Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Triple Creme and Apple Salad with Honey Vinaigrette

Triple Creme and Apple Salad with Honey Vinaigrette


Carleton from Champlain Valley Creamery suggests using a sweet vinaigrette on salad made with the triple creme. Serves 6.

For the vinaigrette (inspired by Champlain Valley Apiaries recipe):
1 TB honey
6 TB balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup sunflower or extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 shallot, minced
1 TB chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

6 - 8 cups claytonia or other salad greens
1 Macintosh apple, cored and cut in a 1/4 dice
1/2 cup roasted beets, cut in a 1/4 dice
1/2 crottin triple creme cheese, cut into small pieces
handful pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place all vinaigrette ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until ingredients are completely combined. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.

Place greens in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with remaining ingredients. Dress with vinaigrette to taste. Toss and serve.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Sweet Turnip Salad with Yogurt

Sweet Salad Turnip Salad with Yogurt


Adapted from The Silver Spoon Cookbook. Serves 4.

4 small to medium sweet salad turnips, thinly sliced
1 apple
scant 1/2 cup plain yogurt
salt and pepper to taste
minced fresh parsley for garnish

Place sliced turnips in a salad bowl. Peel and core apple and cut into wedges. Using a very sharp knife, cut the wedges into water-thin slices and add to the turnips. Combine the yogurt and a pinch of pepper in a bowl, add to the salad, toss, garnish with parsley and serve.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Three Sisters Chipotle Chili

Three Sisters Chipotle Chili


In this recipe, pureed winter squash takes the place of tomatoes as the base of the chili. The addition of black beans and corn gives us all three of the American Indian mythical sisters. I like this chili made with pork, but you could substitute tempeh or leave the meat out all together. Serves 10.

2 TB sunflower oil or lard
3lbs pork chops cut into 3/4 cubes, seasoned with salt and pepper
1 lg. onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup lager, such as Otter Creek Vermont Lager
1 cup chicken or vegetable both
3 cups pureed winter squash
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 chopped chipotle chilies in adobo, plus 2 tsp sauce (or more to taste)
2 cups frozen corn
2 cups cooked black beans
2 cups cooked Jacob’s Cattle or other white beans
1/4 cup maple syrup, or to taste
apple cider (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350F. Heat oil or lard in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown pork on all sides in batches. Reserve browned pork on the side. Add onion and garlic to empty pan, sauté, stirring frequently, until soft and turning brown, about 7-8 minutes. Add lager and broth, stirring to deglaze the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer rapidly for 5 minutes to reduce the liquid. Add squash, cumin oregano and chilies. Bring to a simmer. Add browned pork and both types of beans. Add syrup, to taste. If chili is too thick for your liking, add extra broth or apple cider as needed. Add frozen corn. Bring back to a simmer. Cover and bake in a 350F oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven. Season with salt, pepper and cumin to taste. Serve warm, garnished with a dollop of crème fraiche and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Published in Soups and Stews
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Miso Consomme

Miso Consomme


Adapted from Miso: More than Food, Life. Suzanne says that the consomme can be taken as is, used as a base for preparing soup or added to any recipe calling for a broth. With the slight addition of red wine it becomes an excellent bouillon for Chinese fondue. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

1 TB sunflower oil
1 onion quartered
1 carrot quartered
1/2 turnip coarsely chopped
2 to 5 cloves garlic halved
2 whole cloves
3 bay leaves
6 pepper corns
1/2 tsp of thyme
4 cups of water
2 TB miso diluted in 1/4 cup of hot water
1 sprig of parsley fined chopped

Heat the oil in a pan and saute all the ingredients except for the miso, water and parsley. Cook at low heat for 5 minutes. Add the water, cover and let simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the mixture. Mix in the diluted miso. Add the chopped parsley and serve hot.

Published in Soups and Stews
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Braised Beets with Red Cabbage

Braised Beets with Red Cabbage


Also from Epicurious.com this preparation results in a beautiful, deep red hue. Makes a delicious side for fish, pork or poultry. Serves 6.

3/4 pound red cabbage (1/2 small head), cut into wedges, cored
4 medium beets (about 2 inches in diameter), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup (or more) water
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Working in batches, coarsely grate cabbage and beets in food processor fitted with grating blade. Set aside. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until brown, about 15 minutes. Mix in cabbage and beets. Add salt, pepper, 1/2 cup water and vinegar. Cover; simmer until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Transfer to bowl; top with parsley.

Published in Light Sides
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Maple Syrup-Roasted Parsnip Bisque

Maple Syrup-Roasted Parsnip Bisque


My friends Lisa and Eric Friedman were recently highlighted in Yankee Magazine. Lisa is a phenomenal cook and entertainer, running her own catering company The Wooden Spoon she also conducts fun cooking classes out of her house. When I saw this recipe for the Parsnip Bisque, I knew that it would be a winner! Try substituting the Sweet Chai syrup for half of the maple for a more exotic taste. You could also use the creme fraiche in place of the cream. Serves 8.

