Italian Sausage & Winter Squash Pasta Bake
Hearty, cozy, and perfect for gathering around the table. This one makes excellent leftovers.
Ingredients:
1 pound Lagana Foods pasta
1 pound Skagit River Ranch Italian sausage
2 cups winter squash, peeled and cut into small cubes
2–3 cups Nonna Pat’s marinara sauce
1 leek, thinly sliced (white and light green parts)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ cup grated Parmesan (optional)
1 cup torn Struan bread (optional, for topping)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Toss the squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 20–25 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized.
2. Meanwhile, sauté sausage in a large skillet until browned. Remove from casing if needed. Add sliced leek and cook until softened. Set aside.
3. Cook pasta just shy of al dente in well-salted, boiling water. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
4. In the skillet, combine pasta, sausage mixture, roasted squash, and the marinara sauce. Add a splash of pasta water to loosen if needed.
5. Transfer to a baking dish. Top with Parmesan and torn Struan bread if using. Bake for 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Buttery Braised Leeks
Accented with just a squeeze of lemon, these sublime leeks are a worthy side dish.
Ingredients:
2 leeks, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Melt butter and olive oil over a medium-high flame in a large sauté pan.
2. Once the oil and butter are hot, place the leeks cut side down into the pan. Let the leeks brown in the pan for 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip the leeks over and turn the heat on low. Cover and let the leeks braise for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the leeks are soft all the way through.
3. Take the leeks off the heat and squirt the lemon juice over the braised leeks and add salt and pepper to taste.
Frizzled Leeks
These crispy leeks are a wonderful garnish for salads, soups or main dish proteins like beef, pork or salmon.
Ingredients:
1 medium leek, trimmed of roots and dark green tops
2 cups neutral-flavored oil, such as peanut, vegetable or canola
Sea salt
Method:
1. Thinly slice the white and light green parts of the leek into 3-inch-long julienne strips. Rinse in a bowl of water to remove the grit, drain and pat dry.
2. In a small saucepan heat the oil over medium-high heat (it should reach a depth of about 1 inch) it reaches 325º and 350º on a candy thermometer. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low to hold the oil in this temperature range. Add a small handful of the leeks to the oil.
3. Fry the leeks in batches, stirring often with a metal slotted spoon, until the oil is barely bubbling and the leeks are light golden brown, 1-3 minutes. (The oil temperature will drop when you add the leeks; let it return to the starting temperature before frying the next batch.)
4. Lift the leeks from the oil using the slotted spoon, tap against the side of the pan to drain off excess oil, and transfer to a large plate lined with paper towels.
5. Sprinkle the leeks lightly with salt while they are still hot. Let cool to room temperature before using as a garnish.
Radicchio-Apple Salad with Dijon-Cider Vinaigrette
Tart, crunchy and crisp, this cool salad celebrates the classic combination of apple and radicchio.
Ingredients:
1 head radicchio
2 fennel bulbs
1 large apple, such as Pippin
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 shallot, minced
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup toasted pecans, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. First prep the radicchio by coring and slicing into thin pieces; also core, peel and thinly-slice the fennel. Cut the apple into slices. Combine the radicchio, fennel and apple in a large bowl.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, shallot, salt and pepper.
3. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, then pour half of the dressing over the radicchio-fennel mixture and stir to combine.
4. Taste, and gradually add more dressing to your liking. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds and pecans.
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.
Skillet Breakfast Hash with Thyme, Sausage & Chèvre
Golden, crisp-edged potatoes tossed with maple-kissed sausage, sweet onions, and fresh thyme — finished with creamy chèvre for a rich, tangy contrast.Â
Ingredients:
4–5 medium potatoes, diced into ½-inch cubes
½ red or yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 Skagit River Ranch breakfast sausage patties
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
½ cup Bellsong Creamery chèvre, crumbled
Olive oil (if needed)
Optional: farm-fresh eggs, for topping
Method:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and cooked through, crumbling the meat into small, bite-sized pieces as you go. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan.
2. Add diced potatoes to the skillet in an even layer. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender—about 15–20 minutes. If needed, add a drizzle of olive oil. Stir in sliced onion and thyme. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
3. Return bacon or sausage to the pan and toss to combine. Remove from heat and crumble chèvre over the warm hash so it just begins to soften. Serve immediately, topped with a fried or poached egg, if desired.
Potato-Leek Soup
This classic Julia Child recipe is always a home run; serve this with slices of this week’s Beecher’s cheese bread.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound baby red potatoes, peeled and cut in half if on the larger side
3 large leeks (1 pound), cleaned and thinly sliced
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup crème fraîche
â…“ cup minced parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large (6-plus quart) stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have begun to soften and brown slightly, about 5-10 minutes (time will vary greatly depending on the surface area of the bottom of your pot).
2. Add the stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
3. Blend until smooth, either using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring to a blender in batches.
4. Add the cream, and season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
5. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche and a healthy sprinkling of minced parsley.
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.
Buttered Radishes with Poached Eggs
Tender radishes and shallots are topped with a silky poached egg for the perfect finish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
1 tablespoon butter
2 shallots, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon assorted chopped herbs, such as parsley, chives and thyme
2 large slices of toasted bread
2 eggs
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a skillet, heat butter over medium low heat. Add in the shallots and let cook it begins to soften, 2-3 minutes. Slice radishes in half and add to butter. Season well with salt. Cover and let cook until radishes are tender, 5-6 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2. While radishes cook, poach the eggs.
3. To serve, place toast on a plate, generously cover with radish mixture, then sprinkle with herbs and top with a poached egg each.