Homemade Pumpkin Purée
Nothing quite beats a pie crafted from homemade pumpkin purée! Substitute this purée in any recipe calling for canned pumpkin.
Ingredients:
1 (4-6 pound) Winter Luxury pumpkin, rinsed and dried
Sea salt
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 400°.
2. Remove the stem and split the pumpkin in half from top to bottom, using a large cleaver and a mallet. Scoop out the seeds and fiber with a large metal spoon or ice cream scoop, cutting the fibers with kitchen shears if necessary. Reserve seeds for another use.
3. Sprinkle the flesh with kosher salt and lay the halves, flesh side down, on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Roast until a paring knife can be easily inserted and removed from the pumpkin, 30 to 45 minutes. Test in several places to ensure doneness.
4. Remove the pan to a rack and cool the pumpkin for 1 hour. Using a large spoon, remove the roasted flesh of the pumpkin from the skin to the bowl of a food processor. Process until the flesh is smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Rustic Challah Bread, Mushroom & Herb Dressing
Fragrant with fresh herbs and accented by toasted Challah bread and meaty mushrooms, this stuffing is always a hit!
Ingredients:
1 large loaf challah (about 1 pound)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering baking dishes
2 cups yellow onion, diced (from 2 medium onions)
2 cups celery, diced
2 cups wild mushrooms, diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3 cups chicken, turkey or vegetable broth
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 300° and set an oven rack in the middle position. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Cut the challah into 1-inch cubes and spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until dry and lightly toasted. Set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 350°.
3. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Cook the onions over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Add the celery, mushrooms, herbs, salt, and pepper and cook until celery is slightly softened, about 5 minutes more.
4. In a large bowl, combine the toasted bread cubes, onion/vegetable mixture, and chicken broth and toss well. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish with buttered foil and refrigerate until ready to bake (up to overnight).
5. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until golden, about 25 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Braised Rainbow Swiss Chard with Garlic
A wonderful side dish to accompany your fall entrées.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch rainbow Swiss chard, lower ends of stems removed, and then coarsely chopped
½ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt
Method:
1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook garlic and onions, stirring often, until fragrant and golden, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in Swiss chard and 1 teaspoon salt.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water, and braise, covered, until greens are just tender and water evaporates, about 10 minutes. If greens are ready but there is still water in the pan, raise heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered, until completely evaporated. Check seasoning, adding salt if necessary, and serve.
Roasted Delicata Squash
Buttery and incredibly delicious, Delicata squash is wonderful roasted with just a touch of brown sugar and red pepper flakes.
Ingredients:
2 Delicata squash (about 3 pounds)
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. With a sharp knife, cut Delicata in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and discard (or, save and roast like pumpkin seeds if you wish). Cut each Delicata half into ½-inch slices.
2. Arrange the pieces in a single layer in a metal baking pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with brown sugar and red pepper flakes (if using), then season with salt and pepper.
3. Place in oven and roast 10 minutes. Using a spatula, turn squash in pan. Continue roasting, turning every 7-10 minutes until both sides of the squash pieces are golden brown and the texture is creamy to the teeth all the way through, about 25-30 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper as needed, and serve.
Fresh Corn Salsa
This crisp salsa is brightened with smoky Poblano chiles and fresh lime juice.
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 Poblano chile pepper, seeded and chopped
½ red onion, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
½ tablespoon olive oil
Juice from 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add onion and pepper and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add corn and sauté 2 additional minutes or until all veggies are just slightly tender, but corn is still crisp. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
Variation: This salsa is also wonderfully mixed with 1-2 cups chopped heirloom tomatoes!
Watermelon Radish & Arugula Salad
Top this crisp combination with a garlic-lemon dressing and freshly-grated Romano cheese.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Watermelon radishes, trimmed
2 cups packed arugula
5 tablespoons grated Romano-style cheese
For vinaigrette:
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice
1 garlic clove, crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Slice the radishes into thin rounds. (You should have about 1 cup.)
2. To prepare the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, garlic and lemon juice until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. In a serving bowl, combine the radishes, arugula, grated Romano and about two thirds of the dressing. Toss well, taste, and add more dressing to taste. Finish with fresh ground pepper.
Broiled Heirloom Tomatoes
Topped with crispy Panko bread crumbs and Grana-style cheese, these beautiful tomatoes are a worthy supper side.
Ingredients:
4 heirloom tomatoes, sliced into rings
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
¾ cup freshly-grated Grana-style cheese
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to broil.
2. Lay sliced tomatoes in a baking dish, overlapping a few if needed. Sprinkle tomatoes with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix Panko, cheese, garlic and parsley with a spoon until combined. Evenly sprinkle the mixture over top of the tomatoes.
3. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or just until cheese and crumbs are golden. Remove and serve warm.
Pappardelle Pasta with Sautéed Chanterelle Mushrooms & Herbs
Rich with locally-foraged mushrooms and herbs, this pasta beautifully captures the flavors of fall.
Ingredients:
1 pound semolina pappardelle
2 cups Chanterelle mushrooms, washed and patted dry
¼ cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup combined fresh chopped parsley, sage and thyme
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese (optional)
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Drop in pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and rinse, reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking liquid.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter with the olive oil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Add Chanterelle mushrooms and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes until mushrooms are soft and tender and then add chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, another 3-4 minutes. Add in fresh herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
3. Add in drained pasta and toss everything together. Add in reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and grated cheese, and mix to distribute. If pasta seems dry, add in reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until adequately moist.
Fall Vegetable Frittata with Duck Eggs
Packed with fingerling potatoes, sweet peppers and Grana-style cheese, this easy frittata boasts incredibly fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
6 duck eggs
1 pint fingerling potatoes, washed and thinly-sliced
2 sweet peppers, washed, seeded and chopped
2 leeks, trimmed and thinly-sliced
1 cup spinach leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
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 and sauté for about 6 to 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Remove from the skillet. Add another tablespoon of oil, then add the peppers, leeks, spinach and garlic. Sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until the greens are just wilted. Season vegetables 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. Top with vegetable mixture and then pour eggs evenly over the vegetables. 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.
Sweet & Spicy Pepper Relish
This amazing topping brings the sweet heat and is delicious spooned over scrambled duck eggs!
Ingredients:
3 cups chopped chile peppers, such as a combination of this week’s Anaheim, Jimmy Nardello and French sweet peppers
¾ cup white wine vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 cloves garlic, chopped
½ small onion chopped
2 teaspoons yellow mustard seed
Salt to taste
Method:
1. Add all ingredients to a large pan and heat to medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a light boil.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until liquid is reduced and absorbed into the mixture.
3. Add to a jar and allow to cool before serving; it also keeps well in the fridge for about a month!