Mashed Potatoes with Duxelles
These decadent potatoes are mixed with mushroom duxelles for a satisfying finishing touch.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and scrubbed
½-¾ cup milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup crème fraîche or sour cream
¾ cup F&L mushroom duxelles
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, making sure it doesn’t boil. Set aside until the potatoes are done.
3. As soon as the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or large heavy-duty fork until thoroughly mashed. Stir in the hot milk mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula. Add enough crème fraîche or sour cream to make the potatoes soft and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste, and mix in the duxelles. Serve immediately, or to keep the potatoes warm, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water for up to 30 minutes.
Pasta with Italian Sausage, Sauteed Kale and Mushrooms
Also tossed with sweet onions and a topping of Grana-style cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients:
1 pound strozzapreti pasta, or other pasta of your choice
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 bunch Lacinato kale, stripped of tough ribs and torn into large pieces
2 cups Portobello mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the strozzapreti is al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until done, breaking into bite-sized chunks with a spoon. Remove the sausage to a plate and reserve. Wipe any excess sausage grease from the pan and then heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the onions, mushroom and garlic, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until mushrooms are tender and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Add in kale and cook until just slightly wilted, about another minute or so.
3. Add drained pasta and sausage to the skillet with the vegetables, then toss everything together with the rest of the olive oil and butter. If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with Grana-style cheese to sprinkle over pasta.
Cranberry-Apple Galette
This country-style tart allows fall apples to shine, kissed with tart cranberries, brown sugar and a gorgeous honey glaze.
Ingredients:
Farm & Larder galette dough, chilled
4 apples
1 cup fresh cranberries, washed
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
5 tablespoons brown sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 425° and prepare the filling: Peel apples, coring and cutting them into ¼ -inch slices. In a large bowl toss the apple slices with the cranberries and sprinkle in the cornstarch, brown sugar and cinnamon and toss until the fruit is evenly coated. Set aside.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a large circle about nine inches in diameter. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and draping the dough over the rolling pin, transfer to the prepared baking sheet. (If the dough breaks at all, patch it up with your fingers and a dab of ice water.)
3. Arrange the fruit filling in a mound in the center of the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Dot the fruit with the butter, cut into small pieces. Fold the border over the filling. Bake the tart for 15 minutes, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350° and bake for another 40 minutes, until the apples and cranberries are juicy and tender and the crust is golden brown.
4. When the tart is done remove it from the oven and transfer to a plate to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Kissed with a hint of orange juice, this sweet-tart recipe is a holiday classic.
Ingredients:
2½ cups cranberries
⅔ cup sugar
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of kosher salt
Method:
1. Combine the sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan along with ½ cup water. Bring up to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes until cranberries begin to burst. Let cool completely before serving.
Variations: Make this recipe your own! Feel free to substitute Grand Marnier for the orange juice; add the zest from an orange; or even add a dash or two of port.
Potato-Leek Galette
A fantastic Thanksgiving appetizer or side!
Ingredients:
F&L galette dough
¾ pound fingerling potatoes, or other waxy potato of your choice
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
3 leeks, white and pale green part only, halved lengthwise
¼ cup water
¾ cup crème fraîche
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
½ cup Comté or Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated
2 ounces thinly-sliced pancetta
Method:
1. Slice potatoes almost paper thin and soak in a bowl of well-salted warm water at least 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
2. Rinse leeks well. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Cook leeks, cut sides down, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Turn leeks over and add water, season with salt and pepper then gently simmer, covered, just until leeks are tender, about 15 minutes. Cool.
3. Preheat oven to 400°. Drain potatoes and squeeze in handfuls, squeezing out water. Toss with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12 x 16 inches. Dough should be about â…›-inch thick. Slide onto a cookie sheet. Chill briefly if very soft.
5. Spread dough with crème fraîche leaving a 2-inch border all around. Season with salt and pepper and scatter with half of cheese then potatoes, leeks, pancetta, and remaining cheese. Fold border up and over and brush with butter or olive oil. Bake until tart is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
Honeyed Crème Fraîche
This amazing combination is wonderful atop shortcakes or pretty much any other fruit tart!
Ingredients:
1 cup crème fraîche
2 tablespoons honey
Method:
1. Combine crème fraîche and honey in a bowl; chill until use.
Scrambled Eggs with Gruyère-Style Cheese
Perk up your morning eggs with sweet, nutty Gruyère cheese.
Ingredients:
6 eggs
¼ cup cream or milk
½ cup grated Gruyère-style cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 cup loosely-packed chopped spinach leaves (optional)
Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and cream. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, adding a touch of butter or oil. Pour in eggs and cook until just set, stirring occasionally.
3. Add chopped spinach (if using), then cheese; stir to combine, allowing spinach to wilt slightly. Season with more salt and pepper as needed and top with diced scallion.
Apple Cider Syrup
Try it drizzled on apple pie!
Ingredients:
¾ cup apple cider
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon lemon juice
Small pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg
Method:
1. Combine apple cider, brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
3. Remove from heat. Let cool for at least half an hour before using. Serve warm. (Syrup will thicken as it cools. If you’d like a thicker syrup, simmer it longer.) Refrigerate any unused portion in a sealed jar/container.
Fresh Herb Rub
This versatile rub is delicious on steak, chicken, fish or even veggies!
Ingredients:
¼ cup coarse sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh golden oregano
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons minced garlic
Method:
1. Mix all ingredients together to form a paste. Rub directly on meat or poultry, cover with plastic wrap, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
Herbed Smoked Salmon Salad with Watercress
Serve this creamy salmon salad atop a bed of greens with sliced cucumber and tomatoes on the side.
Ingredients:
1 package smoked salmon (about 8 ounces), flaked
4 cups watercress, trimmed, washed and patted dry with a paper towel
½ cup crème fraîche
3 tablespoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
¼ cup chopped tender herbs, such as chives, oregano and parsley
1 clove garlic, pressed
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, combine crème fraîche with garlic and olive oil and whisk to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper.
2. In another mixing bowl, combine smoked salmon, capers, celery and herbs. Toss with crème fraîche dressing.
3. Serve smoked salmon salad over a bed of watercress, with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers alongside.