 There are a few things that make this recipe exceptional, and first are the spiced pecans. We eat these sweet, crunchy, spicy pecans by the handful and love sprinkling them over salads and sides, especially during the holiday! Next is that sweet, sticky honey-baked acorn. The sweetness of the acorn is so spot on with the ricotta and nuts its perfection in every bite. Because the rest of the ingredients are simple it's important to use good quality ingredients. Enjoy!
Ingredients: 1 large acorn squash 3 Tbsp good quality olive oil, divided 2 Tbsp honey, divided 3/4 cup fresh ricotta 4-6 mint leaves, roughly chopped Flaky sea salt ½ cup Spiced Pecans, see recipe below Crusty bread for serving Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Carefully slice the squash into half-moons and place in a large bowl, leaving the skin on. Toss the squash with 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp honey. Season with salt and pepper. Lay the squash pieces on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the squash is golden and tender. Meanwhile on a serving platter, spread ricotta evenly across. Drizzle with 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp honey, and spiced pecans. Season well with salt. When squash are finished arrange on top of the ricotta and garnish with mint leaves. Serve with crusty bread and additional honey if desired. Spiced Pecans 1 Tbsp water 1 egg white 3 cups pecan halves 1/2 cup white sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cardamom ¼ tsp cloves 1/2 tsp kosher salt pinch of cayenne Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together water and egg whites in large bowl. Add pecans and toss to moisten. In a separate bowl combine sugar with the rest of the ingredients. Pour sugar-spice mixture over the nuts and toss to coat completely. Line baking tray with silicone baking mats (or foil if you do not have silicone mats). Spread nuts across tray in a single layer. Bake 15 minutes, flip nuts halfway through, and bake another 10-15 (be careful not to burn!).  Super buttery, super creamy, and loaded with flavor! These are our FAVORITE mashed potatoes, loved by all. The added Boursin cheese gives the potatoes the perfect amount of punch without overpowering. So divine!
Ingredients: 2 pounds potatoes (half yukon gold/half russet potatoes) 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided 4Tbsp + 2Tbsp 1/4 cup whole milk 1/3 cup heavy cream 1 5.2 oz package Boursin cheese kosher salt fresh cracked pepper fresh chives for garnish Instructions: Peel potatoes, and cut them into evenly-sized, 1-inch chunks. Transfer to a large pot with cold water. Be sure there is enough water to cover the potatoes completely by inch of water. Place pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle goes in easily with no resistance. While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tbsp butter, milk, and cream together over the stove or in the microwave (this seems like a fussy step, but it really helps the potatoes absorb the fat for a perfectly creamy texture). Drain potatoes well and immediately return the potatoes to the hot pot. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes to desired consistency. Pour hot butter/milk mixture over and add Boursin cheese. Season well with salt (I prefer using kosher salt for mashed potatoes) and cracked pepper, and using a wooden spoon mix in the butter mixture. Be careful not to overbeat as they may become gluey. Taste the potatoes to see if they need more salt, season as desired. Top with chives and 2 Tbsp butter, and serve warm or store in fridge until ready to reheat!  We are both so obsessed with this recipe! Some of our favorite things in one big bowl - perfectly sweet roasted carrots, hearty lentils, creamy goat cheese, and the orange vinaigrette just puts it over the top. Always a hit on the table and in the stomach! Ingredients: 2 Lbs carrots, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces 2 tsp honey 1 Tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper 1 (14oz) can lentils ¼ cup Pecans, roughly chopped 2 Tbsp dried Cranberries 1 Tbsp chopped fresh Parsley 2 oz crumbled Goat cheese Orange Vinaigrette: 1 Tbsp minced shallot 1 clove garlic, minced Zest of 1 orange 2 Tbsp orange juice 1 Tbsp Sherry vinegar 1 tsp honey 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp olive oil salt and pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix honey and olive oil in a medium bowl. Add carrots and toss well to coat completely. Set bowl aside to use again. Season carrots well with salt and pepper and transfer to a foil-lined baking tray. Spread carrots out evenly on tray and roast in oven for 15-20 minutes (or until tender and golden), stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking on all sides. Meanwhile prepare the vinaigrette. In the same medium bowl add shallot, garlic, zest of orange, orange juice, sherry vinegar, honey, and Dijon. Whisk together then slowing add oil to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper. Add drained lentils, pecans, cranberries, and parsley to the vinaigrette, and toss well to combine. Once carrots are finished cooking allow to cool slightly then add to the lentils. Finish with crumbled goat cheese, and additional salt and pepper, if needed.   We are officially obsessed with these little pockets of buttery, cheesy, biscuits laced with sweet caramelized onions. Everyone in our families go crazy for these scones! Perfect for a weekend cookout, but equally satisfying for a breakfast-for-dinner meal through the week. Or just for breakfast. Or a snack. And a snack? Ok, all of the above.
Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp baking powder 1 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup (1 stick) very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 4 oz gruyere cheese, cut into small cubes leaves from 1 thyme sprig 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus 2 Tbsp caramelized onions, recipe below Caramelized Onions 2 small sweet onions 2 Tbsp butter pinch of kosher salt Trim the tip and root from the onions, cut in half and remove the skins. Slice the onion from root to stem into a thin slice. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add the onions, and a generous pinch of salt, and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook the onions on low, stirring occasionally, until they’re deep brown. This will take about 30-40 minutes. You don't want the onions to get too dark too quick, so splash a spoonful of water into the pan to prevent burning, if they begin to get dark brown. You want a deep golden brown color at the end. Times vary depending on the pan and stove you're using, but real caramelized onions typically take at least 30 minutes and most of the time up to 45 minutes. For the scones: Place flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add butter into flour mixture and pulse, about 5 or 6 times, or until butter becomes the size of peas. Add the cheese, thyme, and buttermilk and pulse just until the mixture combines. Add caramelized onions and give one or two additional pulses. Mixture should be a little shaggy, but will come together when you press with your fingers. Add 1 Tbsp buttermilk at a time if mixture is too dry. Turn mixture over onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Pat dough into 1 inch thick rectangle, and transfer to the freezer. Allow to chill for at least 30 minutes. Cut the dough lengthwise into 1 inch strips, then 1 inch crosswise to create squares. Cut each shape diagonally to make triangles. Pull triangles apart just slightly and place tray back into freezer. Chill for at least 30 minutes or until ready to bake. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place baking tray in middle or top rack of oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm slathered with butter, if desired!  We know Easter will be a little different this year, but that won't keep us from doing what we do best - celebrating with a table full of our favorite comfort foods. Of course not to exclude the most satisfying comfort food of all - Mac and Cheese! This year we're taking it to the next level with the addition of @hatfieldmeats sweet Italian sausage, and whoa - this gets us excited! We teamed up with @hatfieldmeats and @thefeedfeed to bring you a ridiculously creamy recipe, so rich and flavorful with the sausage - the whole family is going to love it. And the best part of all? Hatfield is committed to sustaining American family farms. No hormones or steroids are ever added, and the animals are raised without growth promotants. We can't wait for you to try this one! INGREDIENTS: Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Serves 8 1 lb medium shells, cooked al dente 1 lb Hatfield Sweet Italian Sausage 4 Tbsp unsalted butter 4 Tbsp flour 4 cups whole milk 16 oz fontina, shredded 8 oz sharp provolone, shredded 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving Kosher salt and pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, add Hatfield Sweet Italian Sausage to a large pan and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Prepare the sauce by melting butter over med-low in a large saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Slowly add milk while whisking continuously until the mixture is completely smooth. Bring milk mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to thicken (careful not to boil sauce), about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cheeses, one handful at a time. Whisk in the grated parmesan, and season with kosher salt and pepper. Stir in the cooked Hatfield Sweet Italian Sausage, sprinkle with more grated parmesan, and serve immediately.   You don't have to be a sushi chef to throw an epic sushi party! Trust us, it's not that difficult, and there is no wrong way to do it. You'll get the hang of rolling the nori (seaweed wrappers) just after a couple of times, and you don't even need any fancy tools to do it (plastic wrap or foil work just fine).
