Tag Archives: fall recipes

Best Turkey Salad Sandwich Ever Made

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is figuring out what to make out of your leftover turkey. I know this might appear as too obvious, a turkey salad sandwich, but it’s not just a turkey salad sandwich. First, I would be perfectly happy eating the turkey salad, but when you combine it with a great thick fresh bread, some dressed spinach leaves and crumbled blue cheese, it’s almost a special event! Make sure you buy a turkey large enough to have enough leftover to make this delicious sandwich!
From by the bay wishing you, eventful leftover food memories!
Maryann

blog turkey sandwich 2012

Best Turkey Salad Sandwich Ever Made
Makes 4 sandwiches

To Make Turkey Salad
3 cups turkey meat, cubed
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

To make the sandwiches
8 thick slices bread, such as seedless rye
1 cup baby spinach leaves, dressed with vinaigrette
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

For each sandwich layer up one slice of bread , turkey salad, blue cheese , spinach leaves and then second piece of bread. Enjoy!

Chorizo and Cornbread Dressing

Let me start with the simple fact that any stuffing or dressing that I would serve my family along with a Roasted Turkey needs to have some type of sausage meat in the recipe. This rule was served hard and fast by my niece many years ago. Allow me to quote her very words, ” don’t mess around with the stuffing Aunt Mare”!  So when I was messing around in the kitchen working on a new dressing recipe, two things were clear, the recipe had to be so good that the family could accept a new version of one of their favorite dishes and the recipe needed to include sausage meat. I choose a wonderful soft chorizo to breakdown and fry up for this dressing. I brought a prepared cornbread to save time, toasted it in the oven and this was the base. Next it was matter of adding some of my favorite flavors together, including fresh corn and sage. This dressing was a big hit with my family including my niece. I predict this will be a big hit for your Thanksgiving as well.

From by the bay, wishing you yummy sausage dressing food memories!

Maryann



blog cornbread dressing 2012


Chorizo and Cornbread Dressing

Serves 6

6 cups stale cornbread, cut into 1/2” cubes and toasted

1 pound soft chorizo meat, remove casings

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 large celery stalks, chopped

1 large Vidalia onion, chopped

2 cups fresh corn kernels ( or 1 10 ounce bag frozen corn kernels)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced

1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped

1/8 teaspoon dried rubbed sage

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 cups low sodium chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

To make dressing place a large skillet on medium heat and cook chorizo, crumbling the meat with a fork until fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and place into a large mixing bowl. Add butter to the same skillet, melt butter and then add the celery and onion. Saute ingredients together until softened about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and corn, cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the herbs and cook another minute. Remove from heat and add to the bowl with the cooked chorizo meat. Add the bread cubes and chicken stock to the bowl. Mix the ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. The dressing can be made up to this point one day in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Place dressing into a lightly buttered baking dish. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.

 

Brussels Sprouts Two Ways : Salad and Slaw

People fall into one of two categories – those who love brussels sprouts and those who hate them! I definitely fall into the love category. As a result, I often will experiment with the preparation of this bright little green gems. Here are two very different salads featuring the little brussels sprout and I would be hard pressed to decide which one of the two salads I prefer, both are delicious! Either one of these would be a great Thanksgiving side dish, although if I was preparing for larger crown, I would go with the salad with toasted pecans, dried cranberries and blue cheese, it’s just an easier salad to make.
From by the bay, wishing you sprouting food memories!
Maryann

blog brussel sprout salad 1 2012

Brussels Sprout Salad with Toasted Pecans, Dried Cranberries and Blue Cheese
Serves 4Ingredients1 pound brussels sprouts
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
fresh ground black pepper and fine sea salt to tasteDirections
Cut off the ends of the sprouts and peel off all the leaves. You may need to cut the bottom more than once. Take a sauce pan and bring 1/2 cup of salted water to a boil add the sprout leaves and cover cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until the leaves turn bright green. Remove and rinse with cold water immediately to stop cooking. Pat leaves dry with paper towel and place into a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients. Toss gently. Add fine sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste and serve.

