Posts for November 2nd 2009

recipes

Cranberry-Ginger Relish

From Martha Stewart Cranberry-Ginger RelishIngredients1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar Directions In a large saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar, ginger, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil.

Cranberry-Ginger Relish

Cranberry Ginger Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar, ginger, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until most of the cranberries have popped, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar.
  2. Remove relish from heat. Let cool to room temperature, and serve (or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days).

Serves 8.

recipes

Sausage, Dried Cranberry, and Apple Stuffing

From The Hearty Boys Sausage, Dried Cranberry, and Apple StuffingIngredients1 pound mild bulk breakfast sausage 4 tablespoons butter 3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks) 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped 1 cup chopped celery with leaves 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning 1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary 6 cups boxed bread cubes (croutons) 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 2 to 3 cups chicken stock 1 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons ground black pepper Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Sausage, Dried Cranberry, and Apple Stuffing

Sausage, Apple, and Cranberry Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients

1 pound mild bulk breakfast sausage
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
6 cups boxed bread cubes (croutons)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 to 3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Saute the sausage in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling coarsely with the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and drippings to a large bowl.
  3. Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, apples, celery and poultry seasoning to the skillet and saute until the leeks are soft, about 8 minutes.
  4. Mix in the drained cranberries, sage and rosemary. Add the mixture to the sausage, then mix in the croutons and parsley. Next add the chicken stock a little at a time until the stuffing is very moist. Be sure not to overdo it; it shouldn't be mushy. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a casserole dish. (The stuffing can be made to this point 2 days before Thanksgiving, refrigerated.)
  5. Bake in a 14-inch oval or 9 by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish and place, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the top is crispy and the center piping hot. Remove and serve immediately.

Serves 8-10.

recipes

Yukon Gold and Fennel Puree With Rosemary Butter

From Bon Appétit Yukon Gold and Fennel Puree With Rosemary ButterIngredients3 large fresh fennel bulbs (about 2 1/4 pounds total), trimmed, quartered through core, center core trimmed and discarded, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 medium onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 1 3/4 cups) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, divided 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 1/2 cup crème fraîche Directions Preheat oven to 375°F.

Yukon Gold and Fennel Puree With Rosemary Butter

Fennel and Mashed Potato Puree Recipe

Ingredients

3 large fresh fennel bulbs (about 2 1/4 pounds total), trimmed, quartered through core, center core trimmed and discarded, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 1 3/4 cups)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons fine sea salt, divided
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 cup crème fraîche

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Combine fennel, onion, oil, and 1 teaspoon sea salt in large bowl; toss. Spread in single layer on prepared baking sheet; sprinkle with pepper. Roast until fennel and onion are very tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer fennel mixture to processor and puree until almost smooth.
  3. Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until very tender, about 25 minutes. Drain well. Cool slightly. Place in large bowl and mash with potato masher until smooth. Mix in fennel puree.
  4. Melt butter with rosemary and 1 teaspoon sea salt in small saucepan over medium heat.
  5. Stir butter mixture into fennel-potato puree. Mix in crème fraîche. Season to taste with more pepper and salt, if desired. Can be made 6 hours ahead. Transfer puree to large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill. Before serving, microwave on high until heated through, about 4 minutes.

Serves 8-10.

recipes

Herb-Roasted Turkey With Maple Gravy

From Food & Wine Herb-Roasted Turkey With Maple GravyIngredientsOne 18-pound turkey 1 head of garlic, halved horizontally 1 medium onion, quartered 20 sage sprigs 20 thyme sprigs 20 parsley sprigs Salt and freshly ground pepper 3 cups turkey stock 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons maple syrup Directions Preheat the oven to 350°.

Herb-Roasted Turkey With Maple Gravy

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe With Herbs and Maple Gravy

Ingredients

One 18-pound turkey
1 head of garlic, halved horizontally
1 medium onion, quartered
20 sage sprigs
20 thyme sprigs
20 parsley sprigs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups turkey stock
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry. Trim the neck skin. Stuff the turkey with the garlic, onion and sage, thyme and parsley sprigs. Season inside and outside with salt and pepper. Transfer the turkey to a large, lightly oiled roasting pan and roast it for about 3 hours, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in a thigh registers 175°. Cover the turkey with foil if the skin begins to look very brown. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 30 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, pour the pan juices into a heatproof bowl and skim off the fat. Set the roasting pan over 2 burners on high heat until sizzling. Add 1 cup of the turkey stock and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom and side of the pan; add to the pan juices in the bowl.
  3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute. Add the pan juices and remaining 2 cups of turkey stock to the saucepan and cook, whisking, until the gravy is thickened and no floury taste remains, about 5 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and season with salt and pepper. Strain the gravy into a gravy boat. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.

Serves 10.

Notes: Roast the bird for 20 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey and 16 minutes per pound for an unstuffed one. The bird is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a thigh registers between 160° and 180° and the juices run clear. The USDA specifies that cooking poultry to 180° will kill all bacteria that can cause illness. Remove the turkey from the oven when its temperature is 10 degrees lower than desired; the temperature will rise by 5 to 10 degrees as the bird rests.

