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Chestnut-Stuffed Mushrooms

Chestnut-Stuffed Mushrooms
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 45 minutes
Chestnut-Stuffed Mushrooms
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 45 minutes
Ingredients
For The Stuffing
For The Croutes
Servings:
Instructions
  1. If you're making the coutes, it's a good idea to get them done in advance and out of the way. You can fry them, but
  2. done in advance and out of the way. You can fry them, but I think they're much nicer baked to a crisp golden crunchiness in a slow oven.
  3. Set the oven to 300˚ F.
  4. Stamp circles in the bread with a large pastry cutter, spread on both sides with butter and put them on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, or until completely crisp and golden. Cool. These will keep in a pan for a few days.
  5. To prepare the mushrooms, cut off any stalks so that the surface is level, then wash the mushrooms and pat them dry on kitchen paper. Fry them on both sides with olive oil and drain well. Season them with salt and pepper, then leave on one side while you make the stuffing.
  6. Melt the butter in a medium-large saucepan.
  7. Add the onion and fry for about 7 minutes, until soft.
  8. Chop up any pieces of mushroom stalk, add these and cook for a minute or two longer.
  9. Remove from the heat and add the cooked chestnuts, breaking them up a bit as you do so to make a mixture which holds together but has some chunky bits in it.
  10. Add a dash of fresh lemon juice, and salt, pepper and grated nutmeg to taste.
  11. To serve the dish, Preheat the oven to 400˚F or preheat the grill to high.
  12. Put the croutes on a baking sheet or in a shallow casserole, then place a mushroom on each one, black side up.
  13. Spoon the stuffing mixture on top.
  14. Bake or grill until heated through -- about 10 minutes under the grill, 15-20 minutes in the Oven.
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Chestnut Roast

Chestnut Roast
Print Recipe
Fresh Chestnuts or canned may be used in this recipe.
Servings Prep Time
8 People 60 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 People 60 minutes
Chestnut Roast
Print Recipe
Fresh Chestnuts or canned may be used in this recipe.
Servings Prep Time
8 People 60 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 People 60 minutes
Ingredients
For Coating
Servings: People
Instructions
  1. Melt the butter and saute the onion and celery over moderate heat for 10 minutes until soft but not brown. Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Drain the chestnuts and add to the bowl. Mix these ingredients together well.
  3. Mash the chestnuts, onion and celery, then mix into the bowl the chopped parsley, lemon juice and garlic. The mixture should be soft but firm enough to form into a roll, so add a few whole-wheat breadcrumbs, if necessary, especially if you're using canned chestnuts. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.
  5. Pour a little of the oil into a roasting pan and put into the oven to heat.
  6. Form the chestnut mixture into a roll about 8 inches long, pressing it together carefully, then coat it well with the dried breadcrumbs.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes, until it is crisp on the outside, spooning a little more of the oil over the roll from time to time during the cooking.
  8. Serve the Chestnut Roast cut into slices with your favorite brown gravy.
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Cashew Nut Roast With Herb Stuffing

Cashew Nut Roast With Herb Stuffing
Print Recipe
Cashews, onions and spices make this wonderful Nut Roast.
Servings Prep Time
8 60 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 60 minutes
Cashew Nut Roast With Herb Stuffing
Print Recipe
Cashews, onions and spices make this wonderful Nut Roast.
Servings Prep Time
8 60 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 60 minutes
Ingredients
For The Stuffing
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400˚F and line a 1lb loaf pan with a long strip of nonstick paper; use some of the butter to grease the tin and paper well.
  2. Melt most of the remaining butter in a medium sized saucepan, add the onion and fry for about 10 minutes until tender but not browned. Remove from the heat.
  3. Grind the cashew nuts in a food processor with the bread and garlic, and add to the onion, together with the water or stock, salt, pepper, grated nutmeg and lemon juice to taste.
  4. Mix all the stuffing ingredients together.
  5. Put half the cashew nut mixture into the prepared pan, top with the stuffing, then spoon the rest of the nut mixture on top.
  6. Dot with the remaining butter. Stand the pan in another pan to catch any butter which may ooze out, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned. (Cover the roast with foil if it gets too brown before then.)
  7. Cool for a minute or two in the tin, then slip a knife around the sides, turn out the nut roast and strip off the paper.
  8. Decorate with sprigs of parsley and small slices of lemon, and surround with roast potatoes, if you're serving them.
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Bean Stew With Fennel and Tomatoes