blog brussel sprout salad 2

Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw with Lemon and Pecorino
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 pound brussels sprouts
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
plus shaved pieces of pecorino for garnish

Directions
Use a mandoline with a safety holder to place the brussels sprouts and shave finely. Add the remaining ingredients and toss. Cover bowl and let sit for at least one hour before serving so that the lemon juice softens the slaw. To serve garnish with shaved pecorino cheese. ( Use a vegetable peeler to make nice large size pieces of shaved cheese. )

Apple Cider Gravy

The perfect compliment to Apple Cider Brined and Maple Roasted Turkey is this delicious apple cider gravy. You can prepare much of the gravy in advance and last minute deglaze your turkey roasting pan using apple cider to sweep all the yummy pan juices into your gravy. You’ll love all the warmth flavors in the gravy and aroma as you prepare this gravy is unsurpassed!


From by the bay wishing you warm apple cider food memories!

Maryann


Find the apple cider brined and maple roasted turkey recipe here:
https://blog.entertainingbythebay.com/2012/11/01/cider-brined-and-maple-roasted-turkey.aspx



blog turkey gravy 2012


Apple Cider Gravy

Gravy Base

6 cups chicken stock

Giblets and neck from turkey

1 carrot peeled and chopped

1 onion, not peeled and quartered

1 celery stick, chopped

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon allspice berries

1 cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Gravy

1 1/3 cup cider

6 tablespoons flour

6 cups gravy base

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 bay leaves

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoons fine grey sea salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions for gravy base

Combine into a soup pot chicken stock, cider, carrot , onion, celery, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, allspice berries, peppercorns, giblets and neck from turkey. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 1 hour. Cool and strain broth and keep refrigerated until ready to make gravy. This can be done one day in advance.

Directions for gravy

Place seasoned broth into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Take melted butter in a bowl and then add the flour, whisk until a smooth paste. Take one cup of hot broth and whisk into flour mixture until smooth. Sieve back into the broth and whisk to blend. Add bay leaves, honey, salt and pepper and whisk again. You can have this prepared as the turkey is roasting. Once the turkey is done and removed from the roasting pan pour pan juices into a measuring cup. Spoon off fat and discard. Add remaining juices into broth in the saucepan. Place roasting pan back on heat and deglaze with the cider. Scrap pan to get all brown bits, let reduce to half , about 2 minutes. Add to the gravy. Whisk together and let simmer until reduced to a sauce consistency. Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve with turkey.

 

Apple Cider Brined and Maple Roasted Turkey

It’s this cook’s favorite time of year, Thanksgiving. Up until the arrival of this holiday, I will be posting recipe by recipe a complete meal. This week’s post is the centerpiece of the holiday, a delicious brined turkey. Ever since I started to brine my turkey’s the night before, I have delivered to my table a juicy, moist roasted turkey. I especially enjoyed this brine, which uses some of my favorite fall flavors – apple cider, apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, sage, brown sugar and a touch of allspice. The flavors combine to create a subtle sweetness to the meat. For the roasting by using maple syrup and melted butter to baste the turkey, the result is a beautiful crisp and brown skin on the outside of the turkey and the inside meat is moist and tender. So follow along to create a perfect holiday menu!


From by the bay wishing you apple cider brined food memories!

Maryann


blog turkey 2012




Apple Cider Brined and Maple Roasted Turkey

1 16-18 lb. turkey, preferably organic

Brine

16 cups cold water, or more to cover turkey

8 cups apple cider

1 cup fine sea salt

1 cup light brown sugar

2 macintosh apples , quartered

3 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

2 tablespoons allspice berries

2 tablespoon black peppercorns

½ cup maple syrup

2 onions , peeled and quartered

3 sprigs sage leaves

To roast turkey

2 whole macintosh apples

1 onion, peeled and quartered

2 cinnamon sticks

1 bunch fresh sage leaves

2 tablespoons fine grey sea salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

