Grilled Bread with Basil Pesto
A wonderful appetizer to serve with this week’s pasta supper!
Ingredients:
2 cups basil leaves
½ cup toasted pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
½ cup grated Grana-style cheese
½ cup olive oil, plus more for brushing
Pain au Levain bread, sliced into ¼-inch-thick pieces
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a food processor, combine the basil, pine nuts, garlic, cheese and salt. Process until the ingredients are roughly chopped. With the processor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil until you have a chunky pesto. Set aside.
2. Heat the grill. Lightly brush each slice of bread with olive oil on both sides. Grill the slices a minute or two per side until they are crusty and have charred grill marks but are still soft in the middle. Spread each slice with a generous helping of pesto.
Spring Supper Recipes
As temperatures warm and sunlight continues to grace our wooded enclave, spring has reached the pinnacle as it begins the transition into glorious summer. Thus, this week’s box features the debut of such early summer favorites as butter lettuce greens and rainbow cherry tomatoes, as well as a fresh array of spring classics to help craft a light and bright lasagna that stars spinach greens, fresh ricotta and aged Grana cheeses and our own mushroom duxelles. Also included: Creamy, sea salt-kissed butter, fresh eggs and oversize garlic scapes fit for grilling—enjoy!
Here are a few recipes ideas for the week:
Fresh Spinach Lasagna with Béchamel & Duxelles
This light and lovely vegetarian entrée is packed with spring favorites!
Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad
Tossed with a tart citrus dressing, this bright and fresh salad pairs beautifully with this week’s lasagna.
Grilled Garlic Scapes with Lemon & Herbs
Bright yet smoky from their time on the grill, these grilled garlic scapes are a lovely side dish.
Braised Radishes with Shallots
Tender and juicy, these beautiful radishes are accented by fresh parsley and balsamic vinegar.
Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Incredibly sweet and juicy, these roasted beauties are wonderful atop crostini.
Lemon-Olive Oil Custard
Ready in 10 minutes, this thick, creamy custard makes for a stunningly-simple dessert.
Fresh Spinach Lasagna with Béchamel & Duxelles
This light and lovely vegetarian entrée is packed with spring favorites!
Ingredients:
6 cups milk
1 cup butter
1 cup flour
¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups yellow onion, chopped
1 bunch spinach, thoroughly washed and dried
F&L duxelles
¾ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 pound ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 cups grated Grana-style cheese
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1 package lasagna noodles, cooked very al dente and drained
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. For the sauce: Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it is almost boiling. In another small saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook this mixture for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the milk to the flour mixture. Stir vigorously until the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
2. For the lasagna: Preheat oven to 350°. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat, then add the garlic and onions and sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the spinach, duxelles and ½ cup of the parsley and cook until well-combined, pressing any excess moisture out of the spinach greens as you go. Set this mixture aside.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the remaining parsley, ricotta cheese, eggs and ⅔ cup of the Grana-style cheese.
4. Oil a large baking pan. First, layer 1½ to 2 cups of the béchamel, followed by a layer of noodles, then half of the spinach mixture and all the mozzarella cheese. Next, add another 1½ to 2 cups of the béchamel, another layer of noodles, all of the ricotta mixture, and the remaining spinach mixture. Finally, add the rest of the béchamel, the remaining noodles and sprinkle the remaining Grana-style cheese over top. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover the lasagna and cook for another 10 minutes. Allow the lasagna to cool for about 15 minutes prior to serving.
Baked Orzo with Spinach, Feta & Lemon
Tossed with sautéed spinach and garlic, plus lemon zest and feta cheese, this baked pasta dish is a winner.
Ingredients:
1 pound orzo pasta
1½ cups crumbled feta cheese
2 cups baby spinach
1 large garlic clove, minced
5 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly-chopped thyme
Zest of 1 lemon
¾ cup Panko-style breadcrumbs
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with oil.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the spinach and cook, tossing, until it starts to wilt, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and toss with the spinach mixture, feta, 2 more tablespoons of olive oil, half the thyme, and lemon zest. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs with the remaining tablespoon of oil, the remaining thyme, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle on top of the pasta.
4. Bake the pasta until the breadcrumbs brown and the pasta heats through, about 20 minutes (cover with foil if the top browns too quickly). Let cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
