Pasta with Swiss Chard - August 7, 2007

Member Phylis Jo Kubey sent in some great recipes - including this one for Swiss chard, which I tried over the weekend. It is delicious! Also check out the blog for another great recipe - Whole Wheat Penne with Cabbage and Cumin.

PASTA WITH SWISS CHARD (or other greens)

8 ounces penne, rotelle or rigatoni, cooked and drained
1/4 cup pasta cooking water
1 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped or thinly sliced
1 pound Swiss chard or other greens, washed, stems removed and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup red or white wine or stock
1 cup crushed red tomatoes
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts (optional)
Salt and pepper

In a large skillet heat the oil and stir in the onion. Cook for 2 minutes and stir in the garlic. Add the chopped Swiss chard and toss to coat. Pour in the wine or stock and stir to coat. When the chard begins to wilt, stir in the tomatoes, red pepper flakes,
and pine nuts. Bring to a simmer and stir in the reserved pasta cooking water. Remember: Do not over cook the greens. It is ready to serve just after it has wilted. Immediately add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Whole Wheat Penne with Cabbage and Cumin

Whole Wheat Penne with Cabbage and Cumin
(from Almost Vegetarian)

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups shredded red or green cabbage
1 medium red or white low-starch potato, peeled and sliced paper thin
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
4 ounces fontina or taleggio cheese, thinly sliced
3 cups dried whole wheat penne or other whole wheat pasta

Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, carrot, cabbage, potato, and cumin, and sauté until the onion is soft and limp, about 8 minutes. Cover and let steam until the cabbage is very tender and the potato has cooked through, about 12 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Meanwhile, cook the penne according to package directions. Drain, then quickly toss it into the skillet, along with the cabbage mixture and the cheese. Toss briskly with two wooden spoons and serve at once, in warmed bowls (optional).

Recipes for Week of July 31

Spicy Morroccan Carrots

2 pounds carrots, peeled
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for sauteing
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
pinch of cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons white wine or champagne vinegar


Place carrots in a large pot of cold water and bring to boil, cooking until slightly tender but not overdone, approximately 15 minutes depending on the size of the carrots. Drain and place carrots in an ice-water bath until cool, then slice diagonally into 1/4-inch rounds.

In a large pan, saute the carrot slices in olive oil until slightly brown, cooking them in small batches if your pan becomes crowded. Place carrots in a bowl, add the olive oil and reamining ingredients, and mix well. For best results, refrigerate overnight and serve at room temperature. Serves 5.

Recipes for Week of July 24, 2007

Chilled Watermelon-Cucumber soup

In the summer few things are more refreshing than sweet, juicy watermelon and cool, crunchy cucumber -- two plants that belong to the same botanical family.

1 small seedless watermelon, approx. 1 pound
2 seedless cucumbers, peeled and chopped into one-inch pieces
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1 piri-piri chile, minced (available at Fairway)
Juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and white pepper to taste

Cut watermelon into large chunks and remove rind. In a high-speed mixer, blender, or food processor, combine first six ingrediants and blend until smooth. Season to taste. Garnish with a slice of grilled melon.

Recipes for Week of June 26, 2007

Kohlrabi

Try this cabbage cousin raw or cooked. Whether you prefer the green or purple variety, baby or mature, kolhrabi is delicious. Its flavor blends those of cucumber and mild broccoli, with a hint of peppery radish and a slight sweetness. Purple skinned kolhrabi tends to be a bit spicier.

Store bulbs, unwashed, is a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Wash leaves in several changes of cold water, drain, and wrap in a kitchen towel or paper towels. Enclose in a plastic bag. store leaves seperately in the refirgerator for up to 3 days. To prep, peel the bulb with a paring knife. Cut into chunks, dice, or slices, depending on use. Roughly chop leaves before cooking. Leaves may be prepared in a similar manner to collard greens.

Waldorf with Attitude

2/3 c mayonnaise
1/3 c sour cream
2 Tb sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1 mature or 2 to 3 baby kohlrabi bulbs, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
4 Fuji apples, cut into 1-inch dice
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1/2 c toasted walnuts or pecans
salt to taste

Stir mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Add kohlrabi, apples, celery, and nuts. Toss and add salt, if desired. Serves 4.

Recipes for Week of June 19, 2007

Swiss chard, along with kale, mustard greens and collard greens, is one of several leafy vegetables often referred to as "greens". Chard belongs to the same family as beets and spinach and shares a similar taste profile: it has the bitterness of beet greens and the slightly salty flavor of spinach leaves. Both the leaves and stalk of chard are edible, although the stems vary in texture with the white ones being the most tender. These two chard recipes were favorites of last season, so if you haven't tried them now is your chance!

Roasted Kale (Or chard, collards, etc.)

Swiss Chard with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Recipes for Week of June 12, 2007

Welcome to the first set of recipes for 2007. Each week we'll post new recipes here for the week's delivery, and you can check out past recipes for ingredients in the delivery by clicking on the ingredients on the right.

Feel free to add your comments to any of the recipes -- the whole group will appreciate any improvements, reviews, alterations and ideas you have.

This week:

Spring Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Spinach Quiche

Fresh Strawberry Bismarck

Fresh Strawberry Bismarck

2 Tbsp unsalted butter
½ cup flour
½ cup milk
2 large eggs
Pinch of salt
Pure maple syrup
Fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Put the butter in a 10-inch ovenproof saute pan and heat in the oven until the butter melts and begins to bubble.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together the flour, milk, eggs, and salt until smooth. Pour the batter into the saute pan and return to oven for about 12 minutes or until the batter is puffy and golden brown.