To baste

8 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature

¼ cup maple syrup

Directions

Prepare brine by combining apple cider, water, sea salt, maple syrup, brown sugar, onions, sage, apples , cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice, star anise and peppercorns. Stir to dissolve the salt and sugar. Clean turkey with cold water removing any giblets and or neck. Keep giblets and neck in the refrigerator to use later for gravy base.  Place turkey and brine into a resealable plastic bag or into a large non reactive bowl covered with plastic wrap. The turkey should be covered with the brine, if not add more water. Refrigerate over night.  The next day remove turkey 40 minutes before planning to place into the oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Remove turkey from brine and pat dry with paper towels inside and out.  Season the turkey cavity with salt and pepper.  Fill the cavity  with the apples, onions, sage and cinnamon sticks.  Tie turkey legs together and place into roasting pan. In a small sauce pan melt butter and maple syrup together on a low heat. Use this to baste turkey once before placing into the oven. Roast the turkey at 425 degrees F for 30 minutes then lower the oven to 350 degrees F.   For an 18 lb. turkey cooking time will be approximately 3 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check that the meat registers 175 degrees F at its thickest part of the thigh. Baste the turkey about every 30 minutes with the butter and maple syrup mixture. If the turkey browns too quickly tent that part with aluminum foil. When ready, remove from the oven. Take turkey from the roasting pan and place on a cutting board to rest before carving, at least 20 minutes. If you are serving later then 20 minutes from removing from oven tent turkey with aluminum foil until ready to serve.


 

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel

blog pumpkin coffee cake 1


If you read New York Magazine, you would have heard that pumpkin is the new bacon ( See link below). I’m not sure I would agree with that statement , however, I sure do love to cook with pumpkin this time of year. I can’t think of a better way to help celebrate Halloween than baking , especially with pumpkin! I was experimenting in the kitchen with some of my favorite ingredients to come up with this delicious and rich coffee cake. It has everything I like best in a good coffee cake, a wonderful streusel topping , with the added crunch of some walnuts. In my family we love the crumbs on top, so this recipe has plenty of crumbs and they are large and chunky when I toss them on top of the batter. The cake is moist from using both pumpkin puree and sour cream. To add to the richness is a nice layer of brown sugar filling. When baking the house is just filled with the delicious aroma of cinnamon and brown sugar. You’ll want to eat this the second it comes out of the oven, but it really needs to cool so that you can enjoy all the layers of flavor. Try to resist or you’ll just to have to eat some twice, warm and then cool as well. The trouble is this cake will just disappear……….probably the ghosts and ghouls have gotten to the cake !

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/pumpkin-2012-10/

From by the bay wishing you pumpkin, cinnamon and brown sugar food memories!
Maryann

blog pumpkin coffee cake

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel
Serves 6-8
Ingredients

Streusel Topping

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Filling
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

 

Cake

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin puree ( canned)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8” square baking pan. ( I find an 8″ square glass baking dish works best).  Make the topping for cake by combining all dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in melted butter and make large  chunky crumbs, between 1/4″ to 1/2″ inch depending on preference.  Place crumbs onto a parchment lined baking sheet and put into the refrigerator to cool for about 15 minutes.  To make filling combine the dark brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.To make cake batter sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Mix in the flour alternately with the sour cream and pumpkin puree and mix well. Once combined pour half the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread out with a spatula. Sprinkle the filling evenly atop the batter. Spread the remaining batter on top of the filling. Use a table knife to gently swirl the filling into the batter. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top of the batter. Place in the oven to bake until golden brown  and a cake tester comes out clean, when inserted into the center of the cake. This is approximately 50 to 55 minutes. Remove the cake from oven and let cool on cake stand about 20 minutes before removing from pan to serve.

Bratwurst Sandwich with Horseradish Cream and Onion Marmalade

blog brat


The leaves are falling, football season is well under way, homecoming queens and kings are in parades ( including my Mom) and the Octoberfest has started in Germany. What better way to celebrate fall than with a terrific bratwurst sandwich , kicked up a bit using some seasonal flavors, such as fresh horseradish  and grated apple! The bratwurst preparation is very traditional but the horseradish cream dressing gives it the modern twist. Don’t be daunted by the instructions. If you are looking for shortcuts, buy some caramelized onions in a jar and use prepared horseradish. Reduce the amount used and adjust according to how much kick you want in the your dressing, Enjoy!


