Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Sautéed Kale and Porcini Salt

Also tossed with garlic, onions and a topping of Asiago Pressa cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.

Ingredients:
1 pound rigatoni pasta, or other pasta of your choice
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
6 cups baby kale, stripped of larger stems and torn into large pieces
1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup Asiago Pressa cheese, grated
½ teaspoon Porcini salt

Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the pasta 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 and garlic, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until onions are tender and translucent, about 3-4 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 kale mixture, 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 a healthy pinch of Porcini salt and the Asiago Pressa cheese. Serve with additional Asiago Pressa-style cheese to sprinkle over pasta as desired.

Baked Feta with Honey

A kick of honey lends a sweet touch to the salty cheese; serve with grilled bread crostini!

Ingredients:
1 8-ounce block sheep’s milk feta, blotted dry with a paper towel
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Fresh ground pepper
Grilled bread crostini

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Place the feta in a small baking dish and drizzle the olive oil over the top. Bake until the cheese is soft to the touch, but not melted, about 8 minutes.

2. Remove the feta from the oven and preheat the broiler. Drizzle the honey over the cheese, and then return to the oven and broil until the cheese is golden brown and bubble, about 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove from the oven and season generously with pepper. Serve immediately with the grilled bread crostini.

Brunch Time Recipes

Can you feel it? The tulip shoots are stretching towards the skies, birds are gathering up twigs to build their nests, and we even shed our jackets one afternoon last week: The march towards spring is gaining momentum! Celebrate the changing seasons with a delicious brunch lineup filled with some of our favorite provisions—from Skagit River Ranch’s all-natural breakfast sausages and farm-fresh eggs to spiced apple butter for spreading on a warm muffin made with Fairhaven Mill cornmeal. Also included: Fresh raisin bread, crisp apple cider from Sauk Farm, cocktail pecans, fresh produce like Cara Cara oranges, Cremini mushrooms and springtime leeks, plus a truly gorgeous gorgonzola dolce cheese. Good morning, indeed!

Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:

Cremini Mushroom Scramble
Earthy mushrooms and fragrant garlic elevate farmstead eggs in this stunning scramble.

Apple & Pecan Green Salad with Gorgonzola Dolce
This beautiful salad is light and fresh, a perfect pairing for this week’s brunch fare.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Uitilizing both apple cider and apple cider vinegar, as well as shallots and Dijon, this punchy vinaigrette is packed with flavor.

Roasted Leeks
Seasoned with salt and pepper, these leeks make for a satisfying side.

Gorgonzola & Honey Roasted Potatoes
An interesting, yet classic, Italian combination of sweet and savory.

Cornmeal Muffins
Moist, fluffy, and easy to make from scratch!

Gather ‘Round the Raclette Recipes

This week, gather around to share a rustic and homey meal by the way of the Swiss Alps: Traditional raclette cheese draped over farm-fresh favorites including German Butterball potatoes, smoky Italian speck and our housemade cornichons and pickled onions. Also included: Raspberry-streusel shortbread, a medley of produce like apples, red beets and leeks, plus your own mini raclette-maker to melt that ooey, gooey cheese right at the table.

Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:

How-To: Make Raclette
Let everyone assemble their own platter of provisions to top with melty raclette cheese!

Red Beet Salad with Cara Cara Orange Vinaigrette
This stunning salad is infused with bright, citrusy flavor.

Roasted Beets
This method creates tender, delicious beets that are easy to peel and serve in a salad.

Braised Fingerling Potatoes
Buttered and simmered in water, these rich, flavorful potatoes will wow.

Broccolini with Vin Cotto
Coated in a Balsamic vinegar glaze, garlic-flecked broccolini make for a warm, homey side dish.

Brown Sugar-Baked Apples
A true classic, this beautiful dessert is lovely topped with crème fraîche.

this week's recipes
the italian spring

farm & garden notes
hi, april

workshops & events
new classes!

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