Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

 

From New York Times

YIELD 6 to 8 servings / TIME 1 hour 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

•  2 tablespoons unsalted butter
•  1 cup cottage cheese (not low-fat)
•  2 cups milk (not skim)
•  1 teaspoon dry mustard
•  Pinch of ground cayenne
•  Pinch of ground nutmeg
•  1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
•  1 pound sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
•  1/2 pound elbow pasta, uncooked

Heat oven to 375 degrees and position an oven rack in upper third of oven. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan.

In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup grated Cheddar for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated Cheddar, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.

Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

My Note: This was easy as I recall and worked well for the mac n cheese bar we had. Make sure all dairy is full fat and to buy a block of cheese, not pre-shredded. MXF

Pizza Beans

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
 
Servings: 8
Time: 45 minutes Source: Smitten Kitchen

•     3 sausages, casings removed
•     2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
•     1 large onion, chopped
•     2 celery stalks, diced
•     1 large or 2 regular carrots, diced
•     Salt and freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes
•     2 large garlic cloves, minced
•     1/4 cup (60 ml) dry white or red wine (optional)
•     4 ounces (115 grams) curly kale leaves, chopped or torn
•     2 1/4 cups (550 grams) crushed tomatoes or favorite jarred sauce
•     1 pound (455 grams) cooked firm-tender giant white beans
•     Up to 3/4 cup (175 ml) vegetable broth
•     1/2 pound (225 grams) mozzarella, coarsely grated
•     1/3 cup (35 grams) grated Parmesan

Prepare the beans and vegetables: Heat the oven to 475 degrees. In a 2 1/2-to-3-quart (ideally oven-safe) deep sauté pan, braiser, or shallow Dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium-high. Add the onion, celery, and carrots.

Season well with salt and black or red pepper. Cook, sautéing, until the vegetables brown lightly, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute more. Add the wine, if using, to scrape up any stuck bits, then simmer until it disappears, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the kale, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until collapsed, then add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Add the beans, and, if the mixture looks too dry or thick (canned tomatoes range quite a bit in juiciness), add up to 3/4 cup broth, 1/4 cup at a time. Simmer the mixture together over medium for about 10 minutes, adjusting the seasonings as needed.

If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer the mixture to a 3-quart baking dish. If it is, well, carry on.

Bake: Sprinkle the beans first with the mozzarella, then the Parmesan, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until browned on top. If you’re impatient and want a deeper color, you can run it under the broiler.

My Notes: I can't believe how good these were. I added Johnsonville brats--cooked them first and then cooked the veg in the sausage fat. I also used jarred tomato sauce instead of canned tomatoes (RAO's Homemade). Also I couldn't find gigante beans at the store so I just used great northerns. This was seriously tasty and relatively healthy. Lots of fiber and veg. Leftovers were just as good. MXF

Root Vegetable Gratin

•     Olive oil
•     1 large onion, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
•     2 cups (1/4-inch-sliced) fennel, top and core, if thick, removed
•     3 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
•     1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
•     1 pound celery root, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
•     1 pound yukon gold, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
•     1 cup heavy cream (see Note up top)
•     2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or brother
•     2 cups grated gruyere cheese (6 ounces with rind)
•     2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
•     Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
•     2 1/2 cups coarse fresh breadcrumbs or panko (what I used)
•     2 to 3 tablespoons melted butter

Heat your oven to 350°F. Butter a 13×9-inch deep baking dish.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large deep (ideally 12-inch) saute pan over medium heat and add the onions and fennel. Cooking, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute more.

Meanwhile, in the largest bowl you own, combine the onion mixture with remaining vegetables, cream, stock, cheese, thyme, 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper. Pour mixture into prepared dish and spread until even. Mix breadcrumbs and butter until evenly coated and distribute evenly over top of dish.

Bake 1 1/2 hours uncovered, or until vegetables are very tender when tested with a small knife and the top is browned and bubbly. Allow to set for 15 minutes at room temperature and serve hot.

Notes: To make this ahead of time, you have many options but since a dish like this doesn't need to be baked a la minute to taste good, I’d go ahead and assemble and bake it as soon as you can. If just 1 to 3 days out, keep it in the fridge. 3 or more, freeze it. Make sure it spends a day in the fridge defrosting and then an hour on the counter shaking off its final chill before going in the oven (the last part mostly about protecting your stoneware, should it not be a friend to big temperature changes).

