Braised Root Vegetables & Cabbage with Fruit
This ingenious recipe from Food & Wine boasts extra flavor thanks to the addition of apples and pears.
Ingredients:
4 carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick pieces
4 large radishes, quartered
1 large rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 head red cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
1 small onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive olive
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ cup chicken stock or water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. When the foam subsides, add the onion, carrot, radish, rutabaga, cabbage, apple and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender.
2. Remove from the oven, stir in the pear pieces and cook over high heat until the liquid is evaporated and the pear is tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the braised fruits and vegetables to a bowl and serve.
Reibekuchen
These classic German potato pancakes are delicious served with applesauce for a sweet option, or topped with sour cream, chives and fresh ground pepper for a more savory taste.
Ingredients:
1 pound of potatoes
1 small onion
3 tablespoons flour
1 medium-sized egg
Sea salt
Pinch of pepper (if you want savory pancakes)
Neutral oil for frying
Method:
1. Wash and peel the potatoes, and peel the onion. Grate the potatoes into a bowl using a cheese grater, or food processor fitted with a grating blade. (If there is excess water in the potatoes, drain some of the potato water. Also grate the onion.
2. Add a healthy pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper if you want the pancakes savory, flour, and the egg. Mix everything together until the batter is well mixed.
3. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan and add two tablespoons of batter per pancake. Make sure the pancake is not too thick or too large to ensure proper cooking. You probably won’t be able to fit more than 2-4 pancakes into your pan at the same time.
4. Cook the pancakes until both sides are golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side, then remove them from the pan and allow to drain on a paper towel or similar to allow the oil to absorb. (You can then put the pancakes in the preheated oven to keep them warm.) Repeat the process with the rest of the batter, adding more oil as needed, and serve immediately with your preferred toppings.
Winter Green Salad with Root Vegetables & Apple
Packed with rutabagas and kale, this super-healthy salad from Food & Wine is incredibly refreshing.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch baby kale, or other favorite dark leafy green (about 2 pounds)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
¼ cup, plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 medium carrot, julienned
1 tart apple, peeled and julienned
1 cup peeled and julienned rutabaga
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a large bowl, massage the kale with the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the lemon zest and juice, soy sauce, honey and remaining ¼ cup of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Toss the carrot, apple, rutabaga and scallions with the kale. Add the dressing and toss again. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Garlic Pumpernickel Croutons
These garlicky nibbles are fantastic scattered over soup or salads.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 large minced garlic clove
3 cups torn pumpernickel bread
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Microwave the butter and minced garlic clove in a microwave-safe bowl on high until butter is melted, about 30 seconds.
2. Spread the torn pumpernickel bread on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the butter mixture; toss to coat. Bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until crisp. Season with salt and pepper; store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Smoked Salmon & Baby Leek Frittata
Paired with a crisp salad, this stunningly-simple dish is fantastic for breakfast, brunch or lunch!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 baby leeks, thinly sliced (white and pale green parts only)
8 large eggs
3 tablespoons minced dill
3 tablespoons minced chives
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
4 ounces smoked salmon, flaked
Pinch each of sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the broiler. Melt the olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Add the leeks and sauté, stirring often, until tender, about 4 minutes.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, herbs, salt, pepper, goat cheese and salmon. Pour the mixture over the leeks and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pan and cook until the edges are set but the center is still runny, about 4 minutes. Place the pan under the preheated broiler and cook until the frittata is puffed up and golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Roasted Beet Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette
Tossed with our housemade vinaigrette, this showpiece salad boasts beautiful color.
Ingredients:
1 bunch red beets, cleaned and trimmed
4 cups water
½ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly shaved crosswise, fronds reserved
4 cups loosely-packed salad greens, washed and patted dry with a paper towel
F&L blueberry vinaigrette
¼ cup queso fresco cheese, crumbled
½ cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place beets in a large roasting pan and pour over water, red wine vinegar, sugar and 1 tablespoon salt. Cover with parchment and foil. Roast until just tender, they should be easily pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes. Peel beets under cool water. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
2. Toss the roasted beets, fennel, fennel fronds, and greens with about ½ cup of the dressing. Plate dressed greens. Season with more salt and pepper if necessary, garnish with the blueberries, queso fresco cheese and hazelnuts and serve.