Slide the puffed bismarck onto a serving plate. Drizzle it with maple syrup, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar. Serves 2.

Spinach Quiche

Quiche is quick to make, and freezes easily. Just wrap leftovers in foil or plastic, then defrost and reheat in the microwave.

¾ cup of shredded Swiss cheese

¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese

¼ cup of finely chopped onion

1 bunch of spinach, rinsed and chopped

4 eggs

1 cup of half&half or milk

1 tbsp flour

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 prepared 9-inch pie crust (or try the all butter pie crust recipe under “pie”)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle spinach and onion in pie crust. Toss cheese with flour and sprinkle in the pie crust. In a large bowl, gently whisk together eggs, half & half (or milk), salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over all the other ingrediants in the cust. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Let stand 10 to 12 minutes before serving.

Spring Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

For the salad:

1 head of lettuce, torn and rinsed
3 scallions, thinly sliced
2 radishes, thinly sliced

For the Vinaigrette:

2 tbsp water
¼ cup (about 3 limes) lime juice
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt and white pepper
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp minced scallions

Toss lettuce, scallions, and radishes in a bowl. In a container with a tightly fitting lid, combine all the vinaigrette ingrediants and shake to mix well. Pour over salad. Serves 4.

Lowfat Pumpkin Pie

Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp apple juice
2 tbsp butter, melted

Filling
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 egg yolk
2 large egg whites
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9" pie plate or tin with vegetable spray. In a medium bowl, mix together crumbs, juice and butter until moistened. Press mixture evenly into bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake 15 minutes, until golden. Cool. Place filling ingredients in a food processor (or use an electric mixer) and pulse a few times until just blended and smooth. Pour filling into cooled pie shell. Bake 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm, with or without a dollop of whipped cream. Nutritional analysis per serving (without whipped cream): 147 calories, 5 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 23 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g protein

Makes 8 servings.

All-Butter Pie Crust (With Variations)

11⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, preferably a high-fat, European-style butter like Plugra, chilled and cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces
2 to 5 tablespoons ice water

1. In a food processor, briefly pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture forms chickpea-size pieces (3 to 5 one-second pulses). Add ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until mixture is just moist enough to hold together.

2. Form dough into a ball, wrap with plastic and flatten into a disk. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before rolling out and baking.

Yield: One 9-inch single pie crust. Recipe can be doubled for a double crust; divide dough into two balls and form two disks before chilling.

Variations: You can experiment with textures and flavors by substituting 3 to 4 tablespoons shortening, lard, beef suet, duck fat or an unsweetened nut butter, such as hazelnut butter, almond butter or mixed nut butter, for 3 to 4 tablespoons regular butter. All should be well chilled before using.

Rendered leaf lard can be purchased from the Flying Pigs Farm stand at the Union Square and Grand Army Plaza Greenmarkets on Saturdays, or by mail order from Dietrich’s Meats, (610) 756-6344, www.dietrichsmeats.com. Rendered duck fat is available online at www.dartagnan.com. Suet can be bought from butchers.

Cheddar Crust: This crispy crust pairs nicely with apple pie or savory pie fillings. Pulse together 11⁄4 cups flour with 3⁄4 teaspoon salt. Add 3⁄4 cup grated sharp cheddar; pulse until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add 8 tablespoons chilled, cubed butter and proceed according to the directions for All-Butter Pie Crust.

Prebaked Crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pie crust to a 12-inch circle. Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork. If you have time, freeze crust for 15 to 30 minutes; otherwise skip this step. Cover pie with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights (you can use pennies, rice or dried beans for this). Bake for 15 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes more. Cool on rack until needed.

Honey Apple Pie with Thyme

3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cored (about 11⁄4 pounds)
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored (about 11⁄2 pounds)
1⁄2 cup honey
6 thyme branches
1⁄4 cup unsalted butter (1⁄2 stick), cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons instant tapioca
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Flour, for dusting
Dough for 2 9-inch pie crusts (see next recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice Golden Delicious apples and 3 Granny Smith apples into sixths.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring 1⁄4 cup honey to a boil. Let simmer about 2 minutes, until honey is caramelized. Add 3 thyme branches. Arrange half the apples in a single layer in skillet. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons butter over apples. Cook apples, turning, until well caramelized on all sides (but not cooked through), about 10 minutes. Scrape apples and honey mixture into a bowl. Add tapioca and toss to combine. Repeat cooking process with remaining honey, thyme, butter and sliced apples. Add second batch of apples to bowl; combine. Discard all thyme branches.

3. Thinly slice remaining Granny Smith apple and add it to bowl. Stir in sugar, ginger and salt.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out both crusts to 12-inch circles. Place one crust in 9-inch pie plate. Scrape apple filling into crust and top with remaining crust. Pinch edges to seal. With a knife, slice 4 vents in top of crust. Place pie on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet.

5. Bake for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust is dark golden and apples are tender when pricked with a fork, about 45 minutes more. Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Cabbage and Sausage Casserole

2 pounds cabbage
2 pounds Italian sausage, sweet or hot
½ cup sour cream
1 tblsp prepared horsradish or mustard

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice the cabbage ½ inch thick. Place a third of the cabbage in a casserole dish. From each sausage, trim 1 end and, starting at the other end, squeeze meat from casing. Arrange half of the meat on top of the cabbage. Press firmly. Top with half of the remaining cabbage and all the remaining meat and press again.

