Winter Squash Sage Pasta Sauce

One of the farm team, Steve Schimoler, has been toying with this sauce for pasta using the winter squash puree. The amounts in the recipe below are a best guess sort of guideline. He's made this a few times and has not exactly been measuring. But when in doubt - taste!

1 Qt winter squash puree (thawed)
1 small onion, minced
1/4 - 1/2 stick butter
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage (or 1 tsp dried)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 to 1 cup Cream, or Craime Fraiche
(and/or 2 oz finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup))

plus additional Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving

Bring a large pot of water to boil to cook your pasta in and cook your pasta according to directions.

Meanwhile, in a second large sauce pot over medium high heat melt the butter, and cook the onions and garlic until they are soft. Then add the sage and stir for about 15 seconds until fragrant. Then add squash, salt and pepper and heat through. Add cream or craime fraiche or the cheese at the very end. Mix the drained cooked pasta with the sauce, stirring gently to coat the pasta with the sauce. Serve topped with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano.

We have featured a couple recipes for Thai inspired Winter Squash soups that are so easy to make with this squash puree. They plus other recipes are available on Pete's blog. Take a look:

Baked Honeyed Rutabaga Discs

Martine Fiske, one of your fellow shareholders, contributed this recipe as a family favorite last year and we put it in the newsletter then. I thought we should bring it to light again. It's adapted from “The Victory Garden Cookbook by Marian Morash. Excellent for turnips too..

2 medium rutabagas or large turnips (2 lbs total)
4 TB butter
1/4 c honey

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel rutabagas/turnips. Slice across width of vegetable to make 1/2 inch disks. Melt butter and brush onto baking sheet. Place disks on sheet and brush with butter. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn and coat with honey, bake another 15 minutes. Turn once more and coat with melted butter and honey. Bake another 15 minutes. You may have to adjust final time for size and thickness of the discs.

Carrot and Daikon Salad

In this recipe from Shizuo's Tsuji's Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art, carrot and daikon are paired in a light, refreshing dish with a sweet and sour dressing called amazu. Salting and kneading the vegetables causes them to release their liquid. The dressing is then combined with the vegetables and the dish is refrigerated for at least 30 minutes (it's even more flavorful if left overnight). Traditionally, the salad is served in small plates.

1 large carrot, cut into 2 inch x 1/2 inch matshsticks
1 lb daikon radish, cut into 1 inch x 1/2 inch matchsticks
1 tsp salt
1/4 c. unseasoned rice vinegar
1.5 TB sugar
1/2 cup water

In a large bowl combine the carrot and daikon radish matchsticks. Add the salt and toss lightly. After several minutes, mix and lightly knead the vegetables with your hands. Working over a colander set in a bowl, gather up the vegetables in your hands and squeeze out the liquid. Rinse and dry the bowl. Place the vegetables in it.

In a glass bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar, and water. Heat in a microwave for 1 minute or until the sugar dissolves. Alternatively, heat the mixture in a small saucepan. Cool to room temperature.

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the vinegar mixture onto the vegetables. Mix with your hand and then squeeze the liquid from the vegetables. Discard the liquid.

Add the remaining dressing to the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to two days.

Honey Miso Dressing

Honestly, if you have the ingredients on hand, you might as well make a double or triple batch. It's really yummy.

2.5 TB miso
w TB honey
2 tsp dijon
3 TB water
1 TB tamari
1 TB cider vinegar
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced fine
1/2 tsp sunflower or sesame oil
1 clove garlic minced

Mix all ingredients together. Best to let sit 15 minutes to let flavors meld.

Cheddar Polenta with Braising Greens, Mushrooms and Bacon

Serves 4

1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
4 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1/4 lb. bacon or pancetta, sliced
4 cups water
1-7/8 tbsp. salt
1 cup coarse cornmeal
3/4 cups grated white Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter
approx 1/2 bag frozen braising greens (qty to your liking)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese

Bring water and salt to boil. Slowly whisk in polenta and reduce heat. Cook , stirring often, until polenta thickens about 25 minutes.Stir in the grated Cheddar and the butter. Cover and set aside.

In a large pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic and bacon until lightly browned.Add the mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes.Add the thawed braising greens. Stir together, turn heat to down to low, cover, and heat through.

Serve the greens over the polenta, garnished with ground pepper and olive oil.

Layered Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Casserole

Layers of sauteed braising greens and mushroom duxelle are sandwiched between layers of mashed potatoes. Yum.
12 servings, about 3/4 cup each | Active Time: 1 hour 20 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients
1.25 pounds potatoes,
8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, halved
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
1 large egg plus 1 large egg white, beaten
1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 lb braising greens, thawed
1/3 cup mushroom broth or reduced-sodium beef broth
2/3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Preparation

Bring 1 inch of water to a simmer in a large pot. Place potatoes in a steamer basket, cover and steam over medium-low heat, replenishing the water as necessary, until the potatoes are fall-apart tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, working in two batches, place mushrooms in a food processor and pulse, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until the mushrooms are coarsely chopped.

Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add butter and mash until chunky-smooth. Gradually stir in buttermilk, egg and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and beginning to soften, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until they release their liquid and the pan is almost dry, 10 to 12 minutes. Add braising greens and continue to cook, stirring to blend and heat through. Whisk broth and flour in a small bowl. Add to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until the mixture bubbles and thickens, about 1 minute.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

To assemble, spread half of the mashed potatoes in an even layer in a baking dish. Sprinkle half the Parmesan over the potatoes. Spread the mushroom mixture on top and spread the remaining potatoes over the mushroom layer. Top with the remaining Parmesan.
Bake until hot throughout and the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes.

Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping

One of our members, Susan Stock, emailed me this recipe that she came across on epicurious this past week. It makes use of so many vegetables we have sent out lately, and mushrooms too! Loads of room for substitutions here if you don't have each of the veggies the recipe calls for. The parlsey could be skipped. Reading reviews, many suggested doubling the garlic and rosemary for more flavor. Recipe by Jeanne Thiel Kelley for Bon Appetit March 2009.

6 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetarian bouillon base
2 large carrots, peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large celeriac, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 large parsnips, peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large rutabaga, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 turnip, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms (or 8 oz fresh shiitakes or oysters)
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups chopped onions
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons imported dry Sherry
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Biscuits:
2 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, diced
1 1/3 cups (or more) chilled buttermilk

For filling:
Bring 6 cups water and bouillon base to boil in large pot over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve bouillon. Add carrots and next 5 ingredients. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Drain; reserve vegetables and broth.

Melt butter in same pot over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Mix in garlic and rosemary; stir 2 minutes. Add flour; stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in reserved broth, then cream and Sherry. Cook until sauce is thick and reduced to 4 cups, whisking often, about 8 minutes. Mix in reserved vegetables and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer filling to buttered 13x9x2-inch baking dish. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with foil; chill.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake filling, covered, until bubbling, about 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare biscuits.
Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping
Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping

Roast Chicken with Mustard Vinaigrette

Here's a great recipe for roasting a whole bird. The Mustard Vinaigrette is really versatile and can be used on a potato salad, on a green salad, as well as this chicken. From Bon Appetit, May 1994.
1 5-7 lb roasting chicken
1 large shallot
2 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 fresh sage sprigs
1 cup Mustard Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sageFresh rosemary and sage sprigs


Preheat oven to 450°F. Pat chicken dry. Season cavity with salt and pepper. Place shallot, 2 rosemary sprigs and 2 sage sprigs in cavity. Slide hand between chicken skin and meat over breast to form pockets. Spread 2 tablespoons vinaigrette under skin over breast meat.

Place chicken in roasting pan. Brush 2 tablespoons vinaigrette over chicken. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary and sage. Season with salt and pepper.

Roast chicken 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Continue roasting until juices run clear when chicken is pierced in thickest part of thigh, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 1 hour.

Place chicken and herb sprigs on platter. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.

Mustard Vinaigrette
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
2/3 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage

Mix mustard and vinegar in bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in shallots and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, chill. Bring to room temperature, mix before using.)

Russian Cabbage Borscht

If you have never made borcht, or thought perhaps you wouldn't like it, this recipe is worth a try. This is the recipe from the original Moosewood Cookbook and I have made it year after year and it never disappoints. It is rich, sweet, hearty, tangy, all at once. If you don't have the stock of celery, substitute some of your celeriac instead. Serves 4-5.

2 TB butter
1-1/2 cups chopped onion
1-1/2 cups thinly-sliced potato
1 cup thinly-sliced uncooked, peeled beets
1 large, sliced carrot
1 stalk chopped celery
3-4 cups shredded cabbage
1 scant tsp caraway seeds
4 cups stock or water
1.5 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp dill (or less if you aren't a big dill fan)
1 -2 TB. cider vinegar
1-2 TB tsp. honey
1 cup tomato puree

Place potatoes, beets and water (or stock) in a saucepan, and cook until everything is tender. Save the cooking broth.

Begin cooking the onions in butter in a large kettle. Add caraway seeds and salt. Cook until onion is translucent, then add celery, carrots and cabbage. Add the broth from the beets and potatoes and cook, covered until all the vegetables are just tender.

Add potatoes, beets and all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer slowly for about 30 minutes. Taste to correct seasonings. Serve topped with sour cream and extra dill weed, if desired.

Lamb Chops with Mushroom Wine Sauce

This recipe got great reviews, is pretty quick, and would work well for various meats. Some say the cornstarch was unnecessary but if you like a thick sauce, then go for it. From Gourmet October 1993. Serves 2.

1 tablespoon oil
1 lb 1/2-inch-thick lamb chops, patted dry
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 small onion, chopped fine (about 1/4 cup)
4 to 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon tamari
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves

In a skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it sauté the chops, seasoned with salt and pepper, flattening them occasionally with a metal spatula, for 4 minutes on each side for medium meat. Transfer the chops with a slotted spatula to a small platter and keep them warm, covered loosely with foil.

Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat and in the remaining fat cook the garlic over moderate heat, stirring, until it is pale golden. Add the onion and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and the tamari and cook the mixture over moderately high heat, stirring, until the liquid the mushrooms give off is evaporated. Add the vinegar and boil the mixture until the liquid is evaporated. Add the wine and the thyme and boil the mixture until almost all the liquid is evaporated. Stir the cornstarch mixture, add it to the skillet, and bring the sauce to a boil, stirring. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, spoon it over the chops, and sprinkle the chops with the parsley.