Tag: Winter comfort food

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3-Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

It’s the holidays and we all know what that means..time to cook and bake, and eat all the delicious treats of the season..like this savory
3-Cheese Butternut Squash Tart with Bacon. Can we say yay?

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

It’s so easy to make with some store-bought puff pastry because who has time to make their own with so many goodies to make and presents to wrap? And delicious holiday food to eat?

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

It’s got a gorgeous crispy, buttery crust topped with ricotta and Parmesan and Gruyere cheese, roasted butternut squash with maple syrup and of course, bacon. Then it’s topped with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and some fresh thyme along with some sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Sounds pretty perfect to me. 

Roll Dough

First, defrost and roll out your dough. Cut 1/2 inch strips around the edges to double up to make a pastry border and brush it with egg wash. Pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

RoastSquash

Next, drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper, and some garlic powder over the butternut squash, then drizzle it with some maple syrup and roast it for about 15 minutes.

Bacon

Cook that delicious bacon, drain and set aside to crumble on the tart later.

Ricotta

Whip up your ricotta with an egg, salt and pepper and some shredded Parmesan cheese.

Add Ricotta

Spread it on top of the tart pastry evenly. (Repeat all steps with the second pastry throughout.)

Add Cheese

Top it with some of that luscious grated Gruyere cheese.

Top w/ Squash

Place the roasted squash on top along with the bacon. Sprinkle some fresh thyme on top.

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

Then simply bake it for 30 minutes on 375 F, then drizzle it with some balsamic glaze, cut into squares and devour!

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3 Cheese Butternut Squash & Bacon Tart

Yield: Makes 2 tarts, serves 12.

Serving Size: 1 tart square (6 per tart)

This delicious savory tart features three luscious cheeses (ricotta, gruyere and parmesan) along with crispy bacon and roasted butternut squash and thyme. It makes a great appetizer for the holidays!

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 14 ounces frozen all-butter puff pastry, thawed
  • 2 packages butternut squash, precut into 1-2" cubes
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 6-8 slices bacon
  • 1 pound fresh ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk or cream
  • 2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
  • Balsamic glaze, for garnish
  • fresh thyme, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Roll out 1 piece of puff pastry into a large rectangle. Cut a 1/2 inch border around the edges and place the strips on the edges of the pastry sheet to create a border crust. Prick holes around the pastry to avoid puffing.
  2. Beat 1 egg and brush the pastry edges and repeat same procedure with second pastry sheet; chilling both for 1/2 an hour in the fridge.
  3. While pastry is chilling, preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  4. Cut the butternut squash into small chunks and drizzle with olive oil, maple syrup, salt and pepper and garlic powder.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes and set aside.
  6. Cook bacon according to package directions and drain on paper towels. Crumble once cooled and set aside.
  7. Reduce heat in oven to 375.
  8. Mix the ricotta cheese with one beaten egg, parmesan cheese and additional salt and pepper.
  9. Remove pastry from the fridge and spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the tops of both.
  10. Sprinkle with shredded gruyere cheese and crumbled bacon.
  11. Top both pastries with the butternut squash and sprinkle with some fresh thyme.
  12. Bake for 30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and puffed around the edges.
  13. Cut into squares after cooling on a rack and serve warm.
  14. Garnish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze on top and additional fresh thyme if desired.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2016/12/3-cheese-butternut-squash-tart-w-bacon/

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

Gosh I love the holidays.

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

Wishing you a great one!

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Tart w/ Bacon

Now back to that tart I just made… 😉

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Buttery Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs w/ Roasted Curry Cauliflower

Maple- Mustard Chicken

One-pot savory dishes are one of those things I crave when it’s cold outside because it’s cozy and warming and just plain darn tasty and easy to make. I also love roasting veggies in the Winter because they’re no-fuss when I’m busy doing other things and don’t want to stand over a stove all day washing dishes for hours afterwards. (Can you tell I’m ready for a holiday vacation? lol)

Maple Mustard Chicken 2

This recipe for Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs is a perfect one-pot dish with a buttery, sweet, tangy sauce made with maple syrup, Dijon mustard (Kozlik’s is my favorite!), garlic and some Indian hot red pepper and Tandoori spices (a great blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, garlic, ginger, cardamom and saffron).

Roasted Curry Cauliflower

It’s baked together into a big pot of savory goodness (in my new purple KitchenAid ceramic baking dish..which I LOVE!), served with some Roasted Curry Cauliflower tossed in olive oil, cumin, curry powder, and garlic salt. Super easy and super delicious. I got my Indian spices at Penzey’s at Grand Central Market in NYC and the Dekalb International Farmer’s Market in Atlanta GA, but you can find them in almost any gourmet spice store or market or online on Amazon.com.

Maple Mustard Chicken 3

Savor every buttery, spicy, tasty bite.

Roasted Curry Cauliflower 2

Happy Holidays! xo

Maple Mustard Chicken w/ Roasted Curried Cauliflower

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Buttery Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs w/ Roasted Curry Cauliflower

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Yield: 2-4

This is a savory Indian dish made with a buttery, maple-mustard sauce, served with roasted curry cauliflower with a hint of Tandoori spices and cumin.