My Notes: This was really simple and totally tasty. I did a blend of gruyere and edam so it wasn't quite as "stinky" which I think made it more palatable. To reheat I put it in a 350 oven for 30 minutes. MXF

Lighter Three-cheese Mac

Everyday Food
 
Servings: 6

•     Salt and pepper
•     1/2 pound short tubular pasta, such as cavatappi
•     2 cups broccoli, cut into florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced
•     1 tablespoon olive oil
•     1 small yellow onion, minced
•     1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
•     5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•     5 ounces Neufchatel cheese
•     3 cups 1% milk
•     1 1/4 cups grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (5 ounces)
•     1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)
•     1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, toasted

Prep: 20 mins / total time: 45 mins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes less than package instructions. Add broccoli and cook 3 minutes more. Drain.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan over medium-high. Add onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and ground mustard. Saute until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add Neufchatel, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until incorporated. Gradually whisk in milk, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in cheddar and Parmesan, then add pasta and broccoli. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish and bake until bubbling in center, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with panko, and serve.

Cottage Pie with Vegetable Mash

Everyday Food
 
Servings: 6

•     Salt and pepper
•     1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced large
•     1/2 pound carrots, peeled and diced large
•     5 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled, divided
•     4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
•     1 pound ground chuck (80% lean)
•     1 medium yellow onion, diced small
•     1 pound button or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced1
•     3 tablespoons tomato paste
•     1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Prep: 30 mins / total time: 1 hour

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a pot of salted water bring potatoes, carrots, and 3 cloves garlic to a boil. Reduce to a rapid simmer; cook until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Using a masher, mash vegetables until mostly smooth; stir in 3 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper. Finely chop remaining 2 cloves garlic; set aside.

In a large skillet over high, melt remaining tablespoon butter. Add beef and brown, about 5 minutes. Remove meat from pan, leaving drippings. Reduce heat to medium-high, add onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add chopped garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return meat and collected juices to pan and stir in tomato paste. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer meat mixture to a 9-inch square baking dish. Dollop mashed vegetables over meat and spread to edges of baking dish. Bake until juices are bubbling and topping is golden brown in spots, about 20 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Spinach and Fontina Strata

Martha Stewart Living

SERVINGS: 8

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt, divided
• 2 pounds spinach, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Unsalted butter, for dish
• 1 pound challah loaf, sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 8 ounces young Italian fontina cheese, grated, divided
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (1/3 cup), divided
• 8 large eggs, divided
• 2 2/3 cups whole milk, divided

PREP: 30 MINS / TOTAL TIME: 10 HOURS  10 MINS

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Fill pan with as much spinach as will fit; cook, stirring, adding remainder a handful at a time as space allows. When all the spinach is wilted, stir in pepper and nutmeg. Drain spinach in a sieve. When cool enough to handle, squeeze excess moisture from spinach by hand.

Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Place a third of the bread in a single layer in dish. Top with half the spinach mixture and a third of the cheeses. Repeat layering with a third of the bread, remaining spinach mixture, and a third of the cheeses, then top with remaining bread.

Whisk together 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and carefully pour over bread. Cover with parchment, and gently press down with hands until egg mixture soaks through top of bread. Cover parchment with foil, and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, remove strata from refrigerator, uncover, and let stand 30 minutes. Whisk together remaining 2 eggs and 2/3 cup milk, and pour over strata, gently pressing between layers of bread with a spoon or spatula to ensure that egg mixture seeps to bottom. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake until puffed and golden brown in places, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

Lax Pudding

Martha Stewart Living

SERVINGS: 10

CASSEROLE

• 3 pounds medium russet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped, and stalks reserved
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, divided, plus more for dish
• 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 1/4 pound gravlax (sliced 1/8 inch thick)
• Freshly ground white pepper, for sprinkling
• 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

DILL BUTTER

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

PREP: 40 MINS TOTAL TIME: 2  HOURS  40 MINS

Casserole: Place potatoes in a large pot, and cover with 2 inches water. Add salt and dill stalks. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until you can just pierce potatoes with a fork, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour off water, and discard dill stalks. Place paper towel across top of pot (not directly on potatoes), and let potatoes steam and cool 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saute pan, and saute onion until softened, about 10 minutes.

Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Layer potatoes and gravlax, beginning and ending with potatoes, sprinkling each layer with chopped dill, sauteed onion, and pepper.

Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, and cream; season with pepper. Pour egg mixture over potatoes and gravlax, and dot with remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Bake until golden on top and bubbling around the edges, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Dill butter: Meanwhile, mix all ingredients together, and roll into a log.

Let casserole cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes, and serve warm with dill butter.

Apple and Herb Stuffing for All Seasons

Smitten Kitchen

• 6 cups torn chunks French, sourdough or country loaf, torn into bits (I use 2 7-ounce demi-baguettes)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large Spanish or sweet onion, chopped small
• 1 large or 2 small stalks celery, diced small
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt, plus more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large or 2 small firm, tart tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and diced small
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 3 sage leaves, minced
• 1/2 to 1 cup cup turkey, chicken or vegetable stock or broth
• 1 large egg

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spread bread cubes in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until pale golden, stirring occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool in pan while you prepare the other ingredients.

Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish (a 9×5-inch loaf, 8- or 9-inch square dish, etc.) with 1 tablespoon butter. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, thyme, salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper and cook for 2 minutes, until becoming translucent. Add celery and cook for 2 more minutes. Add apple and saute until a bit tender, 3 to 4 minutes more.

Place bread in large mixing bowl. Scrape contents of skillet on top. Whisk egg and 1/2 cup broth or stock together and pour over. Stir in parsley and sage. Spoon into prepared pan. If mixture looks a little dry, pour remaining 1/2 cup broth over it. [This is a good place to pause, if needed. Nothing bad comes of the stuffing absorbing the liquids for longer.] Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until brown on top and no liquid appears if you insert a knife vertically into the center of the stuffing pan and turn it slightly. Serve immediately, or reheat as needed.

Variations:
Apple, Herb and Cornbread Stuffing: You can replace two cups of the bread chunks with chunks of cornbread. This recipe is a good basic one for croutons.

Apple, Herb and Sausage Stuffing: Brown a half-pound of breakfast sausage, cut into 1/2-inch coins, in the pan, before adding the apple. Cook it until it’s just cooked through (it will have lots of time to finish in the oven). Remove it from the pan and add the apples and remaining ingredients as directed above.

Breakfast Stuffing: Bake this stuffing in a buttered loaf pan. Let it cool. Slice it off with a serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion (it’s going to break up a bit; it doesn’t matter) and toast each slice until a little brown on the cut sides. Top with a fried egg.

Green Bean Casserole

 

The Pioneer Woman

Servings: 8

•     2 pounds Fresh Green Beans, Ends Cut Off
•     4 slices Bacon, Cut Into 1/4 Inch Pieces
•     3 cloves Garlic, Minced
•     1/2 whole Large Onion, Chopped
•     4 Tablespoons Butter
•     4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
•     2-1/2 cups Whole Milk
•     1/2 cup Half-and-half
•     1-1/2 teaspoon Salt, More To Taste
•     Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
•     1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
•     1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
•     1 jar (4 Ounce) Sliced Pimentoes, Drained
•     Extra Milk For Thinning If Necessary
•     1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

Prep Time: 20 Minutes / Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Cut green beans in half if you like pieces to be a little smaller.

Blanch the green beans: drop them into lightly salted boiling water and allow green beans to cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain beans once they're cool and set aside.

Add bacon pieces to a skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon for two minutes, then add diced onion and garlic and continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, or until bacon is done (but not crisp) and onions are golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a separate skillet or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour into the pan and whisk immediately to evenly mix it into the butter. Cook for a minute or two, then pour in milk and half and half. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, while sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne then add the grated cheddar. Stir while cheese melts. Turn off heat.

Add pimentos to pan, then add bacon/onion mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over green beans and stir gently to combine. Pour into a baking dish and top with panko crumbs.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and panko crumbs are golden.

 My Notes: This is really good. A step up from the classic version, but not as complicated as Martha Stewart. I used a combo of panko and crushed fried onions. The bacon brings it all together.