Spread the remaining cabbage over the top, cover dish with foil and bake until the cabbage is tender, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sour cream with horseradish or mustard. Slice the casserole into wedges and serve with the sour cream mixture. Serves 6.

Cabbage Soup with Apples and Thyme

3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 cups thinly sliced cored green cabbage (about 1 small or 1/2 large head)
1 large onion, chopped
8 large fresh thyme sprigs
6 cups low-salt chicken broth (I use veggie broth
1 1/4 pounds Golden Delicious apples (or other variety), peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Chopped fresh thyme

Melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and onion; sauté until vegetables wilt and brown, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add 8 thyme sprigs and sauté 1 minute longer. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples and sauté until brown and tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove thyme sprigs from soup. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with apples and chopped fresh thyme and serve. (You might want to top it with a dollop of sour cream.)

Source: Bon Appetit

Butternut Squash-Apple Soup

2 tsp vegetable oil
1 ½ cups chopped, peeled apples
¾ cup shopped onion
¼ tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup water
2 cups cubed, peeled squash
Salt
Pinch of ground red pepper

In a 3 qt saucepan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add apples and onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in ginger and nutmeg, until absorbed. Add the broth and water; bring to boil. Add the squash and return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Place the soup, salt, and red pepper in a blender of food processor. Process until smooth.

Variation: For creamier soup, add ½ cup of half and half while blending.

Butternut Squash Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups butternut squash, cooked and well drained
3/4 cup milk
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together first six ingredients. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles cornmeal. In a separate bowl, beat eggs; then add squash, milk, and raisins and stir. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, just enough to mix. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. (Makes 24 muffins)

Butternut-Lemongrass Soup

1 2 1/2 to 3 lb butternut squash (3 cups cooked)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, cut into small dice (1/4 cup)
1 cup cleaned and chopped leeks, white part only
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 14 ounce can coconut milk
4 cups Southeast Asian Stock [use veggie/chicken stock and add 1 Tb or so of grated ginger, 1 Tb soy sauce, a little lime zest, and some extra lemongrass]
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 red bell pepper (roasted or roast your own)
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup basil cut in a chiffonade [thin strips]

Cut squash in half, brush with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes [or microwave on high for about 15 minutes], until squash is tender. When cool enough to handle, remove the seeds from the squash and discard them. Scrape the flesh from the skin and set it aside.

Heat the remaining olive oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the shallots and leeks over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until the leeks are softened but not browned. Add the garlic and lemongrass and sauté an additional few minutes.

Add the squash, sweet potato, coconut milk, and stock and cover. Bring to boil, lower heat, add the salt, and simmer about 15 minutes, partially covered, until the sweet potato is soft.

Meanwhile, roast the bell pepper. When skin is charred place on plate with inverted bowl over it to sweat for 15-20 minutes. Discard the skin, stem, and seeds and chop the flesh into 1/4 inch squares.

Puree the soup in blender or with an immersion blender [I have skipped this step and it is still tasty just not as smooth]. Add the black pepper to taste and the lime juice. Adjust salt to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the red pepper squares and basil chiffonade.

Source: The Voluptuous Vegan

Late Harvest Chutney

Although chutney is of Indian inspiration, western chutney recipes always seem to be cooked— combining sugar and vinegar with spices and fruit. Usually mango, but sometimes, apples, raisins, pears, and apricots or a mixture of fruit and vegetables are used.

1 cup dried plums (prunes)
1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon coriander seed, ground
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 to 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
3 medium-sized (crisp) apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup currents
1 cup onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

Place dried plums in a small saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Boil for 10 minutes. Drain, cool, and chop.

Combine vinegar, sugar, coriander, cinnamon, salt and pepper in an enameled or stainless steel pan. Heat to boiling; add prepared plums, apples, currents, onions, and tomatoes.

Cover and continue to boil, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, for about 20 to 30 minutes, until thick.

Carefully ladle into jars. Refrigerate jars and use within 3 months.

Makes about 4- 1/2 pint jars

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Use firm cooking apples for making apple crisp—Rome Beauty, Baldwin, Jonathan, Braeburn, or Jonagold.

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup each, granulated sugar and brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) chilled butter or margarine cut into small pieces
7 cups peeled diced apples (about 3 pounds)
3 tablespoons apple juice or cider
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat eight-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil and set aside. In a bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well blended. Cut in chilled butter using a pastry blender or clean fingers until the mixture is crumbly. In another bowl, combine apples, apple juice and cranberries. Spoon the apple mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Yield 9 servings.

Apple Custard Pie

CRUST:

1 1/2 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 stick of butter

FILLING:
3 apples, peeled and sliced
2/3 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

CUSTARD:
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup of evaporated milk

For crust, mix flour, salt and butter with a fork (or in food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press firmly on the bottom and sides of buttered pie plate. Place sliced apples on crust, sprinkle with 2/3 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 minutes. Beat egg, sugar and milk. Pour over apples and return to oven for 30 minutes.

Caramel Apples and Pears

For Halloween I served these on sticks, but for a dinner party just arrange the fruit on a tray.

