Side Dishes

ROASTED FIGS WITH JAMON SERRANO AND CABRALES
Serves: 4

Ingredients

Fresh figs - 12 ea
Jamon Serrano, sliced paper thin and halved lengthwise - 6 slices
Cabrales cheese - 4 ounces
Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400f.
2. Cut a slit in the side of each fig. Stuff a small piece of cabrales cheese in the opening of each fig.
3. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each fig.
4. Stand the figs up on a foil lined cookie sheet and drizzle evenly with olive oil.
5. Place the cookie sheet in the oven and roast for 6 to 8 minutes, until the prosciutto is slightly crispy and golden on the edges.
6. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and serve the figs warm.



GRILLED VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR
Serves: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

1/2 lb asparagus
1/2 lb crimini mushrooms
1/2 lb broccoli
1 red bell pepper
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Balducci's Balsamic vinegar
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium high heat.
2. Brush any dirt off the mushrooms. Cut in half lengthwise.
3. Trim woody stems off the bottom of the asparagus. Cut into large 3 inch pieces.
4. Cut broccoli into large florets.
5. Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise. Remove stems and seeds. Cut in large 2 inch squares.
6. Toss vegetables with half of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Place vegetables on grill until blistered and browned.
8. Remove from grill toss with remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
9. Serve warm, chilled, or at room temperature.



GINGERED CARROTS AND RUTABAGA PUREE
Serves: 6

Ingredients

4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 pound Rutabaga, peeled and cut into small chunks
1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
4 tbsp butter
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Simmer carrots, rutabaga, and onion in salted water until tender, about 25-30 minutes. Drain and purée in a food processor.
2. Stir in salt, pepper, and butter.
3. Return purée to saucepan and cook over low heat until it thickens. Add cream; stir over low heat until purée reaches desired consistency.



SAUTEED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CHESTNUTS AND PANCETTA
Serves: 6

Ingredients

6 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
24 oz pancetta, diced
2 gloves garlic, minced
2 cups frozen pearl onions
2 cups chestnuts, peeled, roasted and halved
Kosher salt & pepper to taste
4 tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Directions

1. Blanch Brussels sprouts in a large pot of boiling water for 6-7 minutes. Drain and allow to cool slightly; cut sprouts in half.
2. Reduce chicken broth in small sauce pan to 1/3 cup (about 10 minutes); set aside.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the pancetta and sauté until brown. Add the garlic and onion and sauté an additional minute.
4. Add Brussels sprouts and chestnuts and cook until tender, about 4 minutes.
5. Add broth reduction, parsley, and salt & pepper.



ROSEMARY SCALLOPED POTATOES
Serves: 6-8
Cook Time: 1 hr 25 min

Ingredients

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into thin slices about 1/4' thick
2 cups (plus or minus) heavy cream
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place the potato slices in an 8 inch oven safe dish.
2. Mix all remaining ingredients together and pour over potatoes
3. Tap the baking dish on the counter to make sure cream is in all layers of the potatoes. The cream should only just cover the potatoes.
4. Place in a pre-heated 400 degree oven and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.



PERLINE MOZZARELLA WITH BABY PEAS, AND CRISPY SPECK ALTO ADIGE IGP
Serves: 4-6
Cook Time: 15 min

Ingredients

2 cups perline mozzarella
3/4 cup fresh, or frozen and thawed, baby peas
6 oz of speck, julienned
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the speck to the olive oil and slowly render until crispy.
2. Cool the speck, reserving oil and rendered fat.
3. Toss speck and reserved oil with the cheese and peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Serve over pasta or on its own as a side dish.



PORTOBELLO, SPINACH, AND GOAT CHEESE LASAGNA
Serves: 10

Ingredients

1 lb fresh baby spinach, rinsed and well-drained
2/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves shallots, minced fine
2 cloves garlic, peeled & minced fine
2 pounds Portobello mushrooms, stems removed, wiped clean, and sliced
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh Ricotta cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
12 oz soft goat cheese (chevre)
1 lb dried lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray an 11x 9 baking pan with vegetable oil spray.
2. Heat 1/3 cup olive oil in large saucepan; add shallots and garlic and sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Deglaze with wine and simmer until liquid is almost evaporated.
4. Remove from heat, add herbs, ricotta and half of the grated mozzarella, salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
5. Sauté coarsely chopped spinach in remaining olive oil until tender, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Drain the spinach in a colander; press lightly with back of spatula to remove excess water.
7. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the remaining mozzarella and half the goat cheese. Add the nutmeg and stir together until creamy.
8. Spread 1/3 mushroom mixture over bottom of baked dish. Top with a layer of pasta, then 1/2 of spinach mixture.
9. Top with another layer of pasta, and layers of mushroom, pasta and spinach.
10. Finish with layer of mushroom and remainder of goat cheese.
11. Bake, covered with aluminum foil, for 35 minutes until hot throughout.
12. Remove foil and continue to bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly. Allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting.



SAUTEED CORN, POTATO AND TOMATO SALAD
Serves: 4

Ingredients

Corn on the cob - 2 ea
Redskin Potato - 2 ea
Beefsteak tomato - 1 ea
Red onion, peeled and large diced - 1/2 ea
Garlic cloves, slivered - 2 ea
Fresh basil - 10 large leaves
Olive Oil - 1/4 cup
Sherry Vinegar - 2 tbsp
Water - as needed
Salt and Pepper - as needed

Directions

1. Quarter the potatoes and cut each quarter in half to make large dice pieces.
2. Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with cold, heavily salted water. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook, covered, until the potatoes are just starting to get tender. Drain the potatoes.
3. While the potatoes are cooking, shuck the corn. Stand the corn up on a cutting board on the wide end. Using a sharp knife, cut the kernels off the cob starting at the top and working towards the bottom using long strokes of the knife. Set kernels aside.
4. Core the tomato. Cut the tomato into large dice pieces, reserving the juices. Set the tomato aside.
5. Heat half of the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
6. Add the garlic and onions to the olive oil and cook until onion begins to soften.
7. Add the potatoes and cook until well browned on all sides and almost tender through when pierced with a knife.
8. Add the corn and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until just turning golden brown.
9. Turn off the heat. Gently toss in the tomatoes, remaining olive oil, sherry vinegar, and freshly torn basil leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Serve warm or at room temperature.