Sweet Potato Tart with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions from yankee magazine

  • 1 recipe Extra-Flaky Pastry
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 12 ounces each)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large onions, sliced crosswise ¼ inch thick
  • 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ²⁄3 cup plus ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola dolce cheese (or blue cheese of your choice)
  • ²⁄3 cup sour cream
  • ¹⁄3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400° and place a rack in the center. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat and set aside.

Make the Extra-Flaky Pastry and chill for 1 hour. Remove it from the fridge about 15 minutes before using to let it soften slightly.

Meanwhile, set the sweet potatoes directly on the center rack and roast until they are softened but still firm in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, peel and slice into ¼-inch-thick disks.

While the potatoes roast, prepare the onions: Set a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Add the onions, turn to coat in the oil, then cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium low. Let the onions wilt for 10 minutes, stirring once. Remove the cover, add the vinegar, sugar, and salt, and stir. Continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are caramelized, 20 to 25 minutes more. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mash ²⁄3 cup Gorgonzola into the sour cream until mostly smooth. Set aside.

Shape the disk of slightly softened dough into a rough rectangle shape. On a well-floured work surface, roll the dough into a larger rectangle about 8 inches wide and 14 inches long. Roll the dough up around the pin and then unfurl it on the lined baking sheet. Spread the Gorgonzola mixture over the bottom of the crust, leaving a 2-inch border on all sides. Top with the onions. Lay the potato slices over the onions in three overlapping vertical rows. Sprinkle the walnuts over all. Fold the sides of the crust up over the filling, preserving the rectangle shape. Brush the edges with the egg white mixture. Strip the leaves from three thyme sprigs and sprinkle over the entire tart. Transfer to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes, then sprinkle with the remaining Gorgonzola and garnish with some thyme sprigs. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Diana Kennedy’s Scrambled Ricotta (Requesón Revuelto a La Mexicana)

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  • 2 1/2 cups firmly packed ricotta cheese
  • 4 tablespoons safflower oil (or other neutral oil)
  • Heaped 1/3 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 4 or 5 ( or to taste) chiles serranos, finely chopped (remove some or all of the seeds and white ribs if you want to make it less spicy)
  • 1 1/4 cup finely chopped, unpeeled tomatoes
  • Heaped 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) sea salt
  1. Note: The ricotta should be well-drained, almost dry (or else it will take longer to cook down). If it is not, drain it in a fine mesh strainer lined with a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter to get rid of extra moisture, then spread it out to dry a little before using it.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fresh chiles, and fry gently without browning for 1 minute.
  3. Add the tomatoes and continue cooking over high heat, stirring from time to time until the mixture is fairly dry — about 4 minutes.
  4. Add the ricotta and salt and mix well. Cook over medium heat until it begins to turn a light creamy color and is no longer liquid: when turned with a spoon it should come away cleanly from the surface of the pan, about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how well you’ve drained your ricotta. Serve immediately with corn tortillas.

 

Classic Macaroni Salad from Hellmann’s

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  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 1-3/4 cups)
  • 1 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Dijonnaise™ Creamy Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.
  2. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, vinegar, Creamy Dijon Mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in large bowl. Stir in macaroni, celery, green pepper and onion. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Julia Child soup base

Onion/Rice Soup Base

2 cups onions; sliced
2 tablespoon butter
4 cups stock
1/2 cup rice
salt and pepper

Sautée the onions in the butter until tender. Add the rice and the 4 cups of stock with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes then cool, puree, and freeze for later use. A blender is FAR superior in this endeavor. A food processor leaves it too chunky.

Another 4 cups of another liquid, milk, stock, cooking liquid, etc. will be needed to properly reconstitute the base to a soup consistency.

Add whatever turns you on to flavor it. …mushrooms, ham, cooked greens, etc. and even brussle sprouts.
NOTE: Blake made the Brussels sprout soup as reported but discovered something else along the way. I.e, the soup base is some pretty darned good stuff all by itself. It tastes suspiciously like a good risotto but far simpler to make.

Blake used the onion/rice soup base….about two cups, sautéed 18-20 sprouts till they got some good color. I cooled and quartered them and put them back in the pot with about two slices of crumbled bacon. I thinned it with as much milk as necessary and adjusted the salt and pepper. It is definitely a winner.

Chili Sauce — Mary McPartland

18 tomatoes
9 onions
5 peppers
2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. each: cloves, cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg
1-pint vinegar
optional celery seed

Peel tomatoes, grind all or chop in food processor. Cook until thick about 3 hours.

These are my directions Mom didn’t write any down. Use non-reactive pan, and can when finished.

Refried Bean Soup — Southern Living

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained (rotel)
1 (14 1/2 oz) can ready-to-serve chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
6 corn tortillas
8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 cups)
1 (8 oz) carton sour cream
guacamole

Cook onion and garlic in oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until tender.

Add beans and next 3 ingredients, stirring until smooth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in cilantro, if desired.

Cut tortillas into thin strips; spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

Ladle soup into individual soup bowls; top with tortilla strips, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Serve immediately. Makes 7 cups