12 apples or Seckle pears
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
1 Tb lemon juice
1 piece of lemon peel, about 2 inches long
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a medium, heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water, lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla extract. Cook, stirring, until sugar melts. Increase the heat to high and cook until mixture is golden amber in color (Do not stir anymore after the sugar melts.) Remove the caramel from heat. Dip in fruit by stems, or remove stems and insert sticks and dip. Twirl and swirl fruit to coat completely. Transfer to wire rack and let caramel harden, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Store in a cool, dry place – not the refrigerator – wrapped in cellophane, if desired.

Applesauce

Applesauce will vary in texture and flavor depending on the variety of apple used. All-purpose apples such as Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, Fuji and Jonagold (as well as many others) produce good results.

8 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into thick slices
1/2 cup water
2 lemon slices
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine apples, water and lemon slices in a large saucepan. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until apples are part sauce and with some chunks of apple left. Watch closely and stir often to prevent burning. Applesauce should be thick; add more water if necessary. Leave sauce chunky or put apples and lemons through a food mill or coarse sieve. Stir in sugar to desired sweetness. Add cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve warm or chilled. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to one week. Yield 5 to 6 cups.

To make unsweetened applesauce: omit added sugar and select a naturally sweet variety such as Golden Delicious, Red Delicious or Gala.

To Freeze: Increase spices to twice the indicated amount, as they lose flavor during freezing. Refrigerate until chilled. Pack cool applesauce into rigid freezer containers to within 1/2-inch from the top and seal. Use a container size suitable for your family's needs. To use: thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for 3 hours. Can be frozen for up to one year at 0°F.

To Can: Pack hot applesauce into clean standard canning jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal with 2 piece canning lid and screw band. Process jars for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. Remove jars, cool, check seals, label and date. Store sealed jars away from sunlight in a cool, dry place for up to one year.

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding with Leeks & Bacon

Butter for baking dish
4 slices Bacon
1 Tablespoon Butter
2 medium Leeks, white and tender green parts only, chopped
1 clove Garlic, minced
1 pound Butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound Pugliese or Ciabatta bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
7 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Whole milk
1 3/4 cups Cream
2 cups Gruyere cheese
2 teaspoons Thyme leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Rosemary needles, finely chopped
2 Sage leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup Chopped parsley (1/4 cup for filling and 1/4 cup for garnish)
1/2 teaspoon Lemon zest
1 teaspoon Lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper

Butter a two quart gratin dish or a 13”x 9” baking dish or 10 five-ounce ramekins.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lay the bacon on a cooling rack over a sheet pan. Transfer to the oven and cook until crisp, about 12 minutes. Let cool on the cooling rack. Reserve 1 Tablespoon of the bacon renderings. Once cool, chop the bacon into 1/2” bits. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a sauté pan and add the reserved bacon renderings. Add the leeks and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. If pan becomes too dry and leeks are sticking, add a bit of water to the pan to keep them soft.

Peel and seed the squash and cut into 1-inch cubes. Put on a parchment lined baking pan and cover with foil. Cook in the oven about 10 minutes until tender but not soft. (The squash will be cooked again).

On a large rimmed baking sheet, toast the bread until just dry, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, cream, 1 cup of gruyere, thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, zest, juice, nutmeg, leeks, salt and pepper. Add the bread cubes and let stand for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Gently fold in the bacon and squash and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top of pudding with the remaining cup of cheese. Bake for 40 minutes if using a baking pan/gratin pan, or until browned on top and just set. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup of parsley and serve.

Butternut Squash Bread (sweet)

2 C. prepared butternut squash
1 tsp. salt
1 2/3 C. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 C. vegetable oil (I prefer melted butter or coconut oil for a velvety texture)
1⁄2 tsp. ground all spice
2 tsp. vanilla
1⁄2 tsp. mace
4 eggs
1⁄2 tsp. baking powder
3 C. all-purpose flour
1⁄2 C. coarsely chopped nuts
2 tsp. baking soda
1⁄2 C. raisins or cranberries (I prefer dried, unsweetened cranberries for a little zing)

To Prepare Squash: Wash and cut into 1-inch slices or cubes. Remove seeds & fibers. Heat an inch of water to a boil in a saucepan; add squash. Cover and bring to a second boil; reduce heat. Boil 15-20 minutes, or until tender; drain.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans. Mix prepared squash, sugar, oil, vanilla, & eggs in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pans. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves with knife; remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Butternut Squash Bread (yeasty)

1/2 cup warm water (115-125 degrees)
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
1 & 1/4 cup mashed, cooked butternut squash
1 cup warm milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. salt
7 cups all- purpose flour

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water; let stand for 5 minutes. Add squash, milk, eggs, butter, sugar and salt; mix well. Gradually add 3-1/2 cups flour, beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-9 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about one hour. Punch down dough, and shape into three loaves; place in greased 8" x 4" loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 min. or until tops are golden. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks. Yield: 3

Radish Slaw

This could also be good without the cabbage.

1/2 lb. radishes, trimmed and grated coarse (about 2 cups)
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1 cup coarsely grated carrots
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro, mint, or parsley leaves

In a bowl toss together the radishes, the cabbage, the carrots, the onion, the lemon juice, the sugar, the oil, the herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

Daikon Radish Remoulade

1 lb. daikon radish, peeled
3 tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
4 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

Cut the daikon into 2-inch-long fine julienne strips or grate it coarse. Rinse a large bowl with hot water, dry it, and in it whisk the mustard with 3 tablespoons hot water. Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking until the dressing is emulsified, and whisk in the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Add the daikon strips and the parsley and toss the mixture well. Serves 6.

