Fall Panzanella with Pomegranate Dressing

I have decided it is imperative that I have a panzanella for every season. Traditionally a tomato and bread salad, I am not patient enough to wait for summer to roll around each year. How many dishes do you know that are versatile enough for both a quick dinner and impressing guests? Good thing I like messing with tradition.

Spring brought this one with leeks and asparagus, summer I kept it (somewhat) traditional with tomatoes, and I am currently plotting away for winter. But this month, I urge you to try a fall version, celebrating the harvest with an amazing crunch. I will do my best to curtail this love affair and not turn this into a panzanella blog.

But I can’t make any promises.

Fall Panzanella
serves 4

salad
1/2 loaf wheat ciabatta bread, cut into 1" cubes
3 T olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
2 apples, cored and cut into cubes
3 celery sticks, chopped
2 T fresh herbs (I used sage & rosemary)
1/2 c pomegranate seeds

dressing
1/4 c pomegranate juice
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 t salt
2 t honey
1 t apple cider vinegar

Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Broil 3-5 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Add apple cubes, celery, herbs and pomegranate seeds.

In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Add to salad, tossing to combine. Season to taste, and serve immediately.

October Blogger Favorites

Terrific blogger recipes I tried this month…



Apple Pie & Crust, Smitten Kitchen
Richard Olney's Garlic Soup, 101 Cookbooks
Rustic Cabbage Soup, 101 Cookbooks
Asian Coconut Noodle Soup, Dana Treat

Need more inspiration? Visit all my favorites here.

Market Basket: Pumpkin-Pear Crumble

I have had a great deal of fun the past few months, creating recipes for the Harvard Farmers’ Market. Tomorrow is the final market, and if you are in the Boston area, I recommend stopping in to stock up on fresh produce as the New England growing season comes to end (sniff, sniff). The past two weeks, I have not shared the recipes, as they were taken from previous posts. First this Simple Tortellini & Spinach Soup and then these Asiago Sweet Potatoes. This week however, I was asked to share a favorite pumpkin dish. I immediately thought of this crumble. I made it for Thanksgiving last year, and as the holiday fast approaches, I thought you would enjoy it as a bit of inspiration.

Stop by the Harvard Farmers’ Market from 9-1 this Saturday for local produce, breads, cheese, meats and handmade goodies. Previous recipes can be found here or via the link on the right nav.

Pumpkin-Pear Crumble
serves 4-6

2 large pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2" cubes
1/2 c maple syrup
1 t vanilla extract
1 t fresh minced ginger
1/2 t ground all spice
3 1/2 c pumpkin puree (or two 15-oz cans)
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
1/4 t salt
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 c toasted pecans, chopped
1/4 c toasted walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large skillet, combine pears, maple syrup, vanilla, ginger and all spice. Cook, on medium-low, until the pears are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin puree, and cook for 2 minutes. Spoon mixture into a 8” square baking dish. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, sugar and salt. Stir in butter, mixing well, until mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in pecans and walnuts. Spoon topping into baking dish, over filling, and place in oven. Bake, 30 minutes, until topping is golden brown and fruit is bubbling.

Vegetarian Chicken & Dumplings

As a vegetarian, you come to terms with the fact that there are just some dishes you will never eat again. Your grandma’s chicken marsala. A Thanksgiving turkey. Bacon. But sometimes, it is not the food you are craving, but the feeling. Because food is more than taste—it is emotional. A great meal involves all your senses, and can conjure up amazing memories.

Such is the case with Lisa, a very sweet reader, who’s vegetarian husband longs for his mother’s Chicken & Dumplings. She wished to re-create the dish for their anniversary today. Did I have a recipe she asked? I did not. Which of course led me to dream about dumplings ALL DAY LONG. I too was longing for her mother-in-law’s homemade dish. I can just imagine her humming while chopping the vegetables, smiling down at her son while the butter melts, thoughtfully mixing together the dumpling batter.

So I researched. Pulled apart various recipes. And somewhere along the way came to realize that it is not the chicken that makes this dish. It is the hearty broth, made with flour and butter, the fluffy dumplings, mixed with care, and the big steaming bowl, served with love.

Happy Anniversary Lisa!

Vegetarian Chicken & Dumplings
serves 4-6

4 T unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
6 T all-purpose flour
3 T sherry cooking wine
6 c vegetable broth
1/2 c lowfat milk
2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 bay leaves
1 t fresh thyme leaves
3 c chopped mushrooms (10 oz)
2 c chopped celery (6 stalks)
1 c chopped carrots
1 c frozen peas
2 T minced fresh chives

Dumplings
2 c all-purpose flour
2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
1/4 c minced fresh herb (I used chives, thyme & sage)
2 T unsalted butter, melted
3/4 c lowfat milk

In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté until onion begin to brown, about 8-10 minutes. Whisk in the flour and sherry, scraping any brown bits of the bottom of the pan. Add the vegetable broth, milk, salt, pepper, bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a boil, and add mushrooms, celery, carrots, peas and chives. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Season to taste.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt and herbs. Gently mix in melted butter and milk, until mixture just comes together (DO NOT over-mix or dumplings will be dense).

Drop dumpling batter into the simmering stew by heaping teaspoonfuls (about 15 total). Cover and simmer until dumplings are cooked through, about 15 minutes (DO NOT uncover while the dumplings are cooking, as steam will escape).

