The Sauced Chef

Butternut Squash and Green Onion Linguini

 Serves 4

Big Pot

Collander

Big Frying Pan

Some bowls or containers to hold reserved items

Whisk

Heat proof Spoon or spatula

1 box linguini noodles

1 bunch fresh green onions (trimmed and diced fine)

1 butternut squash (peeled, seeded and cubed)

1/4 cup FRESH minced parsley

1/4 cup FRESH chopped chives

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp fresh or rubbed sage

2 quarts chicken or veggie STOCK (not broth)

1-2 minced garlic cloves (depending on your garlic love)

2 cups of favorite cheese (shaved or shredded) (I used Manchego and Assiago)

3-4 tbsp unsalted butter

 S/P TT (this stands for Salt and Pepper To Taste) 

1. Start water boiling in the large pot (add a pinch of salt to water)**
2. When frying pan is hot (butter will sizzle) add squash and HALF the butter.  The goal is to get some nice carmelization on the squash, so don’t move it around too much in the pan.  Add more butter as the squash absorbs it.
3. Add pasta to now boiling water (let simmer until al dente)
4. Once pasta is al dente, drain into collander and rinse under cold water until pasta is room temperature.  Place back into pot with olive oil and set aside
5. Once squash is carmelized, remove from pan and set aside
6. In the same pan, (don’t drain it) add 1 quart of stock and the cheese.  Whisk continiously. Let the cheese melt into the stock (keep heat @ a simmer) and gradually add more stock as the mixture thickens to desired texture.***
7. Add the garlic, chives, sage and parsley to sauce. MAKE SURE to reserve some chives and parsley for garnish. 
8. Pour sauce into large container and set aside (get as much out as possible). 
9. Clean frying pan
10. Serving Note: You are cooking this pasta to order.  So, if you think your frying pan is big enough for sauteeing four servings go for it! Some people will only be able to do two servings at a time
11. In a hot frying pan add remaining butter.  Add squash and green onions for the # of servings your are doing. Let them sweat in butter for 30 seconds.  Spoon in desired sauce amount followed by desired pasta amount.  Sautee until pasta is hot and coated with sauce.  Add Salt and Pepper to taste.  Serve immediately and garnish with reserved chives and parsley.

** If you want to add extra flavor for extra cost. Use chicken or veg stock to boil the pasta in, instead of water.  Or, drop a chicken bullion cube in the water.

*** It is imperative that you add the cheese in small amounts so it emulsifies with the stock and doesn’t become one big cheesy plopper!

Share on Facebook

Sunset Mashed Potatoes

 Serves 4

Big Pot

Collander

Medium Size Frying Pan

Some bowls or containers to hold reserved items

Masher

8 – 10 medium size russet or yukon gold potateos (peeled and quarted

1  large yam OR 2 large sweet potatoes

1 cup diced spicy sausage (I prefer chorizo)

1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half

1 cup diced FRESH chives

1/2 cup diced leek

2 tbsp fresh minced garlic

1-4 cup honey

3- 4 quarts chicken or veggie stock

1 stick unsalted butter

 S/P TT (this stands for Salt and Pepper To Taste) 

1. Add stock to large pot and start boiling (start with 3 quarts)
2. Add all taters to boiling water
3. While taters are boiling, saute the sausage until it gets a bit crunchy.  Use a bit of the butter. Add garlic and leeks until they get a slight carmelization.  They are very delicate, be careful not to burn! Remove from heat and set aside
4. When taters are soft enough drain in collander and put back in pot
5. Mash till they reach desired consistentcy.  Some people use a mixer for this, its your call!
6. Add cream, honey and butter, mix some more
7. Add leeks, sausage, garlic and chives.
8. Finish with salt and pepper
9. Serve it, baby!

Share on Facebook

Beet and Onion Pinky Pancakes

Big bowl

Whisk

Big Frying Pan

Big Spoon or ladle

1 large Spanish onion (diced)

1 large beet (roasted and cubed)

1 tbsp sugar

2 cups pancake mix (that’s right, a mix!)

1 cup water

8 oz cooking oil

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup Sauce Lab #5: Lemon-Beet-Thyme Vinaigrette

1 cup maple syrup

1. In a large bowl whisk water and pancake mix until combined
2. Heat up frying pan, add 1/2 butter and oil and caramelize the onions (this means not very much stirring! Let the onions get sweet and brown)
3. Add the sugar to the carmelized onions, try to coat every onion
4. Add **cubed beets and caramelized onions to pancake batter and mix thoroughly (watch it turn pink!)
5. Add remaining oil and butter to pan and fry up them pancakes
6. Mix maple syrup and Sauce Lab #5 for a sweet and tangy delight to compliment the pancakes
7. Serve it!

** Roasting beets takes a long time and I would roast a whole bunch of them for later use. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and add the beets (skin on) and roast for about 2 hours or until the skin is tender.  Place in freezer for a half hour, remove and peel and cube.

Share on Facebook

Lisbon Bisque with Linguica Meatballs

Food processor

Large ladle

Large frying pan

Large stew pot

Large tempering bowl

2 oz cooking oil

2 oz butter

10 oz can of chestnut puree

4 cups beef broth

2 cups water

1 white yam

5 medium size parsnips roughly chopped with skin on

½ white onion julienne

10 oz whole milk

4 oz heavy cream

2 lbs linquica sausage (chorizo will work also)

½ cup fresh cilantro

2 garlic cloves minced

½ cup chopped parsley

1 egg

Beef base TT

S/P TT

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
2. Place white yam (skin on!) in its own tray and roast.  Roast until it is slightly soft to the touch.  Remove and place in freezer to cool (about 20 minutes)
3. Add water and beef stock to large pot over high heat
4. Combine oil and butter to hot frying pan and sauté white onions until slightly caramelized, add to bisque pot
5. Add parsnips (skin on, so wash each parsnip thoroughly!) to frying pan and carmelize to a full, nut brown color.  Add to bisque pot. 
6. Take yam out of freezer and do a rough chop (about 8 pieces, skin on!) and add to bisque pot
7. Cover bisque pot, add chestnut puree, and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes (until parsnips are tender)
8. Combine sausage, garlic, cilantro and egg in food processor, blend until it becomes a manageable meatball mixture.
9. Form 10-15 meatballs and set aside
10. Add parsley to bisque mixture (set aside some for garnish) and ladle bisque mixture into food processor in batches (probably 3 or 4) and blend until uniform and smooth
11. Pour mixture back into pot, temper in milk and heavy cream and simmer over medium heat, stirring sporadically.
12. Season bisque with beef base and s/p (or whatever!) to taste
13. Sauté meatballs in frying pan until browned on all sides,  add meatballs to bisque and let simmer for 5-10 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked.  Stir constantly, but be careful not to break meatballs in bisque.
14. Serve with parsley garnish

Share on Facebook