Farmhouse Croque Madame
A cozy twist on the French classic, made with Gruyère cheese bread, Bellsong butter, and our own farm eggs. Hint: It is delicious served with a radicchio salad on the side!
Ingredients:
4 thick slices Gruyère cheese bread
4 ounces Italian sausage
2 tablespoons Bellsong grey sea salt butter, plus more for toasting
1 tablespoons flour
¾ cup buttermilk or whole milk
½ cup grated Gruyère cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 eggs
Fresh chopped herbs, such as thyme or parsley, for garnish
Method:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
2. In the same pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in buttermilk until smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in Dijon and half the Gruyère cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Butter one side of each bread slice. Place two slices butter-side down on a baking sheet, top with sausage and a spoonful of cheese sauce, then a second slice of bread (butter-side up). Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and toast sandwiches until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to a baking sheet, top each with remaining cheese sauce and shredded Gruyère, and broil 1–2 minutes until bubbly.
4. In a clean pan, fry the eggs sunny-side-up in butter. Place on top of each sandwich. Garnish with herbs and a crack of black pepper. Serve warm with a light side salad—or enjoy with a drizzle of Bella Luna wildflower honey for a sweet-savory brunch treat.
Creamy Polenta Breakfast Bowls with Italian Sausage & Poached Eggs
A comforting, savory breakfast (or any-time meal) that celebrates the rustic flavors of the season.
Ingredients:
1 cup cornmeal or polenta
3 cups water
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons grey sea salt butter, plus more for serving
1 pound Italian sausage
4 large eggs
1 small onion, finely diced
1 carrot, finely diced (optional)
Sea Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, or chives
Bella Luna wildflower honey, for drizzling
Method:
1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Slowly whisk in the polenta and reduce heat to low. Stir often until thickened and tender, about 30–40 minutes. Stir in the buttermilk, butter, and a generous pinch of salt. Keep warm over low heat, adding more water as needed for a creamy consistency.
2. While the polenta cooks, crumble and brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Once golden, add onion (and carrot, if using) and cook until softened, 5–7 minutes. Season with pepper.
3. Bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer and add a splash of vinegar. Crack each egg into a small cup, then carefully slide it into the water. Cook for 3–4 minutes for soft yolks, or longer for firmer eggs.
4. Spoon warm polenta into bowls. Top with sausage and vegetable mixture, a poached egg, and a sprinkle of herbs. Finish with a small pat of butter and a light drizzle of wildflower honey.
Sunflower Shoot Salad with Fennel, Radishes & Hazelnuts
This stellar salad from Food & Wine is beautifully balanced with peppery greens and radishes and sunflower shoots.
Ingredients:
½ cup hazelnuts
1½ tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon minced shallot
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups peppery greens, like arugula or microgreens
2 cups sunflower shoots
2-3 radishes, trimmed and very thinly sliced on a mandoline
1 fennel bulb, halved lengthwise, cored and very thinly sliced on a mandoline
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the hazelnuts in a pie plate and toast until they are fragrant and the skins blister, about 14 minutes. Transfer the toasted hazelnuts to a kitchen towel and let cool slightly, then vigorously rub the nuts together to remove the skins. Coarsely chop the nuts.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the Champagne vinegar with the Dijon mustard, honey and minced shallot. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and whisk until blended. Season the vinaigrette with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the arugula, sunflower shoots, radishes, fennel and chopped hazelnuts and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away.
Italian Sausage-Lentil Soup with Leeks
This longtime family recipe is a winning New Year’s dish. Fun fact: Lentils are believed to bring good luck and prosperity throughout the new year because they resemble coins!
Ingredients:
1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound lentils
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 leeks, cleaned with white and light green parts chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
8 cups chicken stock
2 cans (14.5 oz) chopped tomatoes
½ cup red wine
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried oregano
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese, for topping
Method:
- In a large pot, brown the sausage until it is no longer pink. Remove from the pan, drain and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the olive oil and then sauté onion, celery, carrot, and garlic until tender. Add stock, lentils, tomatoes, sausage, wine, sugar, vinegar, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then season with basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 1 and ½ hours. Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese.
Cranberry-Herb Compound Butter
This festive, jewel-toned spread is an all-star: Melt it over roasted vegetables, rub it on your turkey to give it a beautifully burnished skin, or slather it onto warm English muffins for an instant holiday upgrade.
Radicchio & Poached Egg Salad with Crispy Bacon
This dish is an excellent combination of bitter radicchio, salty pancetta, creamy egg yolks, and tangy vinaigrette—perfect for brunch with a slice of crusty bread on the side.
Ingredients:
1 head radicchio, torn into bite-sized pieces
4 large eggs
6 slices thick-cut bacon or bacon rashers, chopped, or pancetta cubes
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
¼ cup walnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Method:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Toss the torn radicchio leaves in a large bowl with the vinaigrette, coating evenly. Add the toasted walnuts and crumbled blue cheese (if using).
3. Bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer. Add a splash of vinegar to help the egg whites set. Crack each egg into a small bowl, then gently slide it into the simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes for runny yolks, or 4 minutes for firmer yolks. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
4. Divide the dressed radicchio among plates. Top each serving with bacon and a poached egg. Add a pinch of salt and freshly cracked pepper to each salad and serve immediately.
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.
Baked Fennel
This classic Italian finocchi gratinati is simply sublime.
Ingredients:
4 fennel bulbs, cored and sliced
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a frying pan over high heat, sauté the fennel slices with the butter for about 15 minutes until tender, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Transfer to a baking pan, sprinkle the fennel with the grated cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 350° for 10 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown and melted.
Winter Squash, Leek & Green Garlic Frittata
A beautiful way to use the farm eggs—perfect for brunch, lunch, or a light supper with salad.
Ingredients:
8 farm-fresh eggs
1 cup roasted winter squash (see the method from Pasta Bake recipe, or roast fresh cubes)
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 stalk green garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
Optional: grated cheese (Parmesan or a mild goat cheese works beautifully)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. In an oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add leek and green garlic and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in roasted squash and warm through. Whisk eggs with salt and pepper. Pour over vegetables. Cook on the stovetop for 3–4 minutes, until edges begin to set.
3. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, until the center is just set. Let rest a few minutes before slicing.
Garlic Butter-Roasted Mushrooms
Roasted with capers and garlic, this simple dish is a real show-stopper.
Ingredients:
1 pound mushrooms, such as Chanterelles or Black Trumpets, halved lengthwise if large
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450° with rack placed in middle.
2. Toss mushrooms with capers, garlic, salt and several grinds of black pepper in a small 1½- to 2-quart shallow baking dish.
3. Top with butter and roast, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and golden and bubbly garlic sauce forms below, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve immediately.