From by the bay wishing you happy fall memories!

Maryann




blog brat 2


Bratwurst Sandwich with Horseradish Cream and Onion Marmalade
Serves 4

Bratwurst
4 bratwursts
2 bottles dark beer

1 teaspoon olive oil
4 6 “  Sour dough baguette pieces sliced ¾ through  in half or some hot dog size rolls

1 tablespoon olive oil

Onion Marmalade Topping
3 large sweet onions slices
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Horseradish Cream
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons grated granny smith apple
1 tablespoon  grated fresh horseradish
1 tablespoon  grainy mustard

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

½ teaspoon caraway seeds

 

Directions

To make onion marmalade:

Take  a large sauté pan to medium heat. Heat both oil and butter  then add the sliced onions and salt. Keep at medium heat stirring often until the onions are well browned and caramelized about  15 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and sauté another 30 minutes continuing to stir. The onions should be a deep brown color and have a jam like quality.  Remove onions from pan and keep in bowl until ready to serve. 

To make horseradish cream :

Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to make the bratwurst sandwiches.

To make bratwurst:

Place into dutch oven with the beer, bring to a boil, then lower to simmer for about 15 minutes. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the bratwurst and brown on all sides and remove from pan. .

To prepare the sandwich:

Preheat oven to 400F. Place the sourdough bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush cut side of the bread with olive oil. Bake in the oven for ten minutes until golden  brown. Spread horseradish cream on side slice of bread, add the bratwurst and top while onion marmalade.

 

Concord Grape Ice Cream

blog grapes

When I start to think about fall and september will do that to you, I often remember picking Concord grapes on my grandparents weekend farm. I loved the scent and color of these deep purple grapes. Concord grapes are not easy to find.  They originated in the 1800’s in Concord Massachusetts. Today, these grapes are primarily found in New York, Massachusetts and the Pacific Northwest.  I find them briefly in the farmer’s markets or a few specialty stores. Almost every knows this grape from Concord Grape Jelly, but I have found not many people buy these grapes fresh. I think it’s the fact that the grapes are loaded with seeds, but the delicious grape flavor is worth the trouble with the seeds.

 

blog concord ice cream

Concord Grape Ice Cream
Makes approximately 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients
2 pounds Concord Grapes, stemmed
1 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup superfine granulated sugar
pinch fine sea salt
optional: Concord Grape Jelly

Equipment: ice cream maker

Directions
Puree half the grapes in a food processor until smooth. Take a medium bowl and place over it a fine sieve, pressing the mixture into the mesh with the back of a spoon. Discard the solids remaining in the sieve. Repeat process with the remaining grapes. You should have approximately 1 1/2 cups grape juice. In a medium sauce pan place the milk, cream, sugar and salt. Heat and stir until the sugar is dissolve. Pour into bowl with the grape juice and blend. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to directions and then place in an airtight container and put into the freezer to firm up for at least 3 hours. Serve plain or melt a few tablespoons of concord grape jelly in the mircowave for 30 seconds. The jelly will turn into a syrup you can then spoon over the ice cream. Serve along with peanut butter shortbread.

Peanut Butter Shortbread
Makes 36 small cookies

Ingredients
8 tablespoons softened unsalted butter ( 1 stick)
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1 /4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter

Directions
Using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, beat the butter,sugar, vanilla and salt until creamy and light, about 2 minutes. Place mixer on low speed and add the flour. Once combined add the peanut butter and blend well. Remove from the bowl and divide the dough into two and place onto two sheets of plastic wrap. Shape each into a log about 3/4 inch thick. Wrap into the plastic and place into the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours. To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unwrap logs and slice into 1/4 inch rounds using a serrated knife. Arrange slices onto a baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until light brown at the edges. Cool baking sheets for a minute and then transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.