Beijing Radish Salad

1 bunch watermelon radishes or one medium daikon radish
2 tablespoons rice or balsamic vinegar (or a combination)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Wash and julienne radishes. They can be peeled or not as you like. Mix together the rest of the ingredients and dress the radishes with the dressing.

Baking Daikon Radish

Preheat oven to 350. Cut Daikon Radishes into at least four long strips and steam for five minutes. Drain and place in a single layer in a shallow baking pan.

In a small saucepan, combine 1 Tb of butter, 1 Tb of honey, and one dash of cinnamon to make a glaze. Pour over the radishes and bake them uncovered for 30 minutes or until tender.

Marjoram Pesto with Capers and Olives

1 small slice country bread
2 tablespoons aged red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup marjoram leaves
3 tablespoons drained capers
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 cup finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons pitted Greek olives
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Remove the crusts from the bread, then soak the bread in the vinegar on a plate.

Pound the garlic with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a mortar until smooth, then work in marjoram, capers, pine nuts, parsley and olives, until you have a coarse puree. Add the bread and the olive oil and work until the pesto is well amalgamated. Season with pepper, taste for vinegar, and add a little more if you think it needs it. The pesto will be very thick.

Beets with Beet Greens Salad

2 small red onions, thinly sliced in rounds
White wine vinegar
8 to 12 small beets, golden and/or Chioggia, including the greens
Olive oil
Sea salt
Marjoram Pesto with Capers and Olives

Toss the onions with vinegar nearly to cover and refrigerate until needed. They will turn bright pink.

Discard the beet stems and any leaves that are yellowed or wilted, wash the rest, and steam until tender, about five minutes. Set aside to drain, then chop coarsely. Toss with a little olive oil and season lightly with salt.

Leaving an inch of the stems and the tails on the beets, steam until a knife pierces them easily, about 25 minutes. Slip off the skins. Trim the tops and tails, quarter them, and sprinkle with a little of the vinegar.

Make the pesto, setting aside half the toasted pine nuts for a garnish. Toss the beets with it, leaving ample streaks throughout. Place them over the greens. Remove the onions from the vinegar and strew them over the beets. Garnish with the reserved pine nuts and serve. Serves 4

Wilted Beet Greens

1 lb beet greens, well washed
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 chicken bouillon cube
1/4 cup water

In a large saucepan, bring 1/4 cup water to a rolling boil. Drop in washed beet greens. Peel garlic cloves and slice or shave thinly (a vegetable peeler or garlic mandoline may be used) or, alternatively, finely mince the garlic. Add to water along with the greens.

Stir often to ensure greens cook evenly. As greens begin to wilt and water evaporates slightly, add butter.

Reduce heat and cook for only 5 minutes after greens have wilted (for young greens - older greens will require a few addtional minutes to tenderize. Taste them and see if they are done).

Combine bouillon cube with olive oil. When butter has melted, stir in olive oil.

Drain greens; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Beet Greens Gratin

1 tablespoon butter
12 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound beet greens, cleaned and picked
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 cups ricotta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup crumbled crackers (recommended: Ritz crackers)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sweat. Add the beet greens and mix well. Remove pan from heat. Season with salt and pepper.

In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, and salt. Combine everything and put into a lightly oiled 9 by 11-inch baking dish. Top with the crumbled crackers and bake for 30 minutes covered. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Celeriac Mash

1 head celeriac
2 oz. butter
salt and black pepper
1 Tb cream (or 2 Tb milk)

Peel the celeriac and cut into rough chunks. Put into boiling salted water and simmer until soft (30 minutes approx). When soft drain it well and mash it roughly with a Potato masher (you don’t have to be too particular as a little texture in the mash is pleasant).

Beat in the butter and cream and season well. This reheats well.

Carrot and Celeriac Soup

1 celeriac (cut all the hard outer skin off with a knife and cut into cubes)
4 - 6 carrots (peeled and cubed)
1 onion (chopped)
1 leek (white only - chopped)
2 - 3 sticks of celery (chopped)
Vegetable stock
Salt and pepper
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1 tbsp of vegetable oil

Cook the onions on a medium heat in a large pan for around 5 minutes until they are clear. Add the celeriac, carrot, leek and celery and cook for another 5 minutes. Cover all the vegetable with stock. Put the heat on full until the vegetables are boiling and then reduce to a simmer and fit a lid. Leave to cook for half an hour or until the carrots are soft. Puree the soup in a blender and add 1⁄4 tsp nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.

Glazed Celeriac

1 head celeriac
2 Tb sunflower oil (I prefer olive oil)
1 Tb dark brown sugar
1 Tb balsamic vinegar
1 Tb dark soy sauce

Peel the celeriac and cut into roughly chip sized pieces. Fry these gently in a large pan until they are starting to soften. Add all the other ingredients and stir and fry briskly until the juices reduce and coat and glaze the celeriac. You can serve immediately or they reheat excellently.

Honey Roast Carrots and Celeriac

4 medium Carrots
1 head Celeriac
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Honey
Juice 1 Lemon
Salt and pepper
Cumin or Coriander seeds to taste

Preheat oven to 375F. Peel the Celeriac and cut it into 3⁄4 inch cubes. Peel the Carrot and cut into similar sized pieces.

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the vegetable cubes until beginning to brown. Pour over the honey and lemon and season with salt and black pepper.

