The new pot pie ~ Kale and butternut squash pie.

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I just love when I stumble upon a recipe idea that is a total winner. Don't you? Plus it is a really great way to fill up on your greens in a new way. Try it this weekend. I think it would make a lovely lazy weekend lunch dish with friends. I could linger over this one with a crisp glass of wine.
 
 If you don't like to fuss with phyllo and the buttering process, you could always use premade pie crust or turn it into a galette. I intend to try a galette version the next go round.
 
And I think it's the new pot pie or the new black.
 
Did I convince you?
 
 
 
Recipe adapted slightly from Gourmet October 2004
 
 
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 (1-pound) piece butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 1/2 cups)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 (1/8-inch-thick) slices pancetta , finely chopped. I keep slices in the freezer to have on hand.
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 bunch kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
  • 1 bunch spinach, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 (17- by 12-inch) phyllo sheets, thawed if frozen
  • 1 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/2 cup)

  • Special equipment: a 9-inch round heavy nonstick springform pan 
Prep
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute squash with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring frequently, until browned and just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and spread in 1 layer to cool.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet and reduce heat to moderate, then cook onion, pancetta, garlic, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in kale, spinach, and water and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until kale is just tender, about 6 minutes. Cool, uncovered, to room temperature.
This is the time consuming part, but worth it.
 
Brush springform pan with some of butter. Unroll phyllo and cover stack with plastic wrap and a dampened kitchen towel. Keeping remaining phyllo covered and, working quickly, gently fit 1 sheet into pan with ends overhanging and brush with butter (including overhang). Rotate pan slightly and top with another sheet (sheets should not align) and brush in same manner. Repeat with 5 more sheets, rotating pan each time so sheets cover entire rim.
Spread half of kale mixture in phyllo shell. Gently stir together squash and cheese in a bowl and spread evenly over kale mixture. Top with remaining kale mixture.
Put remaining sheet of phyllo on a work surface and brush with butter. Fold in half crosswise and butter again. Fold again (to quarter) and brush with butter, then lay over center of filling. To put it simply you end up with a square. Bring edges of phyllo up over filling and square to enclose. Brush top with butter and bake until deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool pie in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Remove side of pan and transfer to a platter. Cut into wedges. 
 
 
We paired it with a shaved brussel salad topped with chopped pecans, raisins that were plumped in vinegar and orange zest on the stove, orange segments, and a drizzle of organic rasberry vinegarette.
 
 
Did the kids eat it? Yes and no. They ate all the greens, phyllo, and salad. Leaving the butternut squash. And I was happy with that.
 
 
 
Have a great day!
 
xxxx
d



 

 

Something spooky. Bruschetta. Grandpa's honey salad.

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Apple Vampire Teeth

Last night we started getting in the Halloween mood with a festive family dinner. We made these spooky meatball eyeballs. Fun right? Ella was a bit full from eating too much edamame after school...but my nieces and nephew dug in! Thanks to Damaris at Kitchen Corners for the great idea! 

The menu:


Spooky chicken meatballs

  • Olive oil
  • 1 Slice white bread, torn
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 6 links organic chicken sausage, removed from casing 
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 handful fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Whole black olives, pitted
  • Handful of frozen peas
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl pour milk over torn bread to soften. In a larger bowl combine sausage, egg, thyme, parsley, pargigiano, and bread after excess milk has been squeezed out. Scoop tablespoons of mixture, roll into a ball and place on an oiled cookie sheet.  Press olive into each meatball and top with a frozen pea. When all have been rolled and spookified, bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes. Edges should be browned and meatballs firm yet scary. Serve in pairs over pasta.


Whole wheat spaghetti with tomato basil sauce

Store bought.




Grandpa's Honey Salad

2 heads romaine, chopped
2 parts Tarragon vinegar
1 part Honey
1 lemon, squeezed over chopped romaine
Romano cheese, shaved

Pour vinaigrette over romaine and top with shaved Parmesan. Easy and super delicious. Thanks Grandpa.

Bruscetta 2 ways

 I'm not convinced that something like brucetta requires a recipe.... as long as you combine and chop up something fresh, almost everything is good on toasty bread.

1.) Combine some chopped tomatoes, garlic, basil, drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, drizzle of balsamic.

2.) Italian Guacamole: Chopped avocado, basil, shaved Parmesan, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

both over warm toasty bread..llightly buttered or oiled of course.....and preferably homemade every Sunday :)




***Vampire teeth (shown above)

Halve apples, cut out a slice from front, pop in the vampire teeth (slivered almonds).




What spooky treats will you make?

xoxoxo
d


Monday Monday...What I am planning to dish out this week.

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Hope you all had a fab weekend. I've got four meals planned for this week because the on the 5th night you can find me at a local BBQ restaurant that is opening a new location nearby. YUM. Let me know if you have been  cooking up anything new.

1. Ina's crunchy noodle salad  using leftover noodles from spaghetti night :)

2. Potato leek soup with garlic knots
** I made a big batch of this the other day, so we would have it for the week. And I use store-bought pizza dough for the knots not frozen.
  • 3 tablespoons butter 4 leeks, washed and sliced into half moons
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme; half if using dried
  • 1/4 teaspoon chile powder
  • 6 cups stock
  • 1 1/4-pounds (5-6 small Yukon, or 3 large russet) potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • splash of cream or milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium-low heat. Add the slices leeks and season with salt. Cook the leeks over low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they’re completely soft and wilted, not browned. Add the thyme, if using, and chile powder, and stir for about 30 seconds, cooking them with the leeks to release their flavor flavors. Pour in the stock, and add the potatoes and bay leaf. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender when poked with a sharp knife. About 20- 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and puree the soup with the pepper, and more salt if necessary. Add splash of cream and simmer for a few minutes longer. I use an immersion (stick) blender, If the soup is too thick, add a bit more stock or cream, until it’s the desired consistency. Top with crisp bacon or crisp leeks would be yummy too!

3. Brucetta on Homemade bread with Grandmas Grandpas (i was corrected) honey salad (I'll post the recipes when I make them)

4. My favorite Pan Seared Rib Eye and Giada's Potato skins


Have a great week!! If you want to catch up on our weekend see here.

xoxoxo
d
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