ChezCindy: Delicata Squash Rings with Parmesan Cheese

 

Each fall season I gather up the different squash available at the market, always on the look-out for delicata squash among the more standard acorn and butternut.  Delicata squash is a winter squash meaning that it has a hard interior flesh.  But it crosses over to summer squash like zucchini in that the thin skin can be eaten.  A real bonus when it comes to winter squash as most have inedible skin and it can be difficult to peel away the skin.  

The delicata squash are the two sitting on top of the pile with a long shape and stripes.  The other squash are spaghetti, acorn and kaleidoscope which is similar to acorn.

The delicata squash rings were put together on a whim one morning.  The thought came to me that Parmesan cheese might pair really well with the squash.  I've made them numerous times now for breakfast as the flavor and texture remind me of potatoes, so think hashbrowns.  The squash rings would make a nice appetizer with a glass of crisp white Italian wine, or as a side dish to Chicken Parmesan. 

Delicata Squash Rings with Parmesan Cheese

1 medium or 2 small delicata squash

1 tablespoon oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons butter

2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Making the rings is more of a process than a recipe.  Simply slice across the squash cutting the squash into 1/4-inch rounds.  Lay each round piece on the flat side, using a spoon scrape out the seeds. 

 Working with a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, drizzle in a tablespoon of oil placing the squash rings in a single layer in the pan, sprinkle the salt over the rings.  Allow the rings to cook without moving them for 1-2 minutes, then add in the butter in small pieces to evenly distribute among the squash rings.  The butter will sizzle and bubble.  Keep the squash rings on side one for several minutes until this first side is golden brown.  The butter will help the squash to brown and add great flavor.  Once side one is brown and the squash is now mostly cooked through, flip over each ring to cook on side two for just a brief minute.  Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese, then immediately turn off the heat.  Transfer the squash rings and Parmesan to a plate.  

ChezCindy: Apple Cheddar Drop Biscuits

 

Fall is the perfect time of year to make these Apple Cheddar Drop Biscuits.  A visit to the apple orchard or just a variety of crisp apples from the market are great to have on hand for so many wonderful recipes, or just to eat out of hand.  Here are just few recipes from my blog site such as Apple Pumpkin Muffins combining the best of both fall ingredients.  And this surprisingly refreshing Apple Cucumber Salad.  When you are looking to impress make this French Apple Tart.

This biscuit recipe is an easy one to begin with if making biscuits is new to you.  It is a drop biscuit, so there is no rolling out the dough, no cutting and shaping the biscuits.  Just scoop it out and drop the biscuit dough onto the baking sheet.  Serve warm from the oven with some soft salted butter.  

The key to successful biscuit making is to have all of your ingredients ready before you start mixing by hand.  Once you start mixing, your fingers are covered in biscuit dough.  Stopping to measure out the cream or to line the pan with parchment paper is a bit of a problem with doughy fingers.  Read the recipe, have the ingredients measured, the baking tray in place, and the oven pre-heated.  Relax and enjoy the process.... and the biscuits! 

Apple Cheddar Drop Biscuits

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

4 tablespoons finely diced apples

4 tablespoons grated white cheddar cheese

5 tablespoons heavy cream

1/4 cup cold water

extra cream for brushing on the biscuits

turbinado sugar to top the sweet biscuits

Makes 6 large biscuits

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.  

Key to successful biscuit making is to have all of your ingredients ready before you start mixing.  Because once you start, your fingers are covered in biscuit dough.  Read the recipe, have the ingredients measured, the baking tray in place, and the oven pre-heated.  

Cut the cold butter into small pieces.  I like to start with a stick of butter, cutting out 6 tablespoons, (setting the remaining 2 tablespoons aside for serving).  Then cut each of the 6 tablespoons into 9 tiny pieces. 

Cut the apple into small pieces, roughly 1/4-inch dice, set aside.  Grate the cheddar cheese, set aside.  

Measure out the cream, and the cold water.