MXF

Baked Shells and Broccoli with Ham and Cheesy-Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

 

 

Martha Stewart Living, February 2012

Serves 6 adults or 8 children

• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small head cauliflower, cored and chopped (3 cups)
• 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 4 medium shallots, roughly chopped
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 4 cups skim milk
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 6 ounces pecorino cheese, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 pound medium multigrain pasta shells
• 1/4 pound sliced smoked ham, chopped
• 1 medium bunch broccoli, trimmed and cut into florets (5 cups)
• 1/2 cup toasted whole-wheat panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), for serving (optional)

 Prep Time: 15 minutes / Total Time: 55 minutes

 

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cauliflower, garlic, shallots, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook until softened but not brown, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with flour; stir to coat well.

 

Gradually stir in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; gently simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer all to a blender, and puree with nutmeg and half the pecorino until smooth, about 2 minutes.

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until slightly tender but not fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Drain well; return to pot. Add ham, broccoli, and cauliflower sauce; toss to combine. Transfer to a ovenproof 3 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining pecorino, and bake until bubbling in center, about 30 minutes. Heat broiler, and broil until golden brown on top, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Divide among dishes, top with breadcrumbs, and serve immediately.

 

My Notes: One complained that the broccoli was undercooked, so it might make sense to parboil first.

Braised Short Rib, Stout, and Potato Pot Pies

Martha Stewart

Makes eight mini potpies or one 12-inch potpie / Serves 8

FILLING:
4 pounds boneless short ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 bottles (12 ounces) stout, preferably Guinness (3 cups)
2 rosemary sprigs
1 pound cipollini onions, peeled

TOPPING:
6 medium russet potatoes (3 1/2 pounds)
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Prep Time:  30 minutes / Total Time:  4 hours 30 minutes

Make the filling:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Season short ribs with salt and pepper. Dredge short ribs in flour, coating all sides. Transfer to a large plate. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches, brown short ribs, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a large plate using kitchen tongs.

Reduce heat to medium. Add yellow onion to Dutch oven, and cook until golden, about 8 minutes. Add garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Return meat to Dutch oven. Add stout and rosemary. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and transfer to oven. Bake for 2 1/2 hours.

Remove Dutch oven from oven, and add cipollini onions. Braise until meat is tender and onions are cooked through, about 30 minutes. Shred meat using 2 forks. Season with salt and pepper. Divide filling among eight mini (1-cup) pie plates, or transfer to a 12-inch (8-cup) gratin dish.

Make the topping:
Raise oven temperature to 375 degrees. Peel potatoes, and very thinly slice each (preferably on a mandoline). Arrange potatoes over meat to form tight concentric circles, working around the edge and overlapping each potato by three-quarters. Brush with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until topping is golden and filling is bubbling, about 45 minutes for mini potpies (1 hour for large potpie).

My Notes: Mostly good, although the potatoes up top were sort of just chewy and hard, rather than the texture of scalloped potatoes. It might be better to cook under foil for most of the final cook time. The ribs themselves were delish. I might throw in some kale next time to cut the heaviness.

MXF

Tomato Cobbler

Martha Stewart

Serves 6 to 8

FILLING:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 pounds cherry tomatoes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

BISCUIT TOPPING:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Coarse salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese (2 1/4 ounces), plus 1 tablespoon, for sprinkling
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, plus more for brushing

Prep Time:  50 minutes / Total Time:  2 hours 20 minutes

Make the filling:
Heat oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool.

Toss onion mixture, tomatoes, flour, and red-pepper flakes with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and some pepper.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Make the biscuit topping:
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or rub in with your fingers until small clumps form. Stir in cheese, then add cream, stirring with a fork to combine until dough forms. (Dough will be slightly sticky.)

Transfer tomato mixture to a 2-quart baking dish (2 inches deep). Spoon 7 clumps of biscuit dough (about 1/2 cup each) over top in a circle, leaving center open. Brush dough with cream, and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon cheese. Bake until tomatoes are bubbling in the center and biscuits are golden brown, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool for 20 minutes.

My Notes: One reviewer said to poke the tomatoes so they didn't explode when you bit them. She also suggested cooking the tomatoes for about 15 minutes then adding the biscuit for the last 45 minutes.