You could even prepare the rice and fillings in bowls and have your guests do the rolling, but here we will show you how we make the rolls ahead for your guests. In addition, we're sharing some of our favorite side dish recipes to serve along side all of the tasty homemade rolls. P.S. Don't forget the chopsticks! Here's what you'll need: Nori Sushi Rice, Recipe below Fillings, Recipes below Sesame Seeds Soy Sauce Ginger Wasabi Pickled Ginger Sriracha Sriracha Mayo Side Dishes: Easy Spicy Peanut Noodles (Recipe Here) Coconut Lemongrass Quinoa Salad with Mango, Cashews, and Mint (Recipe Here) Sea Salt Edamame Cucumber Salad Step 1 - Prepare the rice Makes 8-10 rolls 4 cups sushi or short grain rice 4 cups water 4 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar 2 Tbsp Kosher salt In a strainer, rinse the rice under cold water until water runs clear. Drain. Place the rice and 4 cups of water into a large pan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, stir once, and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Transfer rice to a large bowl and toss well with vinegar and salt. Allow to cool to room temp before using. Step 2 - Prepare the fillings (4 of our favorites) Spicy Tuna Dice 4 oz sashimi grade tuna into small 1/4 inch pieces. Mix with 1/2 tsp sesame oil, 3 tsp sriracha, 2 scallions, and black (and or white) sesame seeds. Crab In a small bowl mix 8 oz cooked crab meat with 3 Tbsp mayo or sriracha mayo, a couple dashes of soy sauce, and scallions. Smoked Salmon Cut 3 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon into 1/2 inch strips with 1 1/4 inch strip cream cheese, and 1 1/4 inch cucumber slice. Loaded Vegetable Peel one ripe (but firm) avocado, and slice into 1/4 in think slices. Squeeze lime or lemon juice to prevent browning. Roll with sliced red bell pepper, roasted portobello mushrooms, and roasted sweet potatoes. Step 3 - Roll the sushi The key is to roll the sushi tightly, so it doesn't fall apart, but you don't want to smash the rice, so you must be gentle at the same time. If you don't have a bamboo mat, use a piece of plastic wrap or foil. Also, the rice will stick to your hands, so prepare a small bowl with equal parts water and rice vinegar to moisten your fingers while you work. Begin by laying a sheet of nori, shiny side down on the mat (or plastic wrap/foil). Wet your fingers and spread 3/4 cup of rice evenly onto the nori sheet. Sprinkle the rice with sesame seeds. Now turn the sheet over so the rice side is facing down. Alternatively, you can also keep it right side up and make rolls with the nori on the outside, like in the photo above. Next, place a line of your filling of choice at the bottom end of the nori sheet. Grab the bottom edge of the bamboo mat (or plastic wrap/foil) while keeping the fillings in place with your fingers, roll into a tight cylinder. Continue to roll forward while keeping gentle pressure on the roll. Give the roll one final gentle squeeze. Using a very sharp knife, cut the roll in half then each into 4 pieces. Clean the knife with a damp towel every few slices, as needed.  This salad is what quinoa dreams are made of. So many beautiful flavors, textures...and of course COLORS! It's the perfect accompaniment to a sushi party, weeknight dinner, or luncheon with the ladies.
Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1 cup quinoa 2 cups coconut milk 4-5 large mint leaves, torn 1/3 cup cashews, roughly chopped 1 ripe mango, pitted and sliced 1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced 2 scallions, green and white parts chopped Sesame seeds to garnish optional; radish For the dressing: 2 Tbsp lemongrass paste or minced lemongrass from stalk 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 tsp freshly grated ginger 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp honey Kosher salt, to taste INSTRUCTIONS: Rinse the quinoa under cold water for about 30 seconds. In a medium pot, add rinsed quinoa, coconut milk, and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until quinoa is cooked and has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Allow to cool. Meanwhile prepare the dressing. Remove the outer layer of lemongrass and trim off the tough ends. Crush the salt with the back of your knife to release flavor, then roughly chop it. Place lemongrass, lime, olive oil, ginger, garlic, and honey in a small blender and combine until smooth. Taste, and add another squeeze of lime, if needed. Season well with salt. Once quinoa has slightly cooled, toss with mint and cashews. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with dressing. Top with mango, avocado, and scallions. Serve with additional mint sprigs and lime wedge, if desired.  Super simple brown rice noodles (we used pad Thai noodles, but you can use any type you'd like) tossed with a salty, sweet, and slightly spicy peanut sauce. So much flavor and so so delicious! These make for a perfect party side dish, but we love these noodles so much we often make whip them up for an easy weeknight dinner with chicken or sautéed vegetables.
INGREDIENTS: 8 oz brown rice noodles 1 handful cilantro, chopped 1/4 cup peanuts, roughly chopped For the sauce: 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp honey 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice 1 - 2 tsp sriracha 1 tsp sesame oil 1-2 Tbsp water INSTRUCTIONS: In a large bowl whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, honey, ginger, lime juice, sriracha, and sesame oil. The mixture will be slightly clumpy at first. Add water one tablespoon at a time until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Set aside. Cook noodles according to package directions. Once noodles are al dente, remove and toss with sauce immediately. Top with chopped cilantro and peanuts. Serve immediately.  Is it weird that we both have serious beet cravings? Like, we need them in our diet almost as badly as we need chocolate. *Almost.* We can't be alone?
Thankfully this salad is easy to put together because it's on our crave list, and frankly we could eat it every week. Super fresh and incrediby simple ingredients come together to create a bold flavors. We hope you love it as much as we do! INGREDEINTS: Serves 3-4 3-4 medium beets 1 blood orange 1 ripe, but tender avocado 2 oz goat or feta (in the brine), crumbled 2 Tbsp toasted walnuts (candied walnuts are great too) 6-8 mint leaves, torn kosher salt and pepper olive oil to finish Vinaigrette: 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp lemon juice, plus 1/2 tsp lemon zest 1 tsp dijon 2 tsp honey 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil kosher salt and pepper INSTRUCTIONS: For the salad: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash beets and individually wrap in foil. Roast beets until tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile peel orange, discarding all white pith and skins. Slice orange segments and set aside. Peel and pit avocado. Slice in half lengthwise, and then slice against the width into about 10 slices. Set aside. Once beets are cool enough to handle, peel skins off using a paper towel. Slice into ¼ inch slices. Arrange beets on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle dressing over top and repeat with oranges and avocado. Top with feta or goat cheese, walnuts, and mint. Finish by spooning leftover dressing over all ingredients. For the dressing: Combine all ingredients into a glass jar and shake well until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  We cannot get enough sweet potatoes and all of their natural goodness. This recipes is the perfect accompaniment to any protein, and couldn't be easier to throw together!
INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs sweet potatoes, washed and cut into 2 inch pieces ¼ cup pure maple syrup, plus 1 Tbsp 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper 1/3 cup tahini 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar 1 small garlic clove, minced 3 Tbsp water ½ cup shaved feta cheese (feta in brine is best or ricotta salata) ¼ cup toasted pecans 2 Tbsp pomegranate seeds INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 F. Arrange sweet potatoes in even layer on large baking tray, being careful not to overlap. In small bowl combine ¼ cup maple and olive oil. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes, and toss to coat. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile make the tahini dressing by adding tahini, vinegar, garlic, and 1 Tbsp maple syrup to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine then slowly add water until creamy and pourable. You may need to add a bit more water to thin. Season well with salt and pepper. To serve, arrange roasted sweet potatoes on a platter, drizzle tahini dressing over top. Top with feta cheese, toasted pecans, and pomegranate seeds. |
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