2-1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and quartered
1/4 cup canola or sunflower oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra to taste
1/2 cup pure maple syrup, divided
8 cups water
1 large carrot, cut into thirds
1/2 medium-size onion
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon white pepper, plus extra to taste
2 to 2-1/2 cups heavy cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss parsnips with oil, salt, and 1/4 cup maple syrup. Spread on a baking sheet and roast about 30 minutes, or until parsnips are golden brown and softened. As parsnips are roasting, bring water to a boil. Place carrot, onion, parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns on a double layer of cheesecloth. Wrap and tie securely, and add to water. Bring to a boil; then lower to simmer 30 minutes.
Remove parsnips from oven and add to vegetable-infused water. Add remaining maple syrup, white pepper, and salt to taste. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Discard cheesecloth bundle. Using a food processor or immersion blender, puree parsnips and broth. Add cream and simmer another 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.

Published in Soups and Stews

Fingerling Potato Salad with Sherry-Mustard Vinaigrette


Serve atop sunflower and radish shoots with roasted potato and onion bread spread with Cowslem cheese on the side. Serves 4.

Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Sherry wine vinegar
1/4 cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried, crumbled tarragon
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Potatoes
2 TB olive or sunflower oil
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, cut into 1 1/2 chunks
1 tsp kosher salt
2 1/4-inch-thick slices smoked bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips
1 small onion, chopped
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, chopped
2 cups shoots

Combine mustard and vinegar in small bowl. Whisk in oil, then herbs. Season with sea salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss potatoes with salt and oil. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast until edges begin to brown, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Place warm potatoes in medium bowl. Add bacon, eggs, onions, and vinaigrette. Toss well and serve over shoots.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo


Thinking about Mardis Gras got me thinking about New Orleans, which got me thinking about gumbo. You can actually do this pretty locally. My husband Bob, who is in the kitchen now, is using sausage from Maple Wind farm, Pete's stock, and chicken from my neighbor. We subbed celeriac for the celery, frozen chives from my garden for the green onions, and also hit the freezer for parsley and peppers. Recipe adapted from The Chicago Tribune Cookbook. Serves 8.

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 chicken, about 4 lbs, quartered
1/2 cup flour
1 pound andouille or kielbasa, cut into 1/4 inch-thick-slices (or crumbled)
2 cups each, chopped onion, chopped celery
1 cup chopped green onions
1/4 chopped parsley
5 large cloves garlic, minced
2 quarts chicken stock
3 bay leaves, crumbled
2 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
1 tsp each: dried leaf thyme, freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 1/2 to 3 TB file powder
cooked rice or barley
hot pepper sauce to taste

Heat oil in a 7 or 9 quart heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken quarters in single layer. Cook until brown on all sides. Remove and reserve chicken. Add flour to hot oil and stir until smooth. Cook and stir constantly, over medium-high heat, until roux is the color of cinnamon. Remove from heat. Stir in sliced sausage, yellow onions, celery, green onions, green pepper, parsley and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.

Stir in 1/2 cup of the chicken broth, scraping up brown bits from bottom of the pan. Stir in browned chicken, bay leaves, salt, thyme, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir in remaining broth. Heat to boil over medium heat. Skim off surface scum. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered until chicken is tender, 35-45 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Remove chicken pieces from gumbo. Skim all fat from surface of gumbo. Remove skin and bones from chicken and discard. Shred chicken and add back to pot. Reheat to boil. Remove from heat; let simmer die down. Add file powder and stir. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve in soup bowls over rice or barley. Pass the hot pepper sauce.

Published in Soups and Stews
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad


Adapted from Epicurious.com, this potato salad is rich and delicious. Make sure to serve it warm. Serves 8-10.

4 slices bacon
2 tablespoons flour
4 teaspoons chopped onion
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup honey
4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon powdered dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon crumbled whole rosemary leaves
2 quarts cooked sliced potatoes, skins on*
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Fry bacon until crisp. Remove from pan, drain and crumble. Add flour and onion to the bacon fat left in the pan. Stir in vinegar, water, honey, salt and spices. Cook only until mixture is of medium thickness. Add to potatoes, parsley and crumbled bacon. Mix carefully to prevent mashing the potatoes.

*Mix the potatoes and dressing when both are still warm for the best flavor absorption.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Sweet and Sour Chicken Thighs with Carrots

Sweet and Sour Chicken Thighs with Carrots


Adapted from Epicurious.com. I think that this recipe would also be very good with tofu, though admittedly, not cooked as long as the chicken thighs. Serves 4-6.

8 small chicken thighs with skin and bone (2 1/2 to 2 3/4 lb total), trimmed of excess fat
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons paprika
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 large onion, halved lengthwise, then cut lengthwise into1/4-inch-wide strips
1 lb carrots (6 medium), cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup water
2 TB apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dried, crumbled parsley
1 tablespoon dried, crumbled cilantro

Pat chicken dry. Stir together 1 1/2 teaspoons salt with paprika, cinnamon, and pepper and rub onto chicken. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown chicken in 2 batches, turning over once, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken as browned to a plate.

Discard all but 3 tablespoons fat from skillet, then add onion and carrots. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 minute.

Return chicken, skin sides up, to skillet, nestling it into vegetables. Stir together water, vinegar, honey, parsley and cilantro until blended and add to skillet, then cook over moderately low heat, covered, until chicken is cooked through and carrots are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. If necessary, skim fat from sauce, then add salt to taste.

Published in Dinner
Page 5 of 7
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