roasted herb and cheese spaghetti squash

this was my first time making or eating spaghetti squash, and i must say i feel that i have been missing out! if you've never tried this fun food before, i highly recommend it! for a simple preparation that lets the flavor of the squash show through, try this recipe for roasted spaghetti squash.

heirloom tomato toast

fall is definitely in the air, and the transition of seasons is becoming apparent at the farmer's market. amidst the fall vegetables, there is still summer produce yet. these beautiful heirloom tomatoes won't be around much longer. a perfect way to let their flavor stand out is with a simple preparation of heirloom tomato toast.

start out with a great crusty bread. my favorite loaf for this is a traditional San Francisco sourdough. slice it up, with approximately 1/2" thickness.

pick your favorite color heirloom tomatoes. red, yellow, green, and even purplish brown hues will all stand out at the table. gently cut the tomatoes into roughly 1/4" slices.

basil is up next. if your leaves are really small, you can leave them whole. for larger leaves, roughly rip them into smaller pieces.

toast your bread slices until they start to brown at the edges. take a raw garlic clove and rub it across one side of the toast. the garlic clove will start to diminish, almost like you are grating it along the toast's coarse surface. this step infuses the toast with a strong garlic flavor.

give the toasts a good drizzle of a quality extra virgin olive oil.

top with tomato slices and basil. for a seasoned touch, grind some fresh pepper and sea salt on top of the tomatoes.

 

there you have it. almost a non-recipe in its simplicity, but it is nonetheless a delicious and simple appetizer. should you be in the mood for something a bit fancier,  you can jazz up with say,  a scoop of fresh ricotta, some fresh shavings of parmesan cheese, or some capers.

an extra drizzle of olive oil on top is delicious, and feel free to switch the herb. as summer comes to an end, basil will not be as abundant. stock up now and then use a drizzle of pesto later.

heirloom tomato toast with garlic and basil

makes 4 appetizer servings

ingredients:

4 slices crusty, sourdough bread
1 large heirloom tomato, sliced in 1/4" slices
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 large basil leaves, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste

recipe:

1.   toast sourdough bread slices until the surface is no longer soft, and the edges are just beginning to brown.

2.   take the garlic and rub the cloves along the top of the bread. it will almost be like you are grating the garlic onto the bread, as you will see the clove diminish. use about 1/2 clove per slice - more or less to your tastes.

3.   drizzle the toast with the olive oil, and top with the sliced tomatoes.

4.   garnish with the chopped basil, and salt and pepper to your tastes.


tips:

- to take it up a notch, try spooning fresh ricotta, parmesan, or capers over the toast.

- no fresh basil, but have some pesto stashed in the freezer? a drizzle of pesto would be a great stand in.

onion apple focaccia

onions and apples may not sound like the most obvious combination, but they make a perfect topping for this whole wheat bread recipe. they go together nicely as the onions caramelize and the apples sweeten as they bake. both sweet and savory, the toppings give this onion apple focaccia recipe a rich flavor.

start off with a full tablespoon of active dry yeast. because this recipe is no-knead and has a quick rise, the extra yeast will help give it more volume. proof the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water and a pinch of sugar for 10 minutes.

while the yeast proofs, add 2 tbsp of olive oil into the bottom of a 9 x 13" pan. make sure to grease the sides well and let the rest evenly pool at the bottom of the pan. it may seem like a lot, but you will be grateful later when your bread releases from the pan and has a golden crust.

measure out your flours. i used a mix of both traditional red whole wheat and white whole wheat flours to avoid a heavy bread. i weighed them out for the most accurate measurement.

once the yeast is foamy, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl. mix on medium speed for 1 minute.

the dough will be very sticky at this point, resist the urge to add extra flour because this could make the bread dense. add the dough to the oiled pan, and spread it out to the corners, oiling your hands if the dough is too sticky.

once the dough is in the pan, you will let it rise and puff up for about 45 minutes - 1 hour.

next up, prep the toppings. cut the onions into even sized strips by cutting off the top and bottom of the onion, cutting it in half, and then into strips.

heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan, then add your onion strips.

cook the onions on medium low heat until they start to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. a minute before you take them off the heat, add in 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar.

while the onions cool, slice the apple as thinly as you can, about 1/8" is ideal.

once the dough has puffed up in the pan, use your fingers to make indentations all over the bread.

drizzle olive oil over the top and spread it as evenly as you can.

layer the apples first, then the onions on the top.

bake for 35-45 minutes. the apples will be cooked and the bread will have a golden brown crust.

to prevent the bread from becoming soggy, remove it from the baking pan and let it cool on a rack.

keep any extra wrapped in plastic or tupperware for 2 days.

makes 12 - 3"x3" pieces of focaccia
based on : no-fuss focaccia and onion focaccia

no-knead whole wheat focaccia with yellow onions and apples


dough ingredients:
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1 pinch sugar
6 oz whole wheat flour (1.5 cups)
8.75 oz white whole wheat or all-purpose flour (2 cups)
1.25 tsp salt
1.5 cups warm water, divided (about 110 degrees F)
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp olive oil for pan

topping ingredients:
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 small yellow onions, sliced
1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
1 small sweet apple (like golden delicious), sliced thinly (1/8 inch)
extra olive oil for drizzling

directions:

1.   combine 1 tbsp active dry yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer with 1/4 cup of the warm water and 1 pinch of sugar. let proof for about 10 minutes.

