Kabocha, Leek & Garlic Risotto
Creamy Arborio rice slowly stirred with farm-made chicken stock becomes the perfect canvas for sweet roasted Kabocha squash and mellow sautéed leeks.
Ingredients:
1 cup Arborio rice
4 cups Farm & Larder chicken stock
½ cup dry white wine (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 baby leek, white and pale green parts sliced thin
2 cloves garden garlic, minced
2 cups Kabocha squash, peeled and cut into small cubes
½ yellow onion, finely diced
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Extra olive oil for roasting and finishing
Method:
1. Roast the squash: Preheat the oven to 400°. Toss squash cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 20–25 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized.
2. Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small saucepan and keep warm over low heat. In a separate large skillet or heavy pot, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in leeks and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Add Arborio rice and stir for 1–2 minutes until lightly toasted.
3. Pour in the white wine and stir until mostly absorbed. Add warm stock one ladle at a time, stirring frequently and allowing each addition to absorb before adding the next. Continue until the rice is creamy and just tender, about 18–20 minutes.
4. To finish, fold in roasted squash and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with a drizzle of olive oil and extra cheese if desired.
Bratwurst with Braised Sauerkraut & Potatoes
This inviting main dish is incredibly flavorful, simmered with luscious sauerkraut and boiled potatoes.
Ingredients:
Skagit River Ranch bratwurst links
12 small potatoes
3 cups sauerkraut, drained
1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock or water
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Soften the onions and butter in a heavy oven-proof pan, browning the onions lightly. Add the sauerkraut, wine, stock, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, turn down, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Then add the potatoes to the sauerkraut mixture and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are barely tender.
2. Meanwhile, in another skillet, simmer the bratwurst in 1-2-inches of water to cover for 20 minutes. Then drain off the water from the skillet and continue cooking just long enough to brown the bratwurst lightly.
3. Place the bratwurst in with the sauerkraut and potatoes and put in the oven at 375° for 15-20 minutes covered.
4. To serve, pile the sauerkraut and potatoes on a heated platter and arrange the bratwurst over the top. Serve with mustard and red cabbage slaw on the side.
Citrus & Fromage Blanc Bowl
Bright citrus, sweet fruit, and silky fromage blanc come together in a fresh, lightly sweet finish to your brunch spread.
Ingredients:
2 Cara Cara oranges, peeled and sliced
1 red D’Anjou pear, sliced
½ cup Bellsong Creamery fromage blanc
Honey, for drizzling
Fresh herbs or citrus zest (optional)
Method:
1. Arrange citrus and pear in a shallow bowl. Spoon over the fromage blanc, letting it settle naturally among the fruit.
2. Drizzle with honey and finish with a touch of citrus zest or fresh herbs, if you like. Serve immediately for a bright, simple finish to your brunch.
Baked Delicata Squash
Tossed with cream and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this beautiful side also from The Glorious Vegetables of Italy enhances the sweet flavor of autumn squash.
Ingredients:
2 Delicata squash, halved, seeded and cut in half crosswise to yield 4 total pieces
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Pinch grated nutmeg
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Arrange the pieces of squash, cut-side up, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle cream over squash pieces and use a pastry brush to spread evenly around. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle each piece with a little nutmeg and then a sprinkle of the Parmigiano.
3. Bake squash for 30-40 minutes, basting once or twice during cooking. The squash is done when cream is thickened and lightly browned, and flesh is tender. Transfer to platter and serve immediately.
Crushed Tangerine & Rosemary Mocktail
Featuring Kosterina Crushed Tangerine Vinegar & fresh rosemary this mocktail is crisp and refreshing.
For the Mocktail:
2 ounces of Kosterina Tangerine Crushed Fruit Vinegar
1 ounce of Fresh Lemon Juice
1 ounce of Rosemary Simple Syrup
Seltzer
Rosemary Sprig for garnish
Orange Slice for garnish
For the Rosemary Simple Syrup:
â…“ Cup Water
½ Cup Sugar
2 Rosemary Sprigs
- Make Rosemary simple syrup but adding water, sugar, and rosemary to a sauce pan on medium heat. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and move to the fridge to chill.
