Category Archives: Fall Recipes

Cranberry, Apple & Pear Relish

Cranberry, Apple and Pear Relish

Print

A perfect relish or conserve for fall and winter use. Serve it with chicken, beef, duck or other game meat; it also makes a great spread or dip mixed with cream cheese.

  • 2 cups peeled and chopped apples
  • 2 cups peeled and chopped pears
  • 12 oz. fresh cranberries
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 2 orange, zested and juiced
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 - 8 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Makes 6 pints, approximately

In a large pot combine apples, pears, cranberries, sugar, water and orange juice.

Simmer, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes.

Stir in the nutmeg and walnuts, and then cook for 5 more minutes.

Use fresh or can for future use. To process follow these instructions.

Place a whole cinnamon stick in each sterilized jar, then ladle the hot relish into jars leaving 1/4″ headspace.

Process for 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Adapted from Farmers Daughter

December Cooking Demo

 

Last Class of the Year

Festive Family Dinner

Thursday December 7th

6:30 – 8:30, approximately

Menu

Artichoke Bruschetta

Tomato Bisque with Gruyere & French Ham Croutons

 Italian Roasted Beef in Barolo Wine Sauce

Balsamic Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts & Pecans

Stuffed Shells with Homemade Ricotta

Cranberry-Orange Olive Oil Cake

$45.00

For reservations call  Temecula Olive Oil, Seal Beach

(562) 296-5421

Sponsored by

Nov. Cooking Demo

Join us for our next cooking demo

Entertaining Menu’s

Thursday, 6:30-8:30, approximately

Nov 9th & 16th

 

Menu

Smoked Trout Canapés

Spinach Bacon Salad with Pine Nuts & Croutons

Roast Duck Breast with Blackberry-Orange Sauce

Pumpkin Risotto with Pomegranate Arils & Shaved Parmesan

Haricot Vert (French style Green Beans) with Bacon & Pearl Onions

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

$45.00

For reservations call  Temecula Olive Oil, Seal Beach

(562) 296-5421

Sponsored by

Chicken Stew Cassoulet

 

Chicken Stew Cassoulet

Print
  • 8 chicken thighs
  • Sea Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 small to medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 carrots, cut in half and then sliced into half-moons about ¼” thick
  • 3 celery, sliced 1/4" thick
  • 3-4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme, crushed
  • 1 lg. can whole tomatoes
  • 2 cups white beans
  • 1 cup bread crumbs, large pieces not fine

Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Trim any excess skin and fat.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Heat a large Dutch oven, add the butter and oil. Season the chicken with sea salt and pepper, place the chicken pieces skin side down in the pan and brown well on both sides. Don’t crowd the chicken in the pan, do this in 2 steps if needed.

Set aside and pour off most of the drippings leaving about 2 Tablespoons in the pan. Sauté the onions, carrots and celery, return the chicken to the

pan and add chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, tomatoes, white beans and a little salt

and pepper. Cover and place into oven and cook 30 minutes.

Check to make sure that chicken is nearly cooked.

Add bread crumbs and return to the oven, uncovered. Cook until crumbs are

lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

Soup Season

Photo: Christina Peters

I love fall and winter and I love to cook hearty stews and warming soups. One of the most important ingredients is stock or broth for your dish and homemade is the best. Most of the time spent making stock is hands off, it needs to simmer for a good 4 hours so prep time in the kitchen can be limited to about 1/2 hour. Cut most of that time in half by making the stock in your pressure cooker but I like the results better just simmered slowly on the back of the stove. (Besides it makes your house smell wonderful!) I’ve included a list of descriptives for stock, broth, stew, soup etc. And my recipe for a perfect stock; stock is made with bones and broth is made with pieces of meat and vegetables and is a little less hearty than stock. Keep some stock in your freezer for quick meals during the winter season. Recipe below but here are some descriptives of soups, stews etc.

Bisque:           a rich, thick usually smooth soup. Thickened either by pureeing or adding                         cream and usually made with some kind of seafood.