Very Berry Cranberry Sauce

I know that cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving staple , but I love serving it through out the holiday season. I grew up eating canned cranberry sauce. In fact my Uncle Tom, owned a canning factory in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. This was the family’s source for most of our cranberry needs. We had cases of cranberry sauce and loved it!  When my Uncle Tom decided to close his plant and move onto other ventures we were ready to buy our sauce at the supermarket, but instead my Uncle Tom brought to the house some fresh cranberries and taught me how to make my own cranberry sauce. It tasted terrific and was so easy to make!  There was no going back and I’ve been making some version of his cranberry sauce ever since! This is a favorite of mine for Christmas celebrations, I love the mix of all the berries , as well as that little kick of kirsch. The kirsch, reminds me of  Christmases when I was a little girl watching my grandfather pour a shots of this wonderful cherry smelling liquid to celebrate with his friends and family!  The sauce is the perfect compliment to all your holiday foods –  smoked ham, pork loin, turkey or even beef! You are guaranteed to create some happy food memories with this very berry sauce!

From By the Bay wishing you the berriest food memories!
Maryann

blog cranberry xmas

Very Berry Cranberry Sauce
Serves Six

 

½ cup cranberry juice cocktail

1 cup fine sugar

1 12oz, package whole fresh cranberries

½ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup dried cherries

¼ cup cherry brandy (Kirsch)

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

 

Directions

Combine cranberry juice, brandy and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, dried cranberries, dried cherries and allspice. Return to a boil, reduce heat and simmer approximately 10 minutes until the cranberries start to burst. Remove from heat. Cool completely and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken. Serve chilled.

blog berry cran sauce

Turkey Panini with Cranberry Mayonnaise and Turkey Hunter’s Stew

 

I think people fall into one of two categories at Thanksgiving – those who love leftovers and those who hate them. I fall into the love category. Although Thanksgiving lends to alot of  food in the house, I love the challenge of trying to make something new out of what is left. Many times I enjoy just reheating dinner from Thursday, but it’s more fun to fiddle around with the ingredients so that it becomes a dish you would just love to eat at any time of the year. The first recipe is my take on a post thanksgiving day sandwich. I use a nice sliced brioche bread and make a cranberry mayonnaise using leftover cranberry sauce. It’s layered up with turkey, pear slices, brie and proscuitto. The brie and proscuitto are leftover from my Thanksgiving cheese platter that I serve accompanied by fruit – including of course some pears. The second dish is Hunter Stew with turkey. This is a french stew that typically uses chicken. Instead, I made a stew of mushrooms using some of the leftover turkey gravy along with chicken stock and then add the cooked turkey at the end. You’ll love this dish. If you don’t have gravy leftover just add another cup of chicken stock along with 1/2 cup of white wine and increase the amount of flour by another two tablespoons. If you know any leftover haters, these recipes could convert them!

From by the bay wishing you the happiest thanksgiving and fond food memories!
Maryann

blog turkey sandwich

Turkey Panini with Cranberry Mayonnaise
Serves 1
2 slices brioche bread
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon cranberry mayonnaise
2 slices turkey
2 thin slices pear
1 slice proscuitto ham
2 tablespoons softened brie cheese, no rind
Heat panini press or skillet. Butter two slices of bread. Buttered sides are the outside of the sandwich. On one side of bread – not buttered spread the cranberry mayonnaise, add the turkey , then pear, proscuitto. Last spread the brie across the top of the proscuitto. Top with the other slice of bread , press down and then toast until cheese is melted and bread browned. Serve immediately.

Cranberry Mayonnaise
Makes 4 sandwiches

1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons leftover cranberry sauce

Mix both ingreidents well.

blog turkey hunter stew

Turkey Hunter’s Stew
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
6 tablespoons shallots, chopped
2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped
12 ounces assorted mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups chardonnay herb gravy ( or whatever turkey gravy you have leftover)
1 bay leave
2 springs thyme
4 cups cooked turkey cubed
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Directions
Heat in a dutch oven butter and olive oil. Add garlic, shallots and rosemary and saute for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the mushrooms and saute for another 8 to 10 minutes until mushrooms are also softened and brown. To this add the flour and stir, saute for another minute then add the tomato paste , gravy , broth, bay leave and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for about 30 minutes. Add the turkey and cook long enough for the turkey to warm in the gravy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately accompanied with egg noodles.