Bean Stew With Fennel and Tomatoes
Print Recipe
Fennel and Tomaotes add zest to this Bean Stew.
Servings Prep Time
8 People 30 Minutes
Cook Time
90 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 People 30 Minutes
Cook Time
90 Minutes
Bean Stew With Fennel and Tomatoes
Print Recipe
Fennel and Tomaotes add zest to this Bean Stew.
Servings Prep Time
8 People 30 Minutes
Cook Time
90 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 People 30 Minutes
Cook Time
90 Minutes
Ingredients
Servings: People
Instructions
  1. Soak beans in a large bowl of water to cover for several hours or overnight. Drain.
  2. Place soaked beans into a pot with stock or broth and enough water to cover by 2 inches.
  3. Add bay leaf and whole garlic cloves.
  4. Heat to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until beans are tender (about 45 minutes). (The beans should be softer than al dente but not cooked to the point where they begin to disintegrate.)
  5. Don't drain beans until fennel and tomato sauce is cooked.
  6. Meanwhile, cut stalks off fennel bulb. Chop the feathery leaves and reserve. Trim off root end of the bulbs; cut bulbs in half lengthwise and slice thinly. There should be about 8 cups of fennel slices. Discard stalks or save for soup.
  7. Heat 1/3 cup olive oil in a large heavy skillet; cook fennel over medium-low heat until wilted and translucent, about 10-12 minutes. Do this in batches if necessary.
  8. Add tomato to fennel; cook 5 or 6 minutes.
  9. Discard garlic and bay leaf from beans; drain beans. Add beans to the skillet, tossing gently to combine all the ingredients.
  10. Add parsley and chopped fennel leaves. Season with salt and pepper.
  11. Remove from heat, add lemon juice and remaining olive oil to taste.
  12. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Soaking Time: Several hours
Cooking Time: 1 hour

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Asparagus Strudel

Asparagus Strudel
Print Recipe
A German favorite made with Asparagus.
Servings
6
Passive Time
60 minutes
Servings
6
Passive Time
60 minutes
Asparagus Strudel
Print Recipe
A German favorite made with Asparagus.
Servings
6
Passive Time
60 minutes
Servings
6
Passive Time
60 minutes
Ingredients
Vegetarian Yogurt & Herb Dressing
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.
  2. Saute the onions in 2 tablespoons of the butter or Vegetarian margarine for 10 minutes, until soft but not browned.
  3. In another pan, heat 4 tablespoons of the butter and saute the crumbs until crisp.
  4. Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan.
  5. Spread one phyllo pastry sheet out on a large board and brush with butter. Put another pastry sheet on top and brush with more butter. Repeat until all sheets have been used.
  6. Spread the onions evenly on top of the pastry, keeping the edges clear.
  7. Put the asparagus over the top of the onions and sprinkle with three-quarters of the crumbs and the parsley.
  8. Fold over 2 inches all around the pastry, then fold the long edges over to make a roll.
  9. Place the roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet and bend it around into a horseshoe shape. Brush with remaining melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining crumbs.
  10. Bake for 40 minutes, until golden and crisp.
  11. Garnish with parsley sprigs, lemon slices and asparagus tips.
  12. Combine Yogurt and Herb Dressing ingredients, and serve with Strudel.
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Brussels Sprouts with Shallots, Garlic, and Walnuts

Brussels Sprouts with Shallots, Garlic, and Walnuts
Print Recipe
Chopped walnuts, garlic, and shallots make these Brussel Sprouts extra special.
Servings Prep Time
8 people 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 30 minutes
Brussels Sprouts with Shallots, Garlic, and Walnuts
Print Recipe
Chopped walnuts, garlic, and shallots make these Brussel Sprouts extra special.
Servings Prep Time
8 people 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 30 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. **Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and add the Brussels sprouts. Cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
  2. In a large saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the sprouts in 1 layer and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and when melted, add the chopped nuts and cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and sprouts, and stir well to coat and warm through.
  6. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
  7. Serve immediately.
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Oven-Dried Tomatoes

Oven-Dried Tomatoes
Print Recipe
An easy way to dry tomatoes. Can be used in your favorite recipes.
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Oven-Dried Tomatoes
Print Recipe
An easy way to dry tomatoes. Can be used in your favorite recipes.
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat the over to 250 degrees F.
  2. In a pot of boiling water, blanch tomatoes. Drain and refresh in ice water. Drain. Peel, core, cut into quarters, and remove seeds.
  3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the tomato quarters on the tray, cut side down. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with thyme and garlic.
  4. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and sugar, and sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes.
  5. Bake until the tomatoes begin to shrivel, about 1 hour.
  6. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, transfer to a container. Pour olive oil over and cover the container.
  7. Refrigerate and use as needed.
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