Chowder:      a thick, chunky soup

Stock:             clear savory liquid made from vegetables or meat on the bone

Broth:             similar to stock but made with just meat or vegetables, not a hearty as stock

Gazpacho:     a cold vegetable soup usually with tomatoes as main ingredient

Gumbo:         thick broth with creole seasonings and chunks of meat & vegetables

Stew:              thick soup with chunks of vegetables and/or meat

Soup:              thinner than a stew with less chunks

Guides for making stocks

Use mild flavored vegetables, onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes

No oily fish such as salmon

Beef bones with marrow will have more flavor

Use chicken feet for great taste and lots of natural gelatin

Do not season stock with salt until after it’s cooked

For making soups or stews

                        Any fresh or frozen veggie can be used. Do not defrost vegetable before      using,  just toss it into the stock.

                        Onion, peas, broccoli florets, celery, carrots, potatoes (will help to thicken soup also), corn, zucchini, peppers

                        Herbs

                        Basil, oregano, thyme, Italian parsley, crushed red peppers, Italian seasoning

                        Beans

                        Keep canned or frozen beans such as kidney, navy, white beans, pinto, black                    beans

Grains (pre-cook and freeze) Add at the end of cooking time

                        Farro, barley, rice, pasta, quinoa, beans

Chicken or Turkey Stock aka Bone Broth

Print
  • 1 whole organic chicken, about 4 lbs., rinsed well, or
  • 3 # chicken pieces, backs, necks, wings, feet; these pieces will render a lot of gelatin (flavor) to your stock. Do not use livers but gizzards and heart are okay
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, optional for bone broth
  • 1 large onion, quartered, leave skin intact but wash off any dirt from the root
  • 1 large carrot cut into thirds
  • 2 celery stalks cut into thirds, include some top leaves
  • 1 large leek, cut in half lengthwise and washed well between the leaves, cut into thirds
  • 6-9 whole black peppercorns

Place the chicken into a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to a simmer and skim any foam that rises to the surface. This should take about 15 minutes.

After removing any foam add the cider vinegar (for bone broth), vegetables and herbs, bring back to a boil, turn heat to a simmer and cook 2 – 2 ½ hrs.

Remove from the heat and let the stock sit for 10 to 15 minutes, remove large chicken pieces and strain remaining stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Cool by placing the container of strained stock in an ice water bath in the sink and then refrigerate overnight.

The next day, remove the fat from the stock by skimming with a ladle. The stock will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Be sure to label and date before freezing.

To adapt the recipe for Turkey Stock, roast a turkey back, neck, 2 wings and 1 package of chicken feet (yes, chicken feet have tons of flavor!) in the same manner as above.

For a deep rich flavor you can brown all your chicken pieces and vegetables, if desired, before making stock.

*Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Directions

Place all pieces into the pot along with herbs, vegetables etc. Add 10 cups of cool water, cover and cook on high for 1 hour in your electric cooker. Let pressure cooker release naturally, strain and cool as above.

 

 

Gazpacho Couscous Salad

A perfect summer salad that you can make ahead; it actually is better the next day! An easy ‘from the pantry’ salad, adjust ingredients to what you have on hand, what you find from the farmers market or your own garden, or even some of last nights grilled chicken or shrimp. Serves 6

Couscous Gazpacho Salad

Print
  • Couscous ~
  • 2 1/2   cups chicken, vegetable stock or water
  • 12        ounces couscous
  • 2          tablespoons butter
  • 1          clove garlic, smashed
  • 2          green onion, minced
  • 4          tablespoons Italian parsley
  •             Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4      cup toasted pine nuts, or more
  • Dijon Vinaigrette ~
  • 1/2      cup red wine vinegar
  • 1         tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3/4      cup vegetable or olive oil
  • 1          small shallot, minced
  • 3          grinds herb seasoning, I use Italian
  •            Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Gazpacho Salad ~
  • 1          container (pint) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 6          small Persian cucumbers, diced
  • 1          roasted red bell pepper, diced
  • 1          small red onion, diced
  • 2          stalks celery, diced
  • 1          tablespoon basil, chopped

Couscous

In a saucepan, add the stock, butter and couscous; bring to a boil, remove from heat stir in garlic and green onion, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove garlic and fluff with a fork. Set aside to cool.

Vinaigrette   

In a small bowl add vinegar, mustard and shallot, whisk together. Slowly whisk in the oil in a thin stream to emulsify. Add seasonings to taste. Can be refrigerated for 3 weeks, bring to room temperature before using.