Sausage, Chard and Lemon Lasagna

Martha Stewart

Serves 4

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
5 cups coarsely chopped Swiss chard (about 1 bunch)
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 lemon, very thinly sliced
6 no-boil lasagna noodles, preferably Barilla

Prep Time:  20 minutes / Total Time:  1 hour

Melt butter in a saucepan over high heat. Stir in flour; cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in 3/4 cup cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in chard.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook sausage in a skillet over high heat, breaking up pieces, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.

Cover lemon slices with cold water by 3 inches in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.

Spread 1/4 cup sauce in an 8-inch square nonreactive baking dish. Top with 2 noodles, half the sausage, and 1 cup sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of lemons, 2 noodles, then remaining sauce and lemons. Bake, covered with parchment-lined foil, for 27 minutes.

Remove from oven. Heat broiler. Uncover lasagna; top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Broil until bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes.

My Notes: So I liked this a lot but the lemon was odd. I liked the lemon flavor but do not want to eat a whole slice of it. I think You could scoop out the pulp and mix it with the ricotta and it would be much less abrasive. MXF

Bacon, Tomato and Cheddar Breakfast Bake with Eggs

Food & Wine

SERVINGS: 8

1 pound bakery white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (16 cups)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sliced applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
One 28-ounce can whole Italian tomatoes—drained, chopped and patted dry
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 pound extra-sharp cheddar, shredded (about 2 cups)
1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons snipped chives
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt
8 large eggs
Hot sauce, for serving

ACTIVE: 30 MIN TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS 

Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. In a large bowl, toss the bread with the olive oil and spread on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, tossing once or twice, until the bread is golden and lightly crisp.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain; reserve 2 tablespoons of the fat in the skillet.

Add the onion to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and crushed red pepper and cook until any liquid is evaporated, about 3 minutes.

Return the toasted bread cubes to the bowl. Add the contents of the skillet, along with the bacon, shredded cheeses, chives and broth. Stir until the bread is evenly moistened. Season with salt. Spread the mixture in the baking dish and cover with lightly oiled foil.

Bake the bread mixture in the center of the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is crispy, about 15 minutes longer. Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and, using a ladle, press 8 indentations into the bread mixture. Crack an egg into each indentation. Return the dish to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Serve the breakfast bake right away with hot sauce.

Make Ahead: ThIS recipe can be prepared through Step 4 and refrigerated overnight.

Pancetta, White Bean and Chard Pot Pies

Smitten Kitchen


Serves 4

LID:
2 cups (250 grams) all- purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon table salt
13 tablespoons (185 grams or 1 stick plus 5 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, diced
6 tablespoons (90 grams) sour cream or whole Greek yogurt (i.e., a strained
yogurt)
1 tablespoon (15 ml) white wine vinegar
1/4 cup (60 ml) ice water
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

FILLING:
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
4 ounces (115 grams or 3/4 to 1 cup) 1/4-inch-diced pancetta
1 large or 2 small onions, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 large stalk celery, finely chopped
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
Thinly sliced Swiss chard leaves from an 8- to 10-ounce (225- to 285-gram)
bundle (4 cups); if leaves are very wide, you can halve them lengthwise
3 1/2 tablespoons (50 grams) butter
3 1/2 tablespoons (25 grams) all- purpose flour
3 1/2 cups (765 ml) sodium- free or low- sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups white beans, cooked and drained, or from one and a third 15.5- ounce
(440-gram) cans

Weekday night tip: Make a double batch of the stew and lids. Keep them separate and for two to three nights, you can ladle what you’d like into bowls, roll out lids and bake them to order.

Make lids:
In a large, wide bowl (preferably one that you can get your hands into), combine the fl our and salt. Add the butter and, using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut them up and into the flour mixture until it resembles little pebbles. Keep breaking up the bits of butter until the texture is like uncooked couscous. In a small dish, whisk together the sour cream, vinegar, and water, and combine it with the butter-flour mixture. Using a flexible spatula, stir the wet and the dry together until a craggy dough forms. If needed, get your hands into the bowl to knead it a few times into one big ball. Pat it into a flattish ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Make filling:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium- high heat in a large, wide saucepan, and then add the pancetta. Brown the pancetta, turning it frequently, so that it colors and crisps on all sides; this takes about 10 minutes. Remove it with a slotted spoon, and drain it on paper towels before transferring to a medium bowl. Leave the heat on and the renderings in the pan. Add an additional tablespoon of olive oil if needed and heat it until it is shimmering. Add onions, carrot, celery, red pepper flakes, and a few pinches of salt, and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are softened and begin to take on color, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute more. Add the greens and cook until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with the additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Transfer all of the cooked vegetables to the bowl with the pancetta, and set aside.