Maple-Pumpkin Pasta with Blue Cheese & Sage

Last Saturday, we awoke to a perfectly sunny (but crisp!) fall day, and I had a plan. It involved apple picking, hay rides, maple syrup, and lots and lots of pumpkins. In short, I was going to fit “fall” into this one free Saturday. We headed north, driving leisurely through New Hampshire country roads to our first stop, Parkers Maple Barn. The Sugar House has an adjoining restaurant, which serves breakfast all day. It is famous for pumpkin pancakes and maple glazed short ribs, which I knew would help Tommy temporarily forget that the rest of the day would entail apple picking and leaf peeping, not watching college football. Stomachs full and my bag bursting with souvenirs of maple syrup candy and a pumpkin cookbook, it was off to a nearby orchard.

We arrived at Windy Will Orchard ready to pick, but the early cold front had ended the apple picking season early. There was no time for disappointment however, as the shop was stocked with pre-picked-bags. Plus I had already run off to snap photos of the idyllic setting. We were surrounded by the colors of fall—a field of pumpkins, a little red barn, the turning leaves, a green John Deere and corn mazes.

I would have stayed all day. But, I knew the next stop would be worth leaving for. We set west, along 124 through Jaffrey. The houses overlooking Mount Monadnock had amazing views, and I exclaimed once or twice, “Stop the car!”, as an ideal photo opportunity whizzed by. Parked in a stranger’s driveway, I had to laugh when another car pulled up behind us. Apparently we were not the only uninhibited leaf peepers in search of the perfect shot.

Upon entering Keene, we followed the signs to park, and jumped on board the shuttle bus to downtown. A quick few minutes later, we stepped off and were greeted with pumpkins. But, not just any pumpkins. 29,762 carved and lit jack-o-lanterns (just short of Boston's world record of 30,128). The Keene Pumpkin Festival was in full swing and Main Street was lined everywhere you turned with the orange beauties. At either end, two sky-high displays watched over the festivities.

I was eager to explore, but a sign for pumpkin beer and an outdoor patio grabbed my attention (I never say no to dining al fresco, even if it is 40 degrees outside). We sat, bundled up, below twinkling lights and enjoyed an icy glass and antics of the eccentric bartender. Slightly warmed, we stepped back onto Main Street, following the beckons of street vendors. Spiced Cider? Yes, please! Zesty Peanuts? Of course! Caramel Apples? I love this place!

Hours later, our bellies full, we made our way back to the car. Day light dwindled as we headed home, but I was warm, filled with inspiration from the perfect autumn day.

Maple-Pumpkin Pasta with Blue Cheese & Sage
Inspired by pumpkins, maple syrup and Whole Loving . serves 4

1 lb tube pasta (penne, rigatoni, etc..)
2 T olive oil
1 med onion, chopped
1/4 c maple syrup
4 c cubed pumpkin
1/2 c vegetable broth
2 T chopped fresh sage
1 T brown sugar
1/4 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 crumbled blue cheese
1/2 c toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and boil until tender. Drain, and set aside.

In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat, and add onion. Sauté 6-8 minutes, until onion begins to brown. Add maple syrup, pumpkin, vegetable both, sage, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 25-30 minutes, until pumpkin is tender. Add cooked pasta, and toss until well combined. To serve, top with crumbled blue cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Yesterday was my last CSA pickup and while I am quite sad to see the season end, I left with three huge bags of goodies that should keep me busy for a few weeks. I have a few unusual vegetables to get creative with—celeriac and parsnips, some of the usual fall suspects—Chinese cabbage and greens, and a butternut squash that doesn’t stand a chance to make it through the weekend.

But this week, I am on a sweet potato kick. They pair so nicely with both the sweet and savory, which provides a wealth of possibilities. This recipe I had made over a year ago and it just stuck in my mind. With the amount of recipes I go through, and the amount of blogs, books and magazines I constantly draw inspiration from, that says something.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas
adapted from Vegan Planet . serves 4

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
2 T olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 small jalapenos, finely chopped
14-oz can diced tomatoes
15.5-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
juice of 1 lime
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 large handful fresh cilantro, leaves chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 c crumbled feta cheese (optional)8 whole-wheat tortillas
1 c salsa

Preheat oven to 400F. On a baking sheet, arrange sweet potato cubes in a single layer. Bake 20 minutes, until tender. Remove from oven and set aside, leaving oven on. In a large pan, heat olive oil, over medium heat, and add garlic and jalapenos. Sauté 3-5 minutes, until garlic just begins to brown. Add diced tomatoes, black beans, lime juice, salt, pepper and cilantro. Cook 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until well heated. Turn off heat, stir in red onion, feta (if using) and sweet potato. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange four tortillas on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven, and bake 2 minutes. Remove from oven, and top each tortilla with sweet potato mixture and an additional tortilla. Transfer to oven, and cook 6 minutes, until tortillas are golden brown. To serve, cut each tortilla into quarters and top with salsa.

Baked Tofu

I sometimes overlook the simplest meals when I come to share my recipes here. I often want to present something so enticing, that you will think oh-my-god-I-must-make-this-now. And that’s all well and good, but often not reality. I know I am personally struck with at least a few nights each week where I am so thoroughly exhausted and need to make something healthy yet mindless. So, if this baked tofu helps at least one of you today, I consider my work here a success.

Feel free to add this to rice, salads, soups or just munch on it as a snack. It stays reasonably crunchy in the fridge for a few days also. Last night I added it to this delicious Asian Coconut Noodle Soup from Dana. So good!

Baked Tofu
serves 2-4

14 oz firm tofu, cut into 1/2" cubes (no need to press out water)
2 T soy sauce
1 t sesame oil

Preheat oven to 500F. Arrange tofu cubes on a baking sheet, in a single layer. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and sesame oil. With a pastry brush, generously coat tofu with sauce. Bake 30 minutes, flipping tofu every 10 minutes, with a spatula, to ensure an even crunch. Remove from oven and allow to cool.