Honey & Thyme-Roasted Carrots with Quesco Fresco
A delightfully-fresh spin on roasted carrots.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, peeled
2 teaspoon butter, melted
2 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon fresh thyme
â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper
â…› teaspoon smoked paprika
½ cup queso fresco, crumbled
¼ cup pomegranate seeds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
2. In a small bowl melt butter in the microwave (about 15 seconds). Add honey, thyme, cayenne, smoked paprika and a pinch each salt and pepper to the melted butter and mix together.
3. Pour the seasoning mixture over carrots and toss to make sure they are evenly coated. Spread carrots out on the baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes.
4. Transfer roasted carrots to a serving dish and top with crumbled queso fresco and pomegranate seeds. Serve warm.
4. Transfer roasted carrots to a serving dish and top with crumbled feta and pomegranate seeds. Serve warm.
Italian Sausage Pasta with Roasted Squash & Greens
Cozy, comforting and full of flavorful squash and greens, this pasta hits all the right notes.
Ingredients:
1 winter squash of your choice, peeled, seeded, and cut into bite-sized chunks
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 bunch Lacinato kale, leaves pulled from tough stems and torn into small pieces
8-10 fresh sage leaves, torn
5 large garlic cloves, coarse chopped
â…“ cup olive oil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tight-packed tablespoon brown sugar
1 pound imported pasta, such as this week’s orecchiette
1 pound Italian sausage
½ cup heavy cream
¾ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
Method:
1. Slip a large shallow sheet pan into the oven and preheat it to 450°. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. In a big bowl, toss together the first eight ingredients, seasoning the vegetable mix generously with salt and pepper.
2. Pull out the oven rack holding the sheet pan. Taking care not to burn yourself, turn the vegetables onto the hot sheet pan and spread it out. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the squash is tender, turning the vegetables two or three times during roasting. Once the squash is tender, turn on the broiler to caramelize it. Watch the vegetables closely, you want crusty brown edges on the squash and wilted, almost crisp greens.
3. While the squash is cooking, cook the sausage in a skillet until no longer pink on the inside, crumbling into bite-size pieces as it cooks. Set aside. At the same time, drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook it until tender, but with some firmness to the bite. Drain in a colander.
4. Scrape the roasted vegetables and sausage into a serving bowl. Add the hot pasta, and the heavy cream. Toss together, and add salt and pepper to taste. Add grated Grana-style cheese and an additional and serve hot.
Duck Egg Frittata with Braising Greens
Packed with fingerling potatoes, greens and Grana-style cheese, this easy frittata boasts incredibly fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
6 duck eggs
1 pint fingerling potatoes, washed and thinly-sliced
4 cups braising greens, torn into bite-sized pieces as needed
1 clove garlic
½ cup grated Grana-style cheese
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced potatoes to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and then sauté for about 6 to 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Remove from the skillet. Add another tablespoon of oil, then add the greens. Sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until the greens are just wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the skillet.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, cheese and thyme with a pinch of salt and pepper. Return the potatoes to the skillet, arranging in an even layer at the bottom. Top with the greens and then pour eggs evenly over. Drizzle olive oil around the edge of the pan to ensure easy removal.
4. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the eggs have completely set in the center. Serve straight out of the skillet, cut into wedges, or flip onto a serving plate.
Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Custard
Ready in 10 minutes, this thick, creamy custard would be wonderful served alongside warm sugar cookies.
Ingredients:
3 eggs, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ cup Meyer lemon juice
2 tablespoons Meyer lemon zest
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup high-quality olive oil
Method:
1. Place all ingredients except for the olive oil in a blender or food processor.
2. Turn the blender on to its highest setting and process for 4 minutes. While continuing to run on high speed, pour in the olive oil and blend well.
3. Transfer mixture to a double boiler (or bowl set over gently-simmering water in a pot) on the stove top, and stir until custard begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes.
4. Custard can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for longer storage; try it topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and additional lemon zest.