Make sauce:
Wipe out the large saucepan; don’t worry if any bits remain stuck to the bottom. Then melt the butter in the saucepan over medium- low heat. Add the flour, and stir with a whisk until combined. Continue cooking for 2 minutes, stirring the whole time, until it begins to take on a little color. Whisk in the broth, one ladleful at a time, mixing completely between additions. Once you’ve added one- third of the broth, you can begin to add the rest more quickly, two to three ladlefuls at a time; at this point you can scrape up any bits that were stuck to the bottom — they’ll add great flavor.
Once all of the broth is added, stirring the whole time, bring the mixture to a boil and reduce it to a simmer. Cook the sauce until it is thickened and gravylike, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the white beans and reserved vegetables into the sauce.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Assemble and cook pot pies:
Divide the filling between four ovenproof 2-cup bowls. (You’ll have about 1 1/2 cups filling in each.) Set the bowls on a baking pan. Divide the dough into four pieces, and roll it out into rounds that will cover your bowls with an overhang, or about 1 inch wider in diameter than your bowls. Whisk the egg wash and brush it lightly around the top rim of your bowls (to keep the lid glued on; nobody likes losing their lid!) and drape the pastry over each, pressing gently to adhere it. Brush the lids with egg wash, then cut decorative vents (smaller than mine, please, as they led to lots of draping) in each to help steam escape. Bake until crust is lightly bronzed and filling is bubbling, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Do ahead:
The dough, wrapped twice in plastic wrap and slipped into a freezer bag, will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge, and for a couple months in the freezer. The filling can be made up to a day in advance and stored in a covered container in the fridge.

Tuna, Artichoke and Noodle Casserole

Martha Stewart Living, 2009

Makes 6 servings

    1 pound elbow macaroni                                         
    Salt and pepper                                                
    1/2 med. onion coarse chop                                     
    2 ounces anchovy fillets (ab. 10), drain                       
    14 ounces artichoke hearts (ab. 11), drain                     
    2 tablespoons capers rinse                                     
    3/4 cup parmesan cheese                                        
    6 ounces tuna drain, reserve 2/3 c water                       
    1/2 cup +2 tbsp evoo                                           
    1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest                                     
    1/4 cup fine chop parsley                                      
    1/3 cup bread crumbs                                           

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8- to 10-cup souffle or casserole dish. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until barely al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain, and rinse with cold water.

Puree onion, anchovies, artichoke hearts, and capers in a food processor until smooth. Add Parmesan and reserved tuna water, and pulse to combine. With machine running, slowly add 1/2 cup oil, and process until emulsified. Season with pepper. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in drained tuna, lemon zest, parsley, and pasta. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour pasta mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Cover with parchment then foil, and bake until heated through, 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover, and cook until breadcrumbs are lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

MY NOTE: Some complain it's too fishy, so you may want to halve the anchovies.

Spaghetti Pie

Martha Stewart Living

Makes 10-12 servings

    1 tablespoon unsalt butter room temp.                          
    6 lg. eggs light beat                                          
    1 pound aged shredded mozzarella cheese (4 c)                  
    12 ounces sopressata 1/4-in dice                               
    1 cup pecorino fine grate (4 oz)                               
    1/4 cup heavy cream                                            
    1 teaspoon dried parsley                                       
    Salt                                                           
    1/2 teaspoon pepper                                            
    8 cups cooked spaghetti                                        

Place rack in center of oven. Heat oven to 375°. Butter a 10-inch-by-3-inch cake pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, mozzarella, sopressata, Pecorino Romano, heavy cream, dried parsley, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine. Add spaghetti, and stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared pan.

Cover with foil. Transfer to the heated oven, and bake about 40 minutes. Remove foil, and bake until lightly browned and crisp, an additional 20 minutes.

