ON THE MENU: Pistachio Pesto Pasta + Leek & Fava Bean Socca

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PISTACHIO PESTO PASTA WITH SWEET PEAS (Gluten-free) Serves 4

• 1 cup pistachios, shelled
• 1 garlic cloves, shelled and smashed
• 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lemon, juice and zest
• 1 (heaping) cup basil, washed and packed
• 1/3 cup parmigiano reggiano, finely grated
• 12 oz. pasta, spaghetti or linguini
• 1 cup sweet peas, defrosted

In a food processor, add 1 cup of pistachios and grind into a "flour" or as textured as you'd like the pesto to be.  Slowly add olive oil and pulse until well combined.  Then add garlic cloves, salt, lemon juice, zest and basil and parmigiano reggiano.  Pulse until a well paste and bright green.  Set aside.

Add frozen sweet peas to a colander.  Rinse with luke warm water for 5 minutes or until thawed and defrosted.

In a large saucepan, add 3 quarts of water with 1 tablespoon of salt.  Bring to a boil before adding in 12 oz. of spaghetti.  Stir often and cook uncovered at a rolling boil for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender.  Drain pasta, but reserve 1/3 cup of pasta water.

In a large serving bowl, combine drained pasta, pasta water and a drizzle of olive oil.  Stir in pesto until pasta is evenly coated.  Fold in sweet peas.  Garnish with lemon zest , fresh pepper and more parmigiano reggiano.

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Chickpea and Fava Bean Socca with Leek, Marjoram and Thyme (Gluten-free, Vegan) Serves 2-4

• 1 cup chickpea & fava bean flour
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 5-6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 leek, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh marjoram, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• Freshly ground pepper

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Sift chickpea flour into a bowl with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in lukewarm water, making sure to eliminate all lumps.  Stir in 4 tablespoons of olive oil.  Let this mixture stand in warm spot covered (can be for as long as 12 hours!)  Note  Batter should be the consistency of heavy cream.

 Preheat skillet or cast iron in your hot oven with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  In the meantime, stir in leek and herbs to socca mixture.  Carefully remove hot pan and pour in batter evenly.  Top with sea salt, fresh pepper and more herbs.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges are browned and firm.  

Let cool for 15-20 minutes before eating.  Serve and top with side salad for extra boost!

In pasta, leek, lemon, peas, basil, pistachios, thyme, marjoram Tags gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, autumn, summer, winter, socca, entrees, meals, pesto, sides, spring, clementine daily, On the Menu

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SALT-ROASTED SEABASS WITH PISTACHIO, FENNEL & LEMON

Have you ever de-boned a fish? Yeah, I hadn't either.  Turns out it's not something to do "on the fly" or on an occasion where you are feeding strangers for a dinner party.  I turned to this preparation because I found it photographically interesting and I heard it is THE WAY to cook fish for ultimate moisture.  Not to mention, this recipe is unbelievably simple.  The salt does all the work for you.

The de-boning I mentioned is actually not that difficult, but maybe requires more patience than I had that night and watching some Youtube videos.  For the next round I got it down and the fish was even better the second time.  Take it from me and get some help from the professionals at the fish counter because bones or not, this recipe is a sure crowd-pleaser.

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SALT-ROASTED BLACK SEABASS WITH CREME FRAICHE, TOASTED PISTACHIOS & FENNEL (serves 2)

3 egg whites

2 cups coarse salt

1 bunch thyme

1 bunch rosemary

1 lemon, sliced

1 leek, sliced

sprinkle of fennel seeds

1 black sea bass, 2 lbs.

1 tsp olive oil

1/4 cup pistachios. shelled

Frisee for serving

1. Whisk eggs into stiff peaks before folding in the salt.  Set aside.  Add clean, scaled & de-boned fish to baking sheet.

2.  Stuff thyme, rosemary, leek, lemon and garlic into fish cavity.  Reserve some slices of lemon for to top fish.  Rub fish with olive oil, fennel seeds and more thyme.

3.  Pack salt mixture and cover fish completely.  Bake for 25-30 minutes at 450 degrees.  Let fish sit for 5-10 minutes before breaking and removing crust.

4.  While fish cooks, toast pistachios on low heat in a skillet until browned and nutty.  Chop pistachios and set aside.

5.  Serve fish with frisee, dollop of creme fraiche and crushed pistachios.  Squeeze remaining lemon juice atop and sprinkle sea salt.

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GLUTEN-FREE THANKSGIVING

How was your Thanksgiving?  Mine was filled with the usual binge-baking and food-hoarding, just as I like it.  Never have I purchased so much food all measured in pounds.  Two pies, six dishes and 7 guest later, we had Thanksgiving.  

WILD MUSHROOM GRAVY   (Gluten-free)

1 1/2 cups shiitake mushrooms, diced

3 cups cremini mushrooms, diced

2 cups baby bella mushrooms, diced

1 1/2 cups porcini mushrooms, diced

1 1/2 cups oyster mushrooms, diced

3 shallots, minced

2 tablespoons marsala wine

1 tablespoons butter (reserve 1T)

3 springs thyme, de-stemmed

3 sage springs, minced

3 cups vegetable broth

3 tablespoons sorghum flour

1/3 cup tapioca starch

1 teaspoon maldon sea salt

1. Combine butter, mushrooms and shallots in a large skillet.  Cook on medium heat for 7-10 minutes before adding the marsala wine and herbs.  Continue cooking this mixture until reduced.  Set aside.

2.  In a large saucepan, add tablespoon of buter and flour.  Whisk together for 2-3 minutes before adding broth and salt.  Once broth heats up, add mushroom mixture.