Toss the vegetables in this and then pour into a roasting tin (be sure to scrape in all the pan juices). Cook at 375 for about 35 to 40 minutes until soft in the center.

Scattering the vegetables with a little cumin seed or coriander seed as you put them into the oven gives them a lovely subtle spiciness.

Celeriac Gratin

2 medium celeriac
1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt & black pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
1 thinly sliced red onion
1⁄2 cup extra mature cheddar
Parsley to garnish

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Peel celeriac, rinse and slice into thin even pieces. Toss the celeriac in olive oil so the pieces are evenly coated. Layer the celeriac, partially overlapping, then cover the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with finely chopped garlic, thinly sliced red onions, rosemary, salt, pepper and mature cheddar. Continue to layer until all ingredients are used. Cover with tin foil and bake for one hour until celeriac is tender. Bake a further 10 minutes without foil to brown top.

Hearty Rutabaga, Carrot, Parsnip and Sausage Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 large onion, chopped
3 small parsnips, peeled, diced
1 medium rutabaga, peeled, diced
1 large carrot, peeled, diced
1 14 1/2-ounce can beef broth
1 14 1/2-ounce can chicken broth
1/4 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
Salt and pepper

Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until brown on all sides, about 7 minutes. Transfer to plate using slotted spoon. Add onion to saucepan. Reduce heat to medium and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add parsnips, rutabaga and carrot and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broths. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes.

Purée soup in batches in processor. Return to saucepan. Mix in half and half and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add sausage. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Heat through. Ladle into bowls and serve.

2 servings; can be doubled or tripled.

Rutabaga and Carrot Puree

2 rutabagas (2 1/2 lb total), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
5 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Cook rutabagas and carrots in boiling salted water to cover by 1 inch in a large pot until tender, about 30 minutes. Transfer vegetables with a slotted spoon to a food processor and purée with butter, brown sugar, and salt until very smooth. If necessary, transfer purée back to pot and reheat. Purée keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days.

Makes 8 servings.

Rutabaga and Butternut Squash Puree

4 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth
3 pounds rutabagas, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter

Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange butternut squash in single layer in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add 1 cup broth. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until squash is very tender, about 45 minutes. Drain squash. Transfer squash to processor.

Meanwhile, cook rutabagas in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Add to squash in processor. Process until mixture is smooth, adding more broth if necessary.

Transfer squash and rutabaga pureée to heavy large saucepan. Add butter. Stir over low heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer purée to bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat.)

Serves 10.

Acorn Squash Puree

3 acorn squash, halved, the seeds and strings discarded
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
freshly grated nutmeg to taste

Sprinkle the cavities of the squash halves with salt and arrange the squash, inverted, in one layer in a buttered baking dish. Bake the squash, covered with foil, in the middle of a preheated 375°F. oven for 1 hour and let it cool until it can be handled. Scoop out the squash pulp, discarding the skin, and in a food processor purée it with the butter. Transfer the purée to a saucepan and simmer it, stirring occasionally, until the excess liquid is evaporated. Season the purée with the nutmeg and salt and pepper. The purée may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.

Makes 6 servings.

Butternut Squash Pizza

Before baking, store squash in a cool, dark, dry place for up to one month. To peel, cut it in half length-wise, place it cut side down, and run a peeler along the surface.

1 butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled
1 small yellow onion, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rings
3Tb olive oil
1 ½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 1-pound package refrigerated pizza dough
1 Tb cornmeal
1 Tb fresh thyme leaves
½ cup fresh ricotta

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash into ½-inch-thick slices, and then cut each slice into 1-inch chunks. Place the squash and onion on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil, season with the salt and pepper, and toss. Roast until tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Roll the dough out ¼ inch thick. Clean the baking sheet and sprinkle it with cornmeal. Place the dough on top. Scatter the squash and onion mixture over the dough, sprinkle with thyme, and add dollops of the ricotta. Bake until golden, about 25 mintues. Slice into wedges. Serves 6.

Sweet Potatoes and Greens and Honey Mustard Glaze

1 3/4 to 2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2/3 cup minced shallots (about 4)
1 pound Greens, such as Swiss chard, stems trimmed, torn into bite-size pieces
Ground nutmeg

Steam potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Cool. (Can be made 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

Blend mustard and honey in small bowl. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chard; toss until barely wilted, about 2 minutes. Add potatoes and mustard mixture; toss until heated, about 2 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Serves 6.

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Before baking, sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry place and have a shelf life of 2 to 4 weeks. To prep the potatoes, scrub the skins or grab a peeler.

6 medium sweet potatoes, unpeeled

6 Tb unsalted butter

½ tsp kosher salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each sweet potato several times with the tines of a fork. Place them on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Make a slit in the top of each sweet potat. Top with 1 tablespoon of butter and season with salt and pepper.

Variations: Baking sweet potatoes intensifies their sweetness, making them suprisingly satisifying with little embellishment. If you crave something over the top, try some maple syrup or brown sugar, a spoonful of sour cream, a pinch or ground cinnamon, some carmelized onions, a handful of pecans or walnuts, jarred applesauce or chutney, or grated orange zest. Serves 6.

Yam and Peanut Soup

3 yams (1 1/4 pounds), peeled and thickly sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 (14 1/2 oz) can vegetable broth (or homemade)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 Tb chopped cilantro or parsley

In a medium soup pot or large saucepan, combine the yams, onion, broth, salt, cayenne, and 1 3/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the yams are very soft when pierced with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes.