Salad

In a large bowl, add all chopped ingredients and toss with a little of the dressing. Let stand for 5 minutes. Toss couscous and vegetables together adding a little more dressing as necessary, to taste.

Tomato Overload

There are many ways to save your harvest and if you have more tomatoes than you know what to do with here are some ideas.

 

First and foremost is water bath canning, I love this because it means that I can store tomatoes on the shelf in my pantry for the year. Fairly easy to do but when it’s hot and humid out like it has been this summer FORGET IT!

As many of you already know, I like to freeze my tomatoes also so later when it’s cool I can make sauce or unfreeze and can them to make more room in the freezer for up and coming dinners. Freezing tomatoes is the fastest way to get things done, wash, and dry then freeze on a baking sheet until frozen solid, pop into a freezer bag and you are done for the day! You can remove one or four at a time, whatever you need and as they begin to defrost, which is almost right away, the skin will slip off easily.

IMG_0481

My second favorite is to make Oven Roasted Tomatoes, although it does require having the oven on for some length of time. I love to dry my cherry tomatoes and then float them in a good olive oil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Chopped in a salad, in a bruschetta or top on a pizza, they pack a flavorful punch. Fill up your baking sheet and get started right away!

Fontina & Tomato Tart

Oven Roasted Tomato Recipe

Apple

apple-tree9

 

Fall isn’t quite here yet but when you see fresh apples in the farmers markets you know it’s coming quickly! Apples starting coming into the market in August actually.

Home made applesauce is so easy and oh so tasty, not like that runny stuff you get from a jar. It’s pretty much hands off cooking so try making your own today!

Here’s a quick little guide to choosing apples

Choose organic apples as apples have topped the Environmental Working Groups ‘Dirty Dozen’ list, which identifies the most pest laden fruit and vegetables. You’ll want to eat the skin of the apple as disease-fighting pectin (fiber) lies directly under the skin

Select firm fruit with no bruises or scars and treat them gently.

Don’t wash your apples until you’re ready to use them.

Keep them in a cool place, your fruit drawer of the refrigerator is fine but don’t store with other fruit. Apples give off a gas, which will ripen you’re other fruit faster. Some apples will keep weeks in the refrigerator. They will keep a few days on the counter.

Apples are the ultimate fruit, low in calories with no fat, sodium or cholesterol. The pectin in apples actually helps to dissolve the cholesterol in ones blood stream. High in fiber, anti-oxidants, potassium, niacin and a variety of vitamins, apples are a near perfect fruit.

 

Apple Variety Guide

Cooking

Ambrosia, Braeburn, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jazz, Jonagold, Jonalicious, Jonathon, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Red Delicious

Fresh Eating
Ambrosia, Envy, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jazz, Kiku, Opal, Pink Lady, Sweetie
Apple Recipes

Apple Cake

 

apple-cake-in-a-jar

Apple Cake in a Jar

Print

Serves 12

  • 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 11/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2/3 cups vegetable shortening or olive oil
  • 2 1/3 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups applesauce
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 12 (2 1/2-inch) wide-mouth canning jars with a paper towel dipped in oil.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and baking soda into a large bowl.

Using the electric mixer and a medium mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar on low speed, then increase to medium mixing speed to mix well. While the mixer is running, add the eggs, one at a time. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the applesauce. With a large spoon, stir in the sifted flour mixture and the walnuts.

Pour the batter into a measuring cup with a spout; pour the batter neatly into greased jars. Fill the jars halfway full. Place the filled jars on the sheet tray and bake on the center rack of the oven for 45 minutes. When done, the top of the cake will spring back when pressed with a finger, and the sides will have come away from the jar.

Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes. Poke holes in the cake with a toothpick and pour salted caramel over the top. Serve with whipped cream.

Adapted from Riki Senn at Greenbriar

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

In honor of my friends birthday I made him these cookies and I had some leftover (this recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies). I took them to last nights cooking class and everybody seemed to love them. They’re not too sweet but just the right size for a nice little bite and they pair well with any red wine (what doesn’t?).

During the holidays I replace the cherries with crushed peppermint candies and add peppermint extract instead of the vanilla. So I hope you enjoy them!

chocolate-peppermint-crinkle-cookies

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Print
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup chopped walnut pieces, optional
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add the chopped walnuts and peppermint chips, stir to distribute well.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until completely incorporated. Add the melted chocolate and beat until completely incorporated. Gradually fold in the flour mixture until just combined.