3.  Add tapioca starch in small amounts and stir well.  Cook over low-medium heat and reduce for 15-20 minutes.  Once mixture thickens, either serve warm or puree using a hand blender until desired texture.

ROSEMARY AND CHESTNUT STUFFING WITH LEEK, FENNEL AND MUSHROOM     (Gluten-free)

1 carton baby bella mushrooms, diced

1 leek, sliced thin

1/4 cup fennel, diced

6 slices millet bread, cubed

6 slices other gluten-free bread (see note*)

2 large carrots, diced

6 celery stalks, diced

5 shallots, minced

1 cup chestnuts, halved

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup vegetable broth

4 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 sage leaves, minced

4 sprigs rosemary, minced

4 sprigs thyme, de-stemmed and minced

Maldon sea salt to taste

1.  Add cubed bread to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Drizzle bread with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees until golden and toasted.

2. While bread toasts, combine butter, garlic, shallots and leek until softened.  Then, add carrots, celery, fennel and mushrooms to the mixture.  Cook over medium heat until tender.

3.  In a large bowl. combine toasted bread and vegetable mixture with chestnuts, broth and seasoning.  Mix well and add to deep baking dish.   Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden and tender.

*I used Gluten-free Girl’s homemade brad with rosemary for the 2nd bread in this stuffing.  I would also recommend something from Udi’s Ancient Grains line.

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ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH WHOLE-GRAIN MUSTARD, GARLIC AND TOASTED HAZELNUTS

(Gluten-free / Vegan)

7-8 cups brussel sprouts, sliced thin

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup Maille Old-style Mustard (or other whole-grain mustard)

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 lemons, juice and zest

3/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped

1 teaspoon maldon sea salt

1.  To make the dressing: combine garlic, lemon, oil, salt, mustard and vinegar in a mason jar and shake well.  In a large bowl, combine dressing with sliced brussels.  Mix well and spread evenly on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 400 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until crispy and browned.

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ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES WITH BROWN BUTTER, SAGE, ROSEMARY AND THYME   

(Gluten-free)

1 celeriac, skinned and cubed

1 large bunch of carrots, diced

3-4 parsnips, cubed

4 cups pumpkin or kabocha, cubed

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 sprigs rosemary, de-stemmed and chopped

4 sprigs of thyme, de-stemmed and chopped

4-5 sage leaves, minced

4-5 tablespoons of butter

Maldon sea salt, to taste

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Add butter to saucepan and cook over low-medium heat.  Cook until the butter smells nutty with brown flecks.

2.  Add all prepared vegetables to extra-large baking sheet.  Drizzle brown butter evenly (make sure to scrape all the brown bits out!) and top with fresh herbs.  Season with sea salt and bake for 45-50 minutes or until softened and tender.

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MAPLE, CRANBERRY & SWEET CHERRY PIE WITH WALNUT, OAT CRUMBLE      (Gluten-free)

Crust (Adapted from Artisanal Gluten-free Cooking):

2 1/4 cup gluten-free all purpose flour (I used Bob’s)

6 tablespoons butter, frozen

2 teaspoons apple cider vineegar

1/3 cup cold water

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon maldon sea salt

Whisk together flour and salt before grating 1 stick of butter into the mixture.  In another bowl, mix together egg, water and vinegar.  Make a well in the flour and pour in the wet ingredients.  Mix by hand until dough forms.  Divide into 2 pieces and chill for 30 minutes.

Filling:

3 cups cranberries, whole

4 cups frozen sweet cherries, thawed and drained

1/3 cup tapioca or arrowroot starch

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine cranberries, cherries, vanilla and maple syrup in a large bowl.  Add starch, brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined. Take dough out of the oven.  Roll out and form crust into a greased pie dish.  Add filling to pie crust and set aside.

Topping:

1/2 cup gluten-free oats

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup almond meal

1/4 cup gluten-free flour (I used sorghum)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Freshly grated nutmeg

6 tablespoons butter, frozen

2 tablespoons maple syrup

Combine walnuts, oats, almond meal and flour in a large bowl.  Whisk in sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Grate in frozen stick of butter.  Drizzle in maple syrup and combine until crumbly.  Add mixture to the top of pie and bake for 45-50 minutes at 375 or until crust is browned and fruit is bubbling.

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SALTED CARAMEL APPLE AND PEAR PIE WITH ALMOND CRUST            (Gluten-free)

Crust: (Adapted from La Tartine Gourmand)

2/3 cup sorghum flour

1/3 cup tapioca starch

1/3 cup almond meal

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons xanthum gum

6 1/2 tablespoons cold butter, diced

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

Pulse first five ingredients together in a food processor.  Add butter and pulse until crumbs form.  Then, add egg and water until dough comes away from the bowl.  Divide into 4 flour-dusted balls, cover in syran wrap and chill for 2 hours.

Filling:

2-3 large honeycrisp apples, sliced thin

2 large bosc pears, sliced thin

3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Freshly grated nutmeg

Once dough is chilled, roll out and for crust in a greased pie pan.  Fan out pears and apples in an overlapping “galette style”.  Brush melted butter as you set the fruit, drizzling in granulated sugar evenly over each layer.  Reserve a small amount of butter for the crust and coat with brown sugar.  Bake the pie at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until crust is browned and fruit is bubbling.

Caramel:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoon maldon sea salt

Cook the sugar and water together over low heat until dissolved.  Add butter and bring to a low boil.  Continue cooking at a low boil until mixture turns a deep, brown color. It may take a while, but be sure the heat isn’t too high as it will be ruined if it begins smoking.  Stir is sea salt.  Once pie is baked, drizzle caramel topping over pie and top with more sea salt.