I really like this time of yr for straightforward cooking — we nonetheless have the final of corn and tomatoes nevertheless it comes with the appearance of cooler climate, calling for cozy consolation meals. Listed below are 5 of my favourite no-recipe recipes for the season…
Polenta with Roast Tomatoes and Greens
Polenta is an effective factor to recollect on these nights if you really feel your self slipping into the I-guess-we’ll-have-pasta-once more mode. As soon as I dedicated the ratio of liquid to cornmeal to reminiscence (4:1) it turned even simpler than pasta. Convey your liquid (broth, water, or a mix) to a boil, then add cornmeal in a gentle stream, stirring all of the whereas, and decreasing warmth to a simmer. Stir till polenta is the consistency of cream of wheat and pulls away from the perimeters, about 12 minutes. Drizzle in cream or add butter and cheese, and prime with somewhat cheese (ricotta or chèvre) and any roast vegetable you’d like. This time of yr, I am going with tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions. Bonus factors for mixing a handful of uncooked corn kernels into the polenta.
Pizza with Butternut Squash, Arugula & Ricotta
I really like this crowdpleaser a lot {that a} model of it was in my first cookbook 10 years in the past — and we’ve been making it each fall since. Warmth your oven to 475°F. High a 16-ounce store-bought pizza dough (that’s been stretched on an oil-brushed cookie sheet) with shredded mozzarella, the zest of 1 lemon, and thinly sliced butternut squash items which were tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for about quarter-hour, till crust is golden and cheese is bubbly. Take away from the oven and prime with handfuls of arugula, dollops of ricotta, and extra salt and pepper.
Quinoa Bowl with Spinach & Egg
I can’t imagine how lengthy I’ve been making this dinner, additionally recognized in my home as Previous Dependable as a result of we actually all the time have what we’d like on stand-by (together with spinach within the freezer). Make quinoa based on bundle instructions, and whereas it cooks, sauté spinach (a number of it, bear in mind how a lot it shrinks) in somewhat olive oil with garlic, and prep 4 of any sort of egg you’d like. Divide the quinoa between 4 bowls and prime with spinach, egg, a drizzle of soy sauce, and minced scallions.
Salt and Pepper Eggplant
This can be a Hetty McKinnon particular I make on a regular basis — a variation on traditional salt-and-pepper tofu that seems in her indispensable e book To Asia, With Love. Marinate eggplant slices in soy sauce for 10-20 minutes, then dredge in cornstarch, fry in a impartial oil (like vegetable, canola, or grapeseed), and take away to a paper towel to empty. Season with a dusting of Chinese language five-spice, kosher salt, and freshly floor black pepper; and serve the eggplant with rice, minced scallions, and chiles. OMG I have to make this tonight.
Pan-Fried Hen Thighs with Mushrooms
I swear by this high-heat methodology of cooking hen that I discovered from Bon Appetit greater than a decade in the past — first, as a result of the hen comes out scrumptious, but in addition as a result of it’s so hands-off. Preheat oven to 475°. Season 1 1/2 kilos boneless hen thighs with salt, pepper, and about 1 tablespoon paprika. Place a skillet over excessive warmth, add about 2 tablespoons olive oil, then place hen, pores and skin facet down, and cook dinner 2 minutes. Cut back warmth to medium-high and cook dinner one other 10 or so minutes not flipping, till pores and skin is golden brown. Flip hen, then gently toss in 1 cup mushrooms and a roughly chopped yellow onion so they’re coated in oil, and switch the skillet to oven. Cook dinner one other one other 15-17 minutes, till hen is cooked by way of. Let relaxation a couple of minutes, then prime with recent thyme leaves and extra salt and pepper. Serve with a inexperienced salad.
P.S. Cinnamon-apple muffins and 5 issues to do with recent corn and tomatoes when you can nonetheless discover them!