  

Working with a large mixing bowl, add in the flour, sugar and baking powder.  Using your fingers, mix the ingredients to combine.  Add in the tiny cut pieces of butter, tossing them to coat with the flour mixture.  Begin working in the butter by using your fingertips to "snap" or rub the butter to combine it with the flour.  This will take 5-8 minutes.  The butter will no longer look like tiny cubes of butter but will be mostly combined with the flour.  It should look somewhat crumbly.  Add in the diced berries, tossing them gently to coat with the flour/butter mixture.  

Make a well in the center of the mixture.  Pour in 4 tablespoons of the cream, reserving 1 for additional use if needed.  This is where it gets really messy.  With your fingers, mix the flour with the cream to create a shaggy dough.  Add in the 1/4 cup of cold water, mixing to gently combine.  The dough should be wet but not gloppy.  Add in the additional tablespoon of cream if the dough is still a bit dry.  This is the judgement part of making biscuits.  The dough should be held together with no dryness of the flour bits.  Stop mixing.  

Using a 1/3 cup measure, spray the cup with oil.  This will help the biscuit dough to slip out of the measuring cup.  Scoop the dough into the measuring cup, drop the biscuit onto the lined sheet pan.  Repeat with the remaining dough to form 6 large biscuits.  Using a pastry brush, gently brush the tops with additional cream.  Sprinkle a bit of sugar (turbinado raw sugar if you have it) onto the tops of each biscuit.  

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes until deep golden brown.  Remove from the oven, cool on the sheet tray for about 5 minutes so the biscuits are fully set.  Serve warm with butter and honey if desired. 

ChezCindy: Pasta Risotto with Chicken and Mushrooms

 

Making pasta in the style of risotto is not a new thing.  I simply had not tried this process before now.  It is good!  The pasta takes in flavor, absorbing the stock, garlic and vegetables as it hydrates and cooks.  It becomes full of flavor with great texture.  The tradeoff is the amount of time and attention it takes to make the pasta risotto.  You will need to tend to the pasta adding stock stirring for roughly 20 minutes.  I found it be a relaxing transition from a full day while I enjoyed a glass of wine.  

Pasta Risotto with Chicken and Mushrooms

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely diced

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 cups brown or white button mushrooms, sliced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cups dry gemelli or penne pasta

1/2 cup dry white wine

3-4 cups chicken stock

3 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

black pepper

fresh parsley, chopped

fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Working with a large Dutch oven pan over medium-high heat, add in the olive oil.  When the oil is hot, add in the onion, garlic and mushrooms, stirring to coat in oil.  Cook while stirring occasionally for 6-7 minutes, then add in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper.  Add in the tomato paste, stirring to incorporate with the mushrooms.  Add the dry pasta to the pan with the mushrooms, stirring together, then add in the wine, stirring for 2-3 minutes.  The wine will bubble and absorb into the mix.  Lower the heat to medium.  

Meanwhile, have the stock on the stove in a pan over a low temperature to stay warm.  Once the wine has absorbed into the mix, begin ladling 1/2 cup of stock into the pasta mix, stirring to combine.  After the ladle of stock has absorbed into the pasta, continue adding 1/2 cup at a time until you have added 2 cups.  At this point taste a piece of pasta to determine the tenderness.  It will mostly likely be too firm.  

Add in the chicken thighs and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, stirring with the pasta.  Cook the chicken while continuing to add more stock and stirring.  Check the chicken for doneness of internal temperature of 165 degrees.  When the chicken has reached the correct temperature, taste the pasta for texture.  You will want a tender pasta but not soft.  You may not use all of the stock.  

Remove from the heat, adjust for seasoning, garnishing with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.  

ChezCindy: Cauliflower Goat Cheese Gratin

 

When has cauliflower looked better?  This recipe is a simple 5-ingredent, minimal time and cleanup dream.  A dream only if you like cauliflower.  In my house, that is just me and the dogs!

