As is Thanksgiving tradition, almost every year, I make a variation on cranberry sauce. There was bee sweet and savory, some more chutney like with onions and nuts, some traditional with oranges. Some out there with port wine or rhubarb or pomegranate. This year’s variation is a earthy, tart but sweet version with Tart Cherry, Cranberry and Aged Sherry Sauce, and it is simply delicious. Obviously pairs well with turkey, but also with a hearty pork roast, duck or goose. Should last in the fridge until Christmas so you can use it for two holidays and everything in between.
Lunch
In between everything else that is going on, I am trying to actually eat healthy and was inspired by some pot pie recipes that I had seen lately that weren’t chicken, so this one is a Mushroom Pot Pie, with a whole lot of mushrooms — like 4 pounds worth! I know that mushrooms aren’t exactly the favorite of everyone, but you could also make this as other vegetarian like mixed autumn veg of cauliflower and broccoli. The decoration isn’t mandatory, of course, but I had some pastry left over from the crust. Remember to let it sit for a few minutes because it is blazing hot out of the oven!
Inspired by my recent trip to Innsbruck and Strudel-Cafe-Kroll, I decided to make a “cheater” (with puff pastry) savory strudel, Potato, Cabbage + Bacon Strudel. Very easy filling (which also tastes great with a fried egg as breakfast hash), and a simple faux braided top. Makes a great lunch or brunch dish, and can be served hot or at room temperature. Delicious and looks pretty too.
Last Chanterelles of the season picked last weekend. Actually, the photo is from last weekend too, because there is another downside of foraging your own mushrooms (in addition to that you shouldn’t do it unless you know what you are doing!) and that is that foraging involves walking in areas that you share with other “things” — you know, other mammals not enthusiastic about your presence, creepy-crawly-slimy things like snakes and then run in that I had with a tick carrying the borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, that bit me and now I am battling lyme disease. It’s not been a fun week and I have spent most of it sleeping. I’ve described the illness as is triple mono with a side of cellulitis and a helping of meningitis. Wednesday, I slept for 22 hours. Moral of the story: wear long pants and gaiters, literally applied with permethrin. If it’s not one thing, it another with me this year, right? Thanks for sticking around and listening.
But on to more fun stuff: The chanterelles did make a lovely Savory French Toast with Chanterelles. I know that most people think of French Toast being a sweet thing, but add a bit of mustard, salt, pepper and herbs and you have a majestic savory version. Even if you don’t add the mushrooms, you could have a great version with ratatouille.
Catching up on something that I made for “red week” in my Cook/bake-a-long this week: Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Bisque. It’s really hearty but tart and “spring like”. As usual with creamed soups, it’s really hard to photograph, so I tossed in a few garlicky croutons. This recipe makes a whole bunch so it will feed a crowd and/or freezes well.