Butternut Squash Soup

The weather hasn't turned colder yet, but I can't help but think of all the Fall Fun I'm going to have with Squash! Butternut squash is one of my favorite vegetables during this season and there is plenty of it, everywhere. This easy recipe is going to pair together to fall favorites.. Apples & Squash. You can also add this to the list of One Pot Wonders. Side note, this recipe uses a Handheld mixer, if you don't have one, you should get one, pouring a soup like this into a blender is messy and not necessary. The hand mixers aren't that expensive and can mix everything from soups to dips.

What you will need:
2 Whole Butternut Squashes, peeled and cut into squares. If you buy them packaged, already cut, 2 packages should do.
2 Whole Gala apples (you can really use any variety except Granny for this recipe) Skin off, and apple cubed
1 cup of vegetable or chicken stock/broth
1 whole Onion peeled and chopped
3 table spoons or a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 large Pot
Salt & Pepper
1 table spoon of Cumin
3 cans of water (using the chicken/vegetable broth can)
Braun handheld mixer

Let's get Cooking:


In the pot, on Med-High heat, add in your Olive Oil. Once the Pot is heated, drop in your onions. Once the onions start to brown and become translucent, add in your cubed apples. Stir and add in salt and pepper.
After about 4 minutes, add in your cut squash. Stir once again. Now add in your broth and 3 cans of water. You should have enough liquid at this point to just about cover your ingredients, you don't want them swimming though because then the soup will be too thin. So you should still see a couple of squash pieces peek out! Stir and add in your cumin. Cover until it comes to a boil. Let it boil for about 15 minutes. Check the squash to make sure it is tender enough to blend (consistency of how you want potatoes to be if you were to mash them.

Remove the Pot from the Stove, or just turn off the gas.  The pot will be extremely hot, so will the contents within, so be very careful. You may want to wait 10 minutes before blending if you aren't used to heat when cooking.Take your hand mixer and start blending.all of the ingredients in the pot until it is a smooth texture. You are ready to serve.

It is up to you if you want to add croutons to the top or a little cream.

Bon Appetito!

Chicken Marsala

We've got our 3rd Annual Lyndale Block Party coming up this weekend and on the menu besides other delicious dishes will be Chicken Marsala. Lots of people told me, why do all that work? It's too much, but really it isn't, doing this for a crowd or for a family of four is sure to please.

What you will need:

Large Sauce Pan/Frying Pan
1 Large Onion
6 thinly sliced chicken cutlets
3 cups of Marsala Wine
3 pads of butter
1 carton of white button mushrooms
Olive Oil
Flour to pat the cutlets

Let's get cooking:

In a large sauce pan, add in olive oil to cover the pan, turn your heat to medium. Dip your cutlets on either side with the flour, put on the side. Once the oil is heated, start frying your cutlets. Your pan should be large enough to fit all 6, if it isn't do a batch at a time. While the cutlets are frying, start slicing your mushrooms, cutting off the stems and slicing them long ways. Also start slicing your onion, somewhat thick.Once cutlets are completed, put on the side, add in your onions, mushrooms, and butter. Let them all saute. Once they start to become wilted/cooked, add in your chicken cutlets and 3 cups of Marsala cooking wine. Let this simmer for about 10 minutes. Meal Complete!

From start to finish your meal should be completed within 30-40 minutes depending on how fast you can move!. Serve with rice or potatoes for a starchy kick at the end! Some people even love this dish over Pasta!

Wine Recommendation: Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 

Zuppa di Mussels

I had a friend come over yesterday and asked the question, "What am I doing wrong"? My husband loves Zuppa di Mussels but every time I make them, its' just awful. So I asked back, "well, tell me how you make them, and i'll let you know what you are doing wrong!" Immediately when she told me, First I make the sauce... I stopped her! That's what you are doing wrong. With Zuppa di Mussels, you don't cook the sauce first, you cook the mussels first... ok, so getting past that exchange.. let's start cooking.
This dish will serve at least 4 adults and don't forget, tossing this with Linguine or Sphagetti is simply delish. Or pair it with Crostini's to make it an appetizer!

What you will need:
3lbs mussels
Olive Oil
Deep Sauce Pan
Garlic
Onions
Basil
1 can of Peeled Whole Tomatoes (Tuttorusso or Sclafani brand, or any other)
Salt & Pepper

Ok, Let's get cooking!
Wash the mussels and scrub any debris off of the shells, put them to the side on ice so that they don't open and spoil. Any mussels that are already open, discard immediately, do not use. Add Olive Oil to your sauce pan, and turn your heat to Med-High. Chop or slice 4 cloves of garlic and 1/2 of a medium sized onion, add to your sauce pan. Once they turn a light golden brown, add your mussels in. Cover for 7 minutes, your mussels should begin to open. Those that do not open, discard. It should take approximately 12 minutes for all to open. At this point you are ready to add in your tomatoes. Make sure you squeeze your tomatoes or coarsely chop them, to release the juice within.. Add Salt/Pepper to your liking. Cover for 20 minutes. Once you are ready to serve add in your fresh basil, chiffon it or chop it.

Buon Appetito!

Wine Recommendation: Castlebank Giulia's Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 

Pasta e Fagioli

I make this dish a couple of different ways, but since it's summer and you should have tomatoes growing in your yard or your neighbors yard, I'll go with the Fresh Tomato recipe.
This is a one pot wonder dish that will be ready in 40 minutes.
What you will need:

Medium size pot
4 cloves of garlic
4 plum tomatoes
1 can of cannelini beans ( I prefer Goya)
Olive oil
3 fresh basil leaves
Salt & Pepper
1 lb of ditalini, elbows or any small variety of pasta
4-6 quarts of water
Grated cheese

Let's get cooking....

In your pot, add olive oil, enough to line the entire bottom. Turn your heat to medium/high and let it get hot. Throw in your garlic ( slicing it first). Start chopping your tomatoes in quarter inch chunks. Once the garlic is turning a light golden brown, you can add in your tomatoes. Stir once and let sit for ten minutes with your heat on medium. Stir occasionally. Open your can of beans and add to the pot. Stir and cover for 5 minutes. Depending on how much pasta you are making will depend on how much water you will add. To feed 4, one pound should suffice. If you are making this as a side dish, go for 3/4 lb.
For that amount of pasta (1 lb.) add in 4 quarts of water. Cover and let boil. Once it is boiling, add in your pasta, leave the cover off stir it occasionally, pasta should be cooked after 10 minutes. Place the cover back on and let it sit for 3 minutes. It should be a pasty consistency. When you are ready to serve, tear your basil in pieces and add to the pot, add in salt and pepper as you like it, stir and serve.
Add grated cheese for extra flavor.

Pair this with any red wine, we just tried a fabulous Spanish wine called recollettas.