My recipe is adapted from Bobby Flay, downloaded from the Food Network years ago.  It is super healthy by way of the cauliflower but watch out for the calories coming from heavy cream and three types of cheese.  Serve it with a green salad or a simple piece of grilled fish or chicken.  

Cauliflower Goat Cheese Gratin

1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets

1 cup heavy cream

6-ounces goat cheese

2 ounces grated fontina cheese

2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place the cauliflower florets into a medium size casserole dish, spreading out into an even layer.  Pour in the cream.  Crumble and scatter the goat cheese over the florets, along with the fontina and Parmesan cheese.  Sprinkle on the kosher salt.   

Place the casserole dish into the hot oven, roasting for 30 minutes until the cauliflower is tender and the sauce has slightly thickened.  Remove from the oven, resting for 10 minutes before serving.

Note:  Other cheeses can be substituted such as gruyere and Pecorino, and herbed goat cheese work well together.  

ChezCindy: Summer Corn Cauliflower & Chickpea Salad

 

Inspiration for this salad came from thoughts of Mexican Street Corn.  Which would have been fabulous as a salad, but I took this salad in a different direction to the Mediterranean.  I used Greek yogurt in the salad dressing, chickpeas, feta cheese with fresh mint and parsley, which all compliment the sweet summer corn and cauliflower.   

The salad is wonderful for sharing and can be made ahead of time as it holds up well fully tossed with the salad dressing.  It may even get better after sitting for 20-30 minutes as the ingredients marinate in the dressing bringing out the best of each. 

Summer Corn Cauliflower Salad with Fresh Herbs

1/2 of a large cauliflower head

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained

3 large ears corn, cut from the cobs

1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

1 head bibb lettuce

Creamy Yogurt Salad Dressing (recipe follows)

Cut the cauliflower into large pieces, placing each into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.  Pulse until chopped into small bits.  You should have about 4 cups for the recipe.  Transfer the chopped cauliflower into a large bowl.

Add the drained chickpeas to the bowl with the cauliflower.  Add in the fresh cut corn as cut from the cobs, chopped red bell pepper, chopped parsley and mint.  Sprinkle on the salt and pepper.  Using a large spoon, gently stir to combine.  

Pour 6-8 tablespoons of the Creamy Yogurt Dressing over the salad, tossing to combine.  To serve, place individual leaves of the bibb lettuce onto a platter, spooning the dressed salad into each lettuce leaf, piling the remaining salad into the center.  Crumble the feta cheese over the salad.  Garnish with additional herbs, and a drizzle of additional salad dressing.  

Creamy Yogurt Dressing

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon kosher salt

pinch of fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons plain full fat Greek yogurt

In a small bowl, add the Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper; whisk to combine.  Add the vinegar; whisk to combine.  Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking vigorously while doing so.  Whisk in the yogurt.  

ChezCindy: Classic Iceberg Wedge Salad

 

Iceberg lettuce may have fallen out of favor with so many lettuces taking top marketing for nutritional value and taste.  But none of the kale, spinach or arugula mixes can stand in for the classic wedge salad.  Only iceberg can take center stage for this steakhouse favorite.  

This salad is simple and quick to put together, great to serve on a hot summer day.  The lettuce is crisp, juicy and deliciously chilled, served with just a few ingredients.  Key to success is a creamy dressing drizzled in abundance.  Optional additions are cherry tomatoes, bacon, and chopped fresh herbs.  Most are served with blue cheese, but feta could stand in as a substitute if blue cheese is not preferred or skip the cheese altogether.  

As far as nutrition goes, iceberg lettuce can hang in with the other lettuces.  It is loaded with vitamins K and A and has high water content to keep us hydrated on these hot summer days.  Dig in and enjoy!

Classic Iceberg Wedge Salad

1 head of iceberg lettuce

1 cup cherry tomatoes, each sliced in half

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

flakey sea salt for serving

Creamy Salad Dressing 

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon kosher salt

pinch of fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons plain full fat yogurt

In a small bowl, add the Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper; whisk to combine.  Add the vinegar; whisk to combine.  Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking vigorously while doing so.  Whisk in the mayonnaise and yogurt. 