2.   once the yeast looks foamy, add the remaining ingredients and water to the bowl. mix with an electric mixer for 1 minute until it forms a sticky dough.

3.   pour 2 tbsp olive oil into a 9x13" pan. coat the sides and bottom of the pan. press the dough evenly into the pan and press it all the way to the corners. let sit, covered, in a warm place for 45 minutes-1 hour.

4.   while the bread rises, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. add the onion to the pan and saute until it starts to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. during the last minute of cooking, add 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and stir.

5.   when the bread is puffy, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. use fingertips to create indentations across the bread. drizzle olive oil evenly over the top surface.

6.   layer the sliced apple and caramelized onions over the bread and bake for 35-45 minutes. the bottom should be golden brown, and the apples will be cooked.

7.   let cool on a wire rack, and cut once bread is cool.


tips:

- you should be able to sub instant yeast for the active dry yeast in the recipe. just skip the proofing step.

- if you are unsure of the temperature of the water, you can use an instant read thermometer to make sure the water is around 110 degrees F.

- i used a round cookie cutter to cut the core out of my apple slices

carrot parsnip soup with soy glazed shiitake mushrooms

spring has officially sprung - although it is still below 40 degrees here in nyc with snow forecast for tomorrow. a bright and vivid carrot parsnip soup is a warm yet colorful meal while we transition from winter to spring.

start off by peeling the carrots and parnsips.

cut them into roughly equal sized pieces - about 1/2 inch rounds.

i bought my shiitake mushrooms at the market. wash them by rinsing gently then patting dry or wiping with a damp paper towel. 

drizzle a tbsp of olive oil over the carrots/parsnips, mix to cover and lay on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. sprinkle with salt and pepper.

roast in the oven for 25 minutes until the carrots soften and start to brown on the edges.

meanwhile, heat up 6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock. add to the stock a roughly 1 inch x 1 inch piece of peeled ginger. this will lend a light gingery flavor to the broth.

the stems of shiitake mushrooms are a bit tough and stringy to eat, but are good for flavor. so i tossed these into the broth as well.

  trim mushrooms close to the based of the cap, and wash the stems well. simmer for about 15 minutes.

stems of shiitake mushrooms, trimmed and rinsed well

while the stock simmers, saute the onions and garlic in about 1 tbsp olive oil until soft.

now, time to prep the tops of the mushrooms for the garnish.

slice the mushroom caps into thin strips. coat them with 1/2 tbsp soy sauce. heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet, then cook the mushrooms until they get crispy. part way through cooking, add some sesame oil and honey to form a glaze.

after about 10 minutes, they will be dark and crispy. remove from the skillet and let them rest on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

after your broth has simmered for about 15 minutes, remove the ginger and mushroom stems. add the roasted carrots and the softened onions/garlic.

let the stock mixture cool slightly, then use an immersion or regular blender to puree into a smooth soup. taste and adjust salt/pepper as needed.

top with a few of the  soy-glazed shiitakes for a pretty garnish that also adds texture and flavor to the soup.

soup based on Food52's recipe

roasted carrot and parsnip soup with soy-glazed shiitake mushrooms

makes about 6 cups of soup

ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1/2 lb parsnips, peeled and cut into 1.2 inch pieces

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

salt and pepper, to taste

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 large cloves garlic, minced

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

stems of 1/4 lb shiitake mushrooms below, cleaned

1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled

1/4 lb shiitake mushrooms, cleaned with stems trimmed

1/2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/8 tsp sesame oil

1/8 tsp honey

directions:

1.   preheat oven to 375 degrees F. coat carrot and parsnip pieces in 1 tbsp olive oil and spread across a parchment lined baking sheet. salt and pepper to taste. roast for 25-30 minutes, until soft.

2.   heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. add onions and saute for 1-2 minutes until soft. add garlic and cook until both garlic and onions are soft. set aside.

3.   heat the 6 cups of stock in a large saucepan or stockpot. add ginger and the clean stems of the shiitake mushrooms. simmer for about 15 minutes until the stock has a hint of ginger flavor.

4.   after 15 minutes, remove the ginger and mushroom stems. add in the roasted carrots, onions and garlic. bring to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until the carrots become soft.

5.   use an immersion blender for about 3 minutes until the soup becomes a smooth puree.

for the mushrooms:

6.   slice the caps of the shiitake mushrooms thinly, and toss with 1/2 tbsp soy sauce. mix together 1/8 tsp sesame oil and 1/8 tsp honey.

7.   heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. add the sliced mushroom caps and cook for 5-7 minutes until they release their juices and then start to brown.

8.   drizzle honey-sesame oil mixture over the shiitake mushrooms and cook them for an additional 3-5 minutes until they are dark brown.

7.   remove from skillet and let them drain on a paper towel. they will crisp up as they cool.

8.   serve soup hot, with soy glazed shiitakes on top for garnish and flavor.

tips:

- you can use any combination of carrots and parsnips. just stick to 2 lbs total.

- to clean the shiitake mushrooms, wipe with a wet paper towel or rinse the caps gently and pat dry right away. they will absorb water if left to soak.

- store the mushrooms separately wrapped in plastic wrap or a small tupperware. garnish soup after reheating.