Remove to a rack to cool, about 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge, and unmold, removing parchment. Invert, cut into wedges, and serve.

Shepherd's Pie

Martha Stewart Living

Makes 8 servings

    2 tablespoons olive oil                                        
    2 tablespoons unsalt butter                                    
    2 tablespoons melted butter                                    
    2 med. onions coarse chop                                      
    3 carrots slice 1/3-in thick                                   
    2 pounds ground lamb or beef                                   
    1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce                              
    1 tablespoon tomato paste                                      
    1 teaspoon salt                                                
    1/2 teaspoon pepper                                            
    1/4-1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce                              
    2 cups chicken broth                                           
    10 ounces frozen peas                                          
    6 cups mashed potatoes                                         

Preheat oven to 425°. In a large skillet heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter over high heat. Add onions and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add lamb and cook, stirring and breaking up lamb with the back of a wooden spoon, until lamb is beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Add stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in peas and return to a simmer.

Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spoon or pipe mashed potatoes evenly over meat mixture. Brush with melted butter. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until top is golden and juices are bubbling, 25 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Basmati Rice with Duck Confit and Dried Cherries

Martha Stewart Living, 2010

Serves 6-8

    3 quarts water
    2 cinnamon sticks
    Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
    2 cups basmati rice, rinsed until water runs clear
    2 legs duck confit, skin removed, shredded (igourmet.com)
    3/4 cup dried cherries
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 4 tablespoons
    1 pound russet potatoes (about 2)
    1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

A crisp edge is essential to the appeal of tah-dig, a Persian dish in which the bottom layer forms a golden crust (basmati rice is ideal because it turns crunchy quickly); ours is topped with a layer of perfectly browned potatoes.

Bring water, cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons salt to a boil in a medium pot. Gradually add rice, stir, and cook until grains are tender but slightly firm in centers, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain rice; discard cinnamon sticks. Mix in duck confit, dried cherries, and melted butter. Season with salt and pepper.

Peel potatoes, and slice about 1/8 inch thick using a mandoline. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large (10-inch) pot or heavy skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium heat, swirling to coat. Arrange 3 layers of potatoes in pot in a circular pattern, overlapping slightly, working from the outside.

Sprinkle cilantro over potatoes, and top with rice mixture, pressing down lightly to form an even layer. Place a cotton kitchen towel or a piece of cheesecloth directly on surface of rice, covering completely. Cover pot, and cook for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until potatoes are crisp and golden brown around edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove towel. Run a rubber spatula around edge of pot, and invert onto a serving platter.

Cook's Note: Duck pairs well with cherries, but you can substitute shredded chicken or leave out the meat entirely.

Potatoes Anna

adapted from Martha Stewart Living

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

•     2 3/4 pounds russet potatoes (ab. 6) peeled                     
•     6 tablespoons unsalt butter melted      
•     2 tbsp olive oil                        
•     Salt and pepper   
•     Sprinkle of fresh herbs

Preheat oven to 425°. Using a mandoline, slice potatoes, 1/4 inch thick, or thinner. (Do not place potatoes in water at this point; the starch is needed to bind the layers.)

Brush bottom of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or a 9 1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter and olive oil. Starting in center of pan, arrange potato slices in a circular pattern, overlapping the edges. Evenly brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons butter; season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining potatoes and butter, creating 2 more layers. Finish with a final layer of butter, salt, and pepper. When arranging potatoes, be sure to fill in all the spaces. You may need to arrange potato layers "creatively" so there isn't a huge mound in the middle from the centers of the circles.

Place over medium-high heat until the edges of the potatoes begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. If you are not using a cast-iron skillet, this step is not necessary.

Place in oven, and bake until potatoes are fork tender, 45 to 55 minutes for the cast-iron skillet and 1 to 1 1/2 hours for the pie plate. Cover with tin foil for first 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Using a small spatula, separate potato edges from sides of pan. Shake pan and slide a spatula along bottom to loosen potatoes. Carefully invert onto a flat serving platter. Slice and serve.

MY NOTES: So simple and tasty. When I made it the first time it over-browned (see photo), so I edited the recipe a little and had much better results. Next time I should add herbs (rosemary, thyme) and maybe a sprinkle of cheese between layers.

MXF