Putting it all together:  Make the dressing, then keep chilled until ready to serve the salad.  

Using a large knife, cut the head of iceberg lettuce into 4 equal wedges, cutting through the core.  Place each wedge onto a large dinner plate.  Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of dressing over each wedge.  Scatter a generous portion of halved cherry tomatoes, a sprinkling of chopped chives, 1 tablespoon of blue cheese, and a shower of flaked sea salt over each wedge.  Serve chilled within 30 minutes of dressing the salad.  

ChezCindy: OMG Giant Peach Muffins

 

These giant peach muffins were inspired by the abundance of peaches I had from my annual peach picking with my BFF.  Each year we head out for our adventure to pick peaches.  The peaches are always gorgeous, and I come home with a full peck, which is a lot of peaches.  Peaches don't hold for a long time like apples.  They ripen quickly and need to be eaten, used for baking and cooking, or frozen within a short time period.  I've been baking, and sharing, many of my favorite recipes, like peach bars and this new recipe for peach muffins.

This recipe for Giant Peach Muffins was inspired by a new cookbook by Jessie Sheehan, Snackable Bakes.  Ms. Sheehan's book is full of fabulous recipes that come together quickly with limited equipment, usually just a large bowl, whisk and rubber spatula, and go from idea to eating in short time.  I like that!  Not always do I want a baking project that takes a full day or multiple days.  Simple.  

The original recipe called for cherries, another favorite fruit, but I really needed to use the peaches.  The recipes in this book offer suggestions for swap-out variations.  It seemed logical if I could swap out cherries for raspberries or strawberries, I could do the same with peaches.  Lucky for me, it worked beautifully.  

A few notes about the recipe.  By itself without fruit the recipe is delicious.  Full of vanilla, deeply golden brown and a great texture.  If you choose to use fruit, use a soft fruit like peaches, raspberries, or cherries, measuring to 2 cups of chopped fruit.  A firm fruit such as apples might not cook fully.  The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract.  That is not an error as you might think teaspoons is meant.  The vanilla is delicious in the muffins and your house will smell wonderful as the muffins are baking.  If you don't have turbinado sugar in your pantry, it is a good addition to have on hand.  You will use it often to add a sprinkle of shine and crispy tops to many pies, cookies and muffins.  I highly recommend it.  The recipe calls for starting the bake at a high temperature, 400 degrees.  This will yield a high puff and a quick brown of the muffin.  The temperature is reduced 15 minutes into the baking time to 350 degrees.  Make note of this reduction otherwise the muffins will be over baked.  Below is my adaptation of Ms. Sheehan's muffin recipe.  

Giant Peach Muffins

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2/3 cups full-fat yogurt or sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups chopped peaches, raspberries or cherries

Turbinado sugar for sprinkling 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Grease the wells of a large 6-well muffin tin (not standard size) with cooking spray oil to coat thoroughly.  Set aside.

Working with a large mixing bowl, add in the oil, sugar and vanilla whisking to combine for 30 seconds.  Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then add in the yogurt whisking to combine.  One at a time, whisk in the baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt whisking well after each addition.

Fold in the flour and the peaches, (or other fruit if using) using a rubber spatula just until combined, not over mixing.  Divide the batter among the prepared muffin wells.  The 6 wells will be very full.  You may have batter leftover.  Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of turbinado sugar over the top of each muffin.

Place the muffin tin into the preheated oven at 400 degrees, baking at this temperature for 15 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, baking for an additional 20-25 minutes until deeply brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean with just a few crumbs. A total of 35-40 minutes baking time.  

Remove from the oven, allowing the muffins to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.  Using a butter knife gently loosen the muffins from the tin, transferring to a wire rack to cool.  Keep the muffins on the counter until they are gone, up to 2 days.