With a slotted spoon, remove the yams and onions to a food processor. Puree in batches until smooth, adding extra liquid as necessary from the soup pot.

Whisk the peanut butter into the remaining stock in the pot. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the yam puree back into the soup pot. Reheat, stirring to mix well. Season with additional salt and cayenne to taste. Garnish with cilantro or parsley.

Butternut Squash Soup with Fresh Ginger

1 large butternut squash
2 tsp olive or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14 1/2 oz) can vegetable broth (or homemade)
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 tsp butter
Pinch allspice
1/4 cup sour cream

With a sharp knife, cut the stem off the squash; then cut the squash lengthwise in half. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Cut each half in half again to facilitate peeling. Peel the squash carefully with a small, sharp knife and cut them into 2-inch chunks

In a medium soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is softened and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the ginger, garlic, squash, broth, milk, salt, and cayenne. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the squash is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes.

Puree the soup, in batches if necessary, in a food processor until very smooth. Pour the soup back into the pot. Add the butter and allspice. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Season with additional salt and cayenne to taste. Serve hot, topped with a dollop of sour cream.

Source: One-Pot Vegetarian Dishes

Bean and Kale Soup

1 bunch kale, trimmed
1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus additional to taste
2 flat anchovy fillets
1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves or dried
1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 cup (225 g) cooked small white beans or drained and rinsed canned
beans
4 cups (1 liter) chicken stock
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup (60 g) small shell macaroni
freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

In a medium saucepan, cook the kale with 1/2 cup (125 ml) water and the

salt over medium heat until tender. Drain the kale, reserving any liquid

that remains. Coarsely chop the kale. Very finely chop anchovies together with the rosemary.

In a medium saucepan, stir together the oil and garlic over medium-high

heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is pale gold, about 10 minutes. Stir in the anchovies and rosemary. Cook, stirring for 1 minute. Discard the garlic. Stir in the kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring to thoroughly coat it with the oil. Stir in the beans. Cook for 3 minutes.

Stir in the reserved cooking liquid and the stock. Season with salt and

pepper. Bring to a boil and stir in the macaroni. Boil for 6 minutes, or

until the pasta is tender. Adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Pass Parmesan cheese at the table.

Source: Soup: A Way of Life

Gorgonzola and Fresh Thyme Sauce for Pasta

1 1/2 cups half and half
6 ounces gorgonzola (or blue) cheese, crumbled
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or white pepper

Combine half and half, crumbled cheese, thyme and nutmeg. Cook gently, stirring frequently, until mixture reduces by one-fourth. Add white pepper to taste. Toss with steaming pasta. (You may add sliced, peeled apples and walnuts to the above.)

Source: A Kitchen Garden

Mushroom Pesto with Parsley and Thyme

10 ounces white mushrooms, sliced 1/4 -inch thick
9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper
3 medium unpeeled garlic cloves
1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms (rehydrated in 1/2 cup boiling water until softened, about 5 minutes, hydrating liquid strained through damp paper towel–lined sieve and reserved)
1 small shallot, chopped coarse
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup packed parsley leaves, washed and dried thoroughly
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees; line rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil. Toss sliced mushrooms with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper in medium bowl; spread evenly on prepared baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast garlic in small dry skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until softened and spotty brown, about 8 minutes; when cool, remove anddiscard skins.

In a food processor, process roasted mushrooms, garlic, porcini and liquid, shallot, thyme, parsley and remaining 7 tablespoons oil until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down sides of bowl. Transfer mixture to small bowl and stir in cheese; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Beef Pot Roast

Cuts of beef that perform well for pot roasting go by many names –blade roast, cros-rib roast, and boneless chuck roast are all acceptable cuts for this traditional recipe.

1 tsp olive oil
1 (3lb) boneless chuck raost, trimmed
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 cup dry red wine
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (14oz) can fat-free, low sodium beef broth
1 bay leaf
4 thyme sprigs
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2inch pieces
Fresh thyme leaves
4 large carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 1inch pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chuck roast with salt and pepper. Add roast to pan; cook 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove roast from pan. Add onion to pan; saute 8 minutes or until tender. Return browned roast to pan. Add the red wine, thyme sprigs, chopped garlic, beef broth and bay leaf to pan; bring to simmer. Cover pan and bake 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until roast is almost tender.

Add carrots and potatoes to pan. Cover and bake an additional 1 hour or until vegetables are tender. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf from pan; discard. Shred the meat with 2 forks. Serve roast with vegetable mixture and cooking liquid. Garnish with thyme leaves, if desired. Serves 8.

Roasted Autumn Vegetable Soup

This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold days!

1 large onion, cut ito large chunks
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
6 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
4 cups winter squash, peeled and cubed
Cooking spray
3 cups chicken broth
½ cup of evaporated milk
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes.

Place veggies in a large pot. Add broth and milk; season to taste. Copk over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to alow flavors to combine. Transfer to a blender in batches and blend until smooth. Serves 6.

Creamy Turnip Puree with Walnuts, Anchovies, and Parsley

6 pounds medium turnips, peeled, quartered
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup olive oil
6 anchovy fillets
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

Cook turnips and garlic in large pot of boiling salted water until turnips are very tender, about 30 minutes. Drain. Return turnips and garlic to pot; stir over medium-high heat until dry, about 2 minutes. Working in batches, puree turnips, garlic, 1 1/2 cups cream, and butter in processor until smooth. Return puree to pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add more cream if necessary to reach desired consistency. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Heat olive oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add anchovies and cook, mashing with back of wooden spoon until dissolved, about 1 minute. Add walnuts and cook until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley. Rewarm turnip puree over medium heat, stirring frequently. Transfer to serving bowl. Spoon walnut mixture over.

