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.
Red Radish Spread with Fresh Herbs
This cool, creamy spread is wonderful slathered atop slices of bread for a starter or a mid-afternoon snack.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
1 8-ounce block cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
Zest of 1 lemon
Cracked black pepper
Flaked sea salt
Baguette bread, sliced
Method:
1. Clean, trim, and thinly slice the radishes. Place in a bowl and add the parsley, dill, and chives.
2. In another bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the lemon zest, pepper, and crème fraîche or sour cream. Mix well.
3. Add the radish-herb mixture to the creamy spread and gently combine. Spread on toasted bread slices and garnish with sea salt and serve.
Garlic-Herb Patty Pan Squash
So simple, so flavorful: These summer beauties are excellent served over grilled crostini, tossed into pastas, or scattered over pizza.
Ingredients:
1 pound Patty Pan squash, washed and halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped herbs of your choice, such as parsley and basil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil until shimmering, then add in summer squash and garlic. Cook, tossing frequently until squash is tender and soft, and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and season generously with salt and pepper, then toss with fresh herbs.
Classic Basil Pesto
Toss it on pasta, add it to salad dressings, drizzle over heirloom tomatoes—the possibilities are endless with this classic sauce!
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh basil leaves (from about 3 large bunches)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
⅓ cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
½ cup freshly grated Grana-style cheese
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Method:
1. Combine basil, pine nuts, cheese and garlic in a blender or food processor. Blend until paste forms, stopping often to push down any basil caught on the sides of the bowl. Then, with the motor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt, and then transfer to a small bowl.