Chill the dough for at least 2 hours until firm, or up to overnight.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Place the granulated and powdered sugar in separate small bowls. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough, form into a ball, and place on a plate. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Roll each ball in granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar to coat. Place on the baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies begin to spread and the tops split. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer the cookies to wire cooling racks. Let the baking sheet cool, and repeat with the remaining dough.

Cookies will keep in an airtight container for about one week.

*To melt the chocolate, place in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir, and heat at 10 second intervals until melted, stir occasionally.

Optional:

For Peppermint Cookies add 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies and use peppermint extract instead of the vanilla.

*To crush peppermint pieces, place several candy canes or peppermint candies into a freezer type bag and crush with a meat pounder or rolling pin.

Refrigerator Pickled Veggies

pickling2

 

Pickled Veggies

Print
  • 1 bunch of radish
  • 3 carrots
  • 4 mini white turnips
  • ¼ # thin green beans
  • 4 small watermelon radish
  • 1 lg. clove garlic, crushed but whole
  • 2 shallots, sliced thin
  • 2 ½ cups pomegranate or red wine vinegar
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • 2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 strips of lemon peel
  • 2 tablespoons pickling or canning salt (do not use any other salt)

Cut up all your veggies into what ever shape you like, making sure they fit into the jar that you will pickle them in.

In a medium sized saucepan add vinegar, sugar, lemon peel and salt; bring to a slow boil, whisk until all the sugar is dissolved,

Wash a quart canning jar and fill with hot water. Let stand while you are bringing the brine to a boil.

Once the sugar has dissolved in the brine, pour the water out of the jar and fill with veggies. Pour the brine over them, let cool, then cap and refrigerate.

Braised Short Ribs

short ribs-debskitchen

 

Easy Braised Short Ribs

Print

Braising a tough cut of meat over a long period of time makes the meat deep, rich and delicious. With a small amount of preparation and a long cooking time these are easy to make and warms you up on those cold winter days. Make extra! You’ll want them for leftovers, you can make a ragu out of them, a pot pie or even a Shepherds pie for quick weeknight dinners. You’ll get more flavor out of the short ribs if they are on the bone, they will fall right off the bone after their long slow cooking so they’ll be easy to remove.

Serves 4

  • Olive oil
  • 1/3 cup flour (or more as needed)
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 4 pounds short ribs on the bone
  • 1 brown onion, chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste (double concentrate from a tube-found in the ‘Italian’ section
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ¼ cup dry red wine
  • 1 qt. beef stock, may use chicken stock
  • 1 bouquet garni (1 bay leaf, 1 sprig thyme, 2 sprigs Italian parsley tied together in cheesecloth

Heat oven to 350°.

Mix flour, salt and pepper together in a shallow bowl or on a plate.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat; add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.

Dry short ribs well and dredge in the flour mixture, shake off the excess and place the meaty side into the hot oil. Do not crowd the meat in the pan or it will not brown properly. This is the most important step in braising so take your time. Remove the ribs, set aside and continue until all ribs are browned.

In the same pan, add more oil as necessary, add onions, carrots, celery to the pan and sauté until lightly browned.

Add tomato paste and stir to coat all the vegetables and cook the paste a little, about 2 minutes.

Add flour and stirring constantly cook for another 5 minutes without burning. The flour may turn a little dark but that’s fine.

Add the dry red wine to the pan and scrape the bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Let reduce and thicken slightly. Remove from the heat.

Return the ribs to the pan, cover with stock and add the bouquet garni. Put the lid on the Dutch oven and bake for 3 hours. Remove bouquet garni.

Juices may be thickened into gravy with a beurre maníe, roux or cornstarch slurry.

Beurre Manie, Roux, Cornstarch Slurry

Print

Beurre Manie

Mix together equal parts softened butter and flour until it looks like thick butter and all the flour is incorporated.

Roux

Melt 2 Tb. butter in a pan, add 2 Tb. flour, whisk together and cook until lightly browned

Cornstarch Slurry

2 parts cold water mixed with 1 part cornstarch

Whisk any of these into your hot liquid, stirring until thickened. Don't over-cook the cornstarch slurry or it will start to break down and become thin again.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...