Cream of Turnip and Potato Soup

4 tbl spoons butter
2 large turnips, peeled and chopped
1 large onion peeled and chopped
1 large potato, peeled and chopped
1 tbl spoon of cornflour
4 1/4 cups of warm chicken stock (vegetable if preferred)
1 bay leaf
Freshly grate nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup cream
1 medium carrot, finely grated

In a large casserole, melt butter over a medium heat. When froth disappears, add chopped turnips, onion and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until onion is tender and translucent but not golden. Using a slotted spoon, remove vegetables from casserole; reserve.

Away from heat, stir flour into casserole juices, until smooth. Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring. Simmer for 3 minutes, until slightly thickened. Transfer reserved vegetables back into casserole; add bay leaf and sprinkle with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Lower heat; simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until vegetables are soft, stirring occasionally.

Remove casserole from heat, discard bay leaf and puree soup mixture, a little at a time, into a blender.

Pour puree back into casserole; return over low heat. Stir in cream; simmer soup for 4 minutes, until hot. Do not boil. Remove casserole from heat; pour soup into 4 individual bowls. Sprinkle each bowl with a little finely grated carrot and serve.

Turnips Braised with Mustard and Lemon

1 lb (450 g) small white turnips
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp (5 ml) mustard powder (dry mustard)
1/2-2/3 cup stock
2 tbsp chopped parsley
juice of 1/2 lemon

Heat the oven to 350. Scrub the turnips and cut them into thin crosswise slices about 1/8 in thick.

Melt the butter in a flameproof casserole or dutch oven on a low heat. Stir in the turnips, cover them and let them sweat for 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the mustard, fold it into the turnips and let everything cook gently for 1 minute. Pour in the stock and bring it to the boil.

Add the parsley and lemon juice. Cover the pan and put it into the oven for 45 minutes.

Turnip French Fries

Chop the turnip into french-fry strips and (if you wish) lightly coat with oil.

Place on a flat baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.

Bake at 350-375 for 20 minutes.

Try some different seasonings: dried parsley and basil, a little sea salt or a touch of cayenne and sea kelp.

Celeriac and Potato Latkes

1 large celeriac (1 1/2 lb), peeled with a knife
1 1/2 lb large (baking) potatoes (about 3 large)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 lb onions, quartered
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground celery seeds
About 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 250°F.

Coarsely grate celery root into a bowl using the 1/3-inch-wide holes of a box grater. Peel potatoes and coarsely grate into a large bowl. Add lemon juice and toss. Coarsely grate onions into same bowl.

Transfer to a clean kitchen towel, then gather up corners to form a sack and twist tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Return potatoes and onions to cleaned bowl and stir in celery root, flour, eggs, salt, pepper, and celery seeds until combined well.

Heat 1/3 inch oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Fill a 1/4-cup measure (not tightly packed) with latke mixture and carefully spoon it into skillet, then flatten to 3 inches in diameter with a slotted spatula. Form 3 more latkes in skillet, then fry until undersides are deep golden, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes. Turn over using 2 spatulas and fry until deep golden all over, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes more. (If latkes brown too quickly, lower heat to moderate.) Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly. Keep warm in 1 layer on a metal rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven. Make more latkes in same manner. Use a second rack and baking pan to keep last batches warm.

Butternut Squash, Rosemary, and Blue Cheese Risotto

7 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth (or veggie stock)
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 cups finely chopped onion1 2-pound butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch dice (about 3 cups) (You can pre-cook this a bit in the oven or microwave)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided
2 cups arborio rice (about 13 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 cups (packed) baby spinach leaves (about 4 ounces)
1/2 cup whipping cream (or less, to taste)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)

Bring 7 cups broth to boil in large saucepan. Cover and reduce heat to low.

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add squash and 1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary; sauté 4 minutes to coat with butter. Add rice and stir 2 minutes. Add wine and simmer until evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 7 cups hot broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until rice is just tender and risotto is creamy and slightly soupy, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls as needed to maintain consistency and stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Stir in spinach, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer risotto to large bowl. Sprinkle with blue cheese and remaining 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and serve.

Butternut Squash Soup with (optional) Roasted Red Pepper Puree

For Soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/4 cups chopped onions
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 2 1/2-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 1/2 cups (or more) vegetable broth
3 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

For Roasted Red Pepper Puree (optional):

1 cup coarsely chopped roasted red peppers
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

For Soup: Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until tender, about 12 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add squash and 5 1/2 cups broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until squash is soft, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.

Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return puree to pot. Add 1 teaspoon thyme and orange peel. Thin soup with more broth if desired. Simmer 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and chill. Rewarm before serving, thinning with more broth if desired.)

For Puree: Heat broiler or oven to at least 400. Slice two peppers in half lengthways and pull out the core, seeds, and stem. Place the pepper halves skin side up on a broiler pan or baking sheet. Place the peppers in the broiler or in the oven with the rack close to the heat source. Broil until the skin buckles and chars, about five to eight minutes. Cool, peel and chop. Puree all ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste

Ladle soup into bowls. Swirl 1 tablespoon red pepper puree into soup in each bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons thyme and serve.