Marinated Persian Cucumber Salad
Super simple and healthy, this salad is perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients:
2 Persian cucumbers
1 red onion
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Peel the cucumbers and then half lengthwise before thinly slicing. Then, peel and thinly slice the onion and place in a bowl with the cucumber.
2. Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and oil in a bowl and whisk together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Pour the vinaigrette over the cucumber and onion mixture and toss well to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1-2 hours before serving cold or at room temperature.
Savory Apple & Leek Pumpernickel Stuffing
Earthy pumpernickel bread, sweet apples, and mellow leeks come together for a deeply flavorful stuffing that feels both rustic and refined. Perfect alongside this week’s bratwurst or a roasted chicken!
Ingredients:
6 cups pumpernickel bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, cleaned and sliced
2 apples, cored and diced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1½ cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 egg, lightly beaten
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast until slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Stir in the apples and thyme, and cook for another 5 minutes until the apples are tender but not mushy. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a large bowl, combine the toasted bread cubes with the leek–apple mixture. Pour in the broth and toss gently to coat. Let sit a few minutes to absorb. Stir in the beaten egg, then transfer the mixture to a buttered baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 25–30 minutes, until the top is golden and crisp. Serve warm.
Parmesan Cheese-Roasted Broccolini
Tossed with garlic breadcrumbs and nutty Grana cheese, this tender broccolini is fantastic tossed with pasta or served atop grilled bread.
Ingredients:
1-2 bunches of broccolini
2 cloves garlic
2 slices of rustic bread, such as Italian Rustica
Pinch red pepper flakes
½ cup Grana cheese, grated
Olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a food processor, pulse the bread slices and garlic until the bread forms coarse crumbs and the garlic is chopped.
2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the broccolini and red pepper flakes with about 2 tablespoons oil and then season generously with salt. Add the grated Grana and bread crumb mixture and toss to combine. Spread in an even layer and roast until the broccolini is tender and beginning to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Morel & Farm Egg Tartine with Chive Blossoms
Elevate your morning toast with buttery foraged morels, farm-fresh eggs, and a scattering of chive blossoms—simple, seasonal perfection.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh Morel mushrooms, cleaned and halved
2 thick slices pumpernickel bread
2 farm-fresh eggs
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
Olive oil, for drizzling
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Chive blossoms, for garnish
Optional: lemon zest, for brightness
Method:
1. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the morels and garlic, and sauté for 5–7 minutes, until mushrooms are tender and golden. Season with salt and pepper.
2. While the mushrooms cook, toast the pumpernickel slices until warm and crisp. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
3. In a separate nonstick pan, cook the eggs sunny-side up (or to your preferred doneness). Season with a pinch of salt.
4. Top each slice of toast with a generous layer of sautéed morels. Gently place a fried egg on top. Garnish with a scattering of chive blossoms and a touch of lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately, with a side of lightly dressed escarole or microgreens.
Cherry Tomato Salsa with Fresh Herbs
A pico de gallo-style salsa bright in flavor and combined with spring onions and mint.
Ingredients:
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
2-3 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
½-1 jalapeño pepper, depending on taste, seeds removed and finely chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a medium bowl. Add herbs, then drizzle lime juice over the salsa. Season generously with sea salt, to taste. Allow to sit 10-20 minutes on the countertop for flavors to fully combine.
Thyme-Roasted Apples & Onions
Fresh thyme adds a savory note to these sweet roasted apples and caramelized onions—delicious on warm crostini or as a savory-sweet side.
Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 yellow onions, peeled and cut into quarters
3 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided
4 apples, peeled, cored and each cut into 4 wedges
½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt, plus additional for sprinkling
Method:
1. Boil cider in a large saucepan until reduced to about â…“ cup, about 20 minutes. Whisk in the butter. Season glaze with 1 teaspoon coarse salt.
2. Preheat to 425°. Butter two large rimmed baking sheets. Toss onions in a large bowl with 2 teaspoons of thyme and 3 tablespoons of glaze. Arrange in a single layer on one sheet. Toss apples in the same bowl with 2 teaspoons of thyme and 3 tablespoons of glaze. Arrange in a single layer on a second sheet. Sprinkle onions and apples with coarse salt and pepper.
3. Roast onions on the upper oven rack for 10 minutes. Place apples on the bottom rack. Roast onions and apples for 20 minutes. Remove both sheets from the oven. Drizzle remaining glaze evenly over onions and apples. Switch position of the sheets, then roast 20 minutes longer.
4. Increase oven temperature to 475°. Roast onions and apples until tender and slightly caramelized, watching closely to prevent burning, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer onions and apples to a large bowl. Season with coarse salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon thyme.
Roasted Carrot & Cherry Tomato Agrodolce
A sweet-sour Sicilian-inspired side dish with roasted roots and juicy summer tomatoes.
Ingredients:
1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed and halved lengthwise
1 cup mixed cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
For the agrodolce glaze:
1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional: 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh herbs like thyme or basil
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss the carrots and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 20–25 minutes, until the carrots are tender and beginning to caramelize, and the tomatoes are blistered.
2. Meanwhile, whisk together the vinegar, honey, grated garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Remove the vegetables from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with the agrodolce glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with fresh herbs if using. Serve warm or at room temperature.