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.
Bacon, Onion & Herb Quiche
Light and bright, with a touch of smokiness courtesy of the bacon, this frittata is bound to be a sure-fire hit.
Ingredients:
1 pie crust, either homemade (see recipe!) or store-bought
6 slices bacon rashers, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
6 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Sliced green onions, for topping
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. If you’re using a refrigerated pie crust (store-bought or homemade), add it to your pie plate and keep cold in the fridge until ready to use. If you’re using a frozen pie crust, keep frozen until ready to bake.
2. In a 12-inch skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from the pan and leave all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet. Add in the onions and sauté in the bacon fat until translucent and lightly browned. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, rosemary, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
4. Take out your pie crust and scatter the bacon and onions evenly along the bottom of the pie crust. Gently pour the egg mixture over top of the onions and bacon. Sprinkle the mozzarella and goat cheese into the quiche.
5. Place your quiche onto a baking sheet (this just helps in case of spills) and place it into the oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes. (The quiche is done when the middle seems set and the crust edges are browned.) Let rest for about 15 minutes before serving.
Fall Vegetable Paella
This recipe is so versatile: Try it with different vegetables, add in protein like this week’s chorizo sausage, or even cook it on the grill!
Ingredients:
2 cups paella rice
4 cups chicken stock
¼ cup olive oil
3 large garlic cloves
1 sweet onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound tomatoes, seeded and cut into wedges
2 bell peppers, preferably 1 orange and 1 yellow, seeded and thinly sliced
2 zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons pimentón
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Put the tomato wedges in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit while the rest of the paella is prepared.
2. In a large paella pan, skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
3. Add the onions, peppers and zucchini to the pot, along with a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until the veggies are just tender. Add the pimentón and rice to the pot. Sauté for a minute and then add 1 teaspoon salt and the stock to the pot, plus more water to cover, as necessary. Bring to a boil and let cook for 3 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once most of the stock is absorbed, turn off the heat and add the tomatoes. Cover and allow to stand for 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve warm.
Variations: Traditional paella is often served with chorizo, cubed chicken or even shellfish mixed in; pick your favorites and add the protein alongside with the vegetables in step 3 above (if using shellfish, add during the last 5 minutes of simmering in step 4). Feel free to substitute or add in any other vegetable you please, such as this week’s broccolini or mushrooms.
Pepper, Fennel & Onion Relish
Jimmy Nardello peppers lends themselves perfectly to this classic trio—an excellent condiment-style topping for scrambled eggs!
Ingredients:
4 Jimmy Nardello peppers, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 red or yellow onion, peeled and chopped
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat broiler.
2. Toss together all ingredients with ½ teaspoon salt in a large shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Turn over and stir, then broil 8 to 10 minutes more. Serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.