- In a glass filled with ice, combine Kosterina Tangerine Crushed Fruit Vinegar, Rosemary Simple Syrup, and Lemon Juice. Top with Seltzer and stir. Garnish with Orange Slice and Rosemary Sprig.
Butter-Braised Turnips
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
1 pound turnips, green tops removed, washed and roughly chopped
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub the turnips, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan, then and add shallots and turnips. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the turnips begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 5 minutes, or until stock has started to be absorbed by turnips. Add the turnip greens and simmer another 5 minutes, or until all the stock has been absorbed and the greens are wilted and tender. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Charred Green Bean Salad
This simple, satisfying salad courtesy of chef Michael Symon always gets rave reviews!
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
â…“ cup olive oil
â…“ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup sliced toasted almonds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook at a rapid boil until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the green beans to an ice bath, then dry on a kitchen towel.
3. Add the green beans to a grill basket and place over indirect heat to char them slightly, about 5 minutes. You do not have to cover the grill. When they reach the char level you are looking for, transfer them to a serving platter.
4. Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard and oregano in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly, then season with salt and pepper. Pour the oregano vinaigrette over the green beans while still warm, then sprinkle with the feta and almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Crispy Egg Tostadas with Black Beans, Salsa & Cotija
These crispy egg tostadas are a vegetarian win for game day: crunchy, saucy, and gone before halftime.
Ingredients:
1 cup dried Steel Wheel Farm black beans, soaked overnight or 2½ cups cooked black beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt, to taste
1–2 limes, juiced
DeCasa blue corn tortilla chips (about 8–10 sturdy chips)
8 farm-fresh eggs
Skagit’s Best salsa, for serving
Familia del Norte cotija cheese, finely grated
Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. If using dried beans, drain the soaking water and simmer in fresh salted water until tender, about 60–75 minutes. Drain, reserving a little cooking liquid.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add cooked black beans and a splash of bean liquid or water. Lightly mash until creamy but still textured. Season with salt and lime juice. Keep warm.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°. Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet and warm for 5–7 minutes until crisp and hot.
4. Heat remaining olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crack in eggs and cook until whites are set and edges are crispy, but yolks remain jammy (sunny-side or over-easy). Season with salt and pepper.
5. Spread warm black beans over each chip. Top with a fried egg, a spoonful of salsa, grated Cotija, and chopped cilantro. Finish with an extra squeeze of lime.
Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze
Peaches off the grill are a true summer delight—we particularly love this salty, sticky-sweet topping.
Ingredients
4 large ripe (but not overly soft) peaches, halved and pits removed
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 ounces mascarpone
¼ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla
2-3 teaspoons grapeseed oil (or other neutral tasting oil)
Handful of pistachios, lightly crushed
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, sugar and melted butter. Set aside. In another small bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Set aside.
2. Preheat grill over medium low heat. Gently brush each peach half with oil and place it flesh side down on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to carefully rotate peaches a quarter turn and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the peaches are slightly softened and have grill marks. Remove and cool slightly.
3. When ready to serve, drizzle balsamic mixture over peaches and spoon a small scoop of cheese mixture into the hollow of each peach. Sprinkle with crushed pistachios.
Variations: Once you master the art of grilling peaches, the sky’s the limit! They are also wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey.
Roasted Endive with Dijon-Walnut Vinaigrette
This elegant roasted endive with walnut vinaigrette makes a beautifully unexpected Thanksgiving side, adding warmth, texture, and just the right touch of holiday sophistication.
Ingredients:
12 Belgian endive
Olive oil
Sea salt
For vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon sugar
6 tablespoons walnut oil
¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Trim the bottoms off the endive and cut each in half lengthwise. Place on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Toss to evenly coat and arrange the endive cut-side down. Roast until tender and browned in spots, about 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, and sugar. Slowly whisk in the walnut oil to emulsify. Stir in the toasted walnuts and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Transfer the endive to a serving platter and spoon vinaigrette over top.