Baked Bratwurst with Apples, Potatoes & Herbs
This inviting main dish is a snap to make; simply toss the perfectly-seasoned ingredients onto a sheet pan and let the oven do the work!
Ingredients:
2 large apples, cored and cut into cubes
1½ pound fingerling potatoes
½ pound baby carrots
1 large red or yellow onion, cut into wedges
2 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
2 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste)
¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
4 links pork Bratwurst sausages
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. In a large bowl combine the apple cubes, fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, onion, sage and rosemary. Drizzle the honey and olive oil over, season generously with salt and pepper then toss well.
3. Arrange the veggies and apples in a large shallow roasting pan. Arrange the sausages in and around the vegetables. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the produce is golden and tender, and the sausages are cooked through. Serve warm.
Thyme-Roasted Apples & Onions
Fresh thyme adds a savory note to sweet roasted apples and caramelized onions.
Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 yellow onions, peeled and cut into quarters
3 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided
4 apples, peeled, cored and each cut into 4 wedges
½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt, plus additional for sprinkling
Method:
1. Boil cider in a large saucepan until reduced to about ⅓ cup, about 20 minutes. Whisk in the butter. Season glaze with 1 teaspoon coarse salt.
2. Preheat to 425°. Butter two large rimmed baking sheets. Toss onions in a large bowl with 2 teaspoons of thyme and 3 tablespoons of glaze. Arrange in a single layer on one sheet. Toss apples in the same bowl with 2 teaspoons of thyme and 3 tablespoons of glaze. Arrange in a single layer on a second sheet. Sprinkle onions and apples with coarse salt and pepper.
3. Roast onions on the upper oven rack for 10 minutes. Place apples on the bottom rack. Roast onions and apples for 20 minutes. Remove both sheets from the oven. Drizzle remaining glaze evenly over onions and apples. Switch position of the sheets, then roast 20 minutes longer.
4. Increase oven temperature to 475°. Roast onions and apples until tender and slightly caramelized, watching closely to prevent burning, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer onions and apples to a large bowl. Season with coarse salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon thyme.
Brown Sugar-Baked Apples
A true classic, this beautiful dessert is lovely topped with crème fraîche.
Ingredients:
4 apples
½ cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 cup boiling water
Chopped walnuts or pecans, if desired
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Rinse and dry the apples. Using a sharp paring knife or apple corer, cut out the cores, leaving the bottom ½-inch of the apples intact. (If using a paring knife, first cut out the stem area and then use a small metal spoon to scoop out the seeds). Cut the holes so that they are an inch or so wide.
2. Place the apples in a baking dish and stuff each apple with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 tablespoon butter, and a sprinkling of chopped nuts, if using. Sprinkle each apple with cinnamon.
3. Pour the boiling water into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until the apples are cooked through and just tender, but not overcooked and mushy. When done, remove the apples from the oven and baste them with the juices from the pan. Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or crème fraîche.
Carrot & Apple Sauté with Rosemary
This beautiful combination sings with fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, trimmed of greens, peeled and chopped into matchsticks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch wedges
2 tablespoons finely-chopped shallots
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Put the carrots in a skillet and add just enough salted water to cover. Cover and bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce the carrots to medium-low and simmer until the carrots are crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes. Drain and set the carrots aside.
2. Dry the skillet and return it to the stove. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt it over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 1 minute.
3. Add the carrots with the remaining tablespoon butter and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are well combined and the carrots are hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.