You’ll need plenty of turkey stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth and roasting pan juices to make enough gravy. To get lots of pan juices, roast your turkey at 350° and baste with some stock; if the bird does not seem to brown adequately, you can always raise the oven temperature during the last half hour for faster browning. If your gravy is too thin, simply make a smooth paste with equal parts flour and unsalted butter, a mixture known in French as beurre manié (mon-YAY). Bring the gravy to a boil and whisk in bits of the paste until you get the thickness you desire. If your gravy seems too thick, gradually whisk in more stock.

Dessert

Celebrate the Season With Pumpkin Brownies

Now that everyone knows that solid packed pumpkin is nothing but 100 percent pure pumpkin, here is a delicious and unexpected Thanksgiving dessert that combines pumpkin with brownies.

Now that everyone knows that solid packed pumpkin is nothing but 100 percent pure pumpkin, here is a delicious and unexpected Thanksgiving dessert that combines pumpkin with brownies. The spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne in the pumpkin layer complements the sweetness of the rich brownie layer. I halved the original recipe and rather than bake them in a square pan, I opted to use a mini muffin pan. With a smaller pan, they didn't swirl as well, but it did create a distinct two-layer presentation with just enough richness in the bite-size dessert. If you are over the traditional pumpkin pie, give these delectable pumpkin brownies a try and keep reading for the recipe.

News

Nonni's Makes It Rain Meatballs With New World Record

When I saw the trailer for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, I wondered: what could be better than living in an alternate universe where it rains meatballs?

When I saw the trailer for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, I wondered: what could be better than living in an alternate universe where it rains meatballs? Well, I think I've found my answer.

It's a 222.5-pound meatball that emerged over the weekend, blowing all other past meatball records out of the water. The gargantuan ground beef spectacle, which was created by Matthew Mitnitsky of Nonni's Italian Eatery in Concord, NH, was confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the (new) record holder of the world's largest meatball, beating out a recent 198.6-pound feat created on Jimmy Kimmel.

The best part? The now-famous meatball was broken down into manageable portions, then packaged and delivered to local shelters. What do you think? Delicious or disgusting?

Source

recipes

Manhattan Clam Chowder

From Better Homes and Gardens Manhattan Clam ChowderIngredients1 pint shucked clams or two 6-1/2-ounce cans minced clams 1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks) 1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small) 1/4 cup chopped carrot (1 small) 2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice or 1 cup chicken broth 2 cups cubed red potato 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained 2 tablespoons purchased cooked bacon pieces or cooked crumbled bacon* Directions Chop fresh clams, if using, reserving juice; set clams aside.

Manhattan Clam Chowder

Fast and Easy Recipe for  Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder 2009-11-02 14:47:03

Ingredients

1 pint shucked clams or two 6-1/2-ounce cans minced clams
1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small)
1/4 cup chopped carrot (1 small)
2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil
1 8-ounce bottle clam juice or 1 cup chicken broth
2 cups cubed red potato
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons purchased cooked bacon pieces or cooked crumbled bacon*

Directions

  1. Chop fresh clams, if using, reserving juice; set clams aside. Strain clam juice to remove bits of shell. (Or, drain canned clams, reserving juice.) If necessary, add enough water to reserved clam juice to equal 1-1/2 cups. Set juice aside.
  2. In a large saucepan cook celery, onion, and carrot in hot oil until tender.
  3. Stir in the reserved 1-1/2 cups clam juice and the 8 ounces clam juice. Stir in potatoes, thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
  4. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in undrained tomatoes, clams, and bacon.
  5. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more or until heated through.

Serves 4.

recipes

Happy Hour: The Normandy

Over the weekend, something monumental happened: I discovered what is quite possibly the world's most perfect Fall cocktail.


Over the weekend, something monumental happened: I discovered what is quite possibly the world's most perfect Fall cocktail. The Normandy, as it's called, has cool weather written all over it, with ingredients like cranberries, green apples, and Calvados, a type of French apple brandy from — you guessed it — Normandy.

The tipple balances all the elements you'd ever hope for in a drink. It's simultaneously cool and warm, sweet and tart. Despite being incredibly basic, its elegant simplicity has more sophistication than most of today's overthought cocktails. My only problem? Now that the pursuit for The Thanksgiving Cocktail is over, what do I look forward to? The drink to end all other Autumn drinks, when you read more.

Thanksgiving

The Normandy

From Xavier Herit at Daniel The NormandyIngredients9 fresh cranberries 2 thin slices green apple 1 teaspoon packed dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon simple syrup 1⁄4 cup good-quality Calvados Ice cubes Directions In a cocktail shaker, muddle 6 cranberries, 1 apple slice, the brown sugar and lemon juice.

The Normandy

Easy Fall Recipe for The Normandy Calvados Cocktail 2009-11-02 12:54:45

Ingredients

9 fresh cranberries
2 thin slices green apple
1 teaspoon packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1⁄4 cup good-quality Calvados
Ice cubes

Directions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 6 cranberries, 1 apple slice, the brown sugar and lemon juice.
  2. Add the simple syrup, Calvados and a few ice cubes. Cover, shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  3. Top with the remaining apple slice and 3 cranberries.

Serves 1.

Thanksgiving

Yum's November Must Haves

Fall is flying by and it's time to start prepping for the most food-centric holiday of the year, Thanksgiving.
Yum's November Must Haves

Fall is flying by and it's time to start prepping for the most food-centric holiday of the year, Thanksgiving. Turkey day requires special ingredients, cooking equipment, and entertaining supplies, so we've rounded up some important items that will help you out during November. Here are our must haves for this month.