Ingredients

  • Buttery Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs:
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon Indian red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon Tandoori spices
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
  • Roasted Curry Cauliflower:
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • Dash of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Buttery Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs:
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Add butter (cut into pieces), maple syrup, mustard, red pepper, garlic salt, Tandoori spices and black pepper to a ceramic or glass baking dish and melt butter with spices for about 5-7 minutes. Remove dish from oven and whisk ingredients together.
  4. Add chicken thighs to the baking dish, coating both sides of chicken with the buttery spicy sauce and bake in the oven for about 35-40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
  5. Serve chicken hot, with additional sauce drizzled over, with a side of Roasted Curry Cauliflower (recipe follows).
  6. Roasted Curry Cauliflower:
  7. Combine olive oil, cumin, curry, garlic salt and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
  8. Wash and cut cauliflower into large florets and toss with olive oil and spice mixture, coating cauliflower evenly.
  9. Spray a large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and arrange cauliflower in a single layer.
  10. Roast at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour, until cauliflower is tender and browned. Toss the cauliflower occasionally while roasting to evenly brown.
  11. Serve hot with Maple-Mustard Chicken and some extra sauce on top, if desired.

Notes

Maple-Mustard Chicken recipe adapted from Apricot Lane Farms.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2014/12/buttery-maple-mustard-chicken-thighs-w-roasted-curry-cauliflower/

 

 

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Classic Comfort Food:: Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff is a dish that always reminds me of home  – my mother used to make this on cold winter nights as a special treat for my Dad who is a total ‘meat and potatoes guy’ – obsessed with anything including beef, noodles and gravy. Maybe it’s a German-Polish thing? It must be, because I’m totally obsessed with meat and potatoes too. 🙂

She oftentimes prepared this dish with ground beef for a quick and easy dinner, but I’ve adapted her recipe a bit by using beef sirloin and added some wine, fresh garlic and thyme to make my own savory version. You could also add some tomato paste and dill or substitute Cognac for the red wine.

True comfort food for a chilly night, just like Mom made it.

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Classic Comfort Food:: Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Ingredients

  • ½ lb. fresh white mushrooms, sliced (2 cups)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ¼ c. flour
  • 2 lbs. round steak (sliced ¼”-1/2” thick)
  • 1 tsp kosher or sea salt
  • fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 c. red wine
  • 1 1/2 c beef broth
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped fine
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped fine
  • 1 c. sour cream or creme fraiche
  • 1 package wide egg noodles

Instructions

  1. Boil a large pot of water and cook egg noodles per directions. While water is boiling, heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Saute onion, mushrooms and garlic until soft in 2 tbsp butter and remove from pan.
  3. Cut steak into strips 2 ½” long and ¾” wide. Melt remaining 2 tbsp butter in pan. Toss steak strips in flour and coat. Brown meat in butter until well browned on both sides. Add salt and pepper, worcestershire, mustard, wine and broth. Simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender (about 1 ¼ hours).
  4. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, thyme and parsley and cook approximately 7 mins, until sauce thickens.
  5. Add sour cream or creme fraiche, stir until smooth and remove from heat.
  6. Serve over hot buttered egg noodles and garnish with more parsley. Enjoy with some crusty bread, a green salad and a glass of red wine.

Notes

To make a casserole: combine beef stroganoff mixture with cooked egg noodles with butter and spoon into a greased casserole dish. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees in the oven and then top casserole with crunchy fried onions and bake 10 mins more until onions are crunchy and golden brown.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2011/11/classic-comfort-food-beef-stroganoff/

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Holiday Brunch: Italian Frittata with Red Pepper, Potatoes and Bacon

red pepper potato frittata

red pepper potato frittata

Potato and Pepper Frittata with Cheese and Bacon

So Christmas is over, but the cooking is not! As a tradition, I always make breakfast for the family and this year decided to make a delicious recipe for a Potato and Pepper Frittata from my new Williams-Sonoma cookbook Comfort Food: Warm and Homey, Rich and Hearty. A Frittata is similar to a French quiche without the crust or a breakfast casserole but cooked in an ovenproof pan on the stove and then finished by broiling in the oven and served directly from the pan.

This recipe calls for eggs, roasted red peppers and onions with Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped Rosemary which is a delicious Italian style Frittata. You can also modify it by adding cooked bacon, ham, shredded cheddar, asparagus and shallots or crumbled feta or goat cheese. I changed it up a bit by adding some shredded cheddar cheese and chives to the eggs and served it with a side of bacon and some Almond Butter Christmas Stollen (a German holiday bread). The possibilities are endless because Frittatas are so versatile and easy to make..it’s a simple and hearty breakfast or brunch you can make anytime of the year and deeeelish!!

Ingredients:

Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2 med or large

Olive Oil, 2 tbsp

Yellow Onion, 1/2 c. chopped

Orange or Red bell pepper

Large eggs, 8

Fresh Rosemary, 1 tsp minced

Kosher Salt, 1/4 tsp

Fresh Ground Pepper

Parmesan Cheese, 3 tbsp

Preparation:

Thinly slice the unpeeled potatoes. In an ovenproof frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the potatoes and turn to coat with the oil. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover and stir in the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender and the potatoes are lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Place the pepper on a baking sheet and broil, turning occasionally, until blackened on all sides about 12 minutes (you can also do this on a gas stove directly over the flame burner if you prefer). Transfer to a work surface and let cool until easy to handle. Leave the broiler on. Peel off the blackened skin, discard the stem, seeds and ribs; and chop the pepper.

Stir the roasted red pepper into the potato mixture into the frying pan. In a bowl, whisk  together the eggs, rosemary and salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the potato mixture and cook over medium heat until the edges are set. Using a heatproof spatula, lift the cooked edges of the frittata and tilt the frying pan to allow the liquid egg on top to flow underneath. Continue cooking, occasionally lifting the frittata and tilt again, until the top is almost set about 4 minutes more.

Sprinkle the top of the frittata with the Parmesan, place under broiler for about 1 minute or until the top is golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve hot, warm or room temperature.

Makes 4-6 servings

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