Basil Vinaigrette

I used my beautiful CSA basil to make this flavorful vinaigrette. We ate it drizzled over my CSA tomatoes and cucumbers from a friend. We also enjoyed it on sourdough baguette slices. Great.

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Melissa Rubel Jacobson. The original recipe notes that it would also be great on grilled chicken or fish, on corn, or in pasta or panzanella salad.

Yield: Makes 1/3 cup

• 1 small garlic clove 
• 1 cup packed basil leaves
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil  
• 1 1/2 to 2 T sherry or Champagne vinegar 
• pinch of crushed red pepper 
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 

1. In a food processor, pulse the garlic until chopped.
2. Add the basil and pulse until finely chopped.
3. Add the oil, vinegar and crushed red pepper and process until smooth.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Buttermilk Cornbread Dressing with Italian Sausage

I loved that this recipe used buttermilk to moisten the stuffing- in addition to the more typical stock and butter. The sausage was not overpowering in the finished dish but added great flavor. I used locally made sweet Italian sausage with fennel seeds- perfect.

This recipe was adapted from the New York Times, contributed by Yewande Komolafe. The sausage could be omitted for a vegetarian version. The original recipe notes that if store-bought or boxed mix cornbread is used, it should be crumbled and and spread out on a sheet pan to dry for 4 to 12 hours prior to assembling the dish. I made the accompanying cornbread recipe, which does not require drying time, two days prior to making the dish.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

For the Cornbread:

• 8 T/115 grams/1 stick unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing the pan
• 1 1/2 cups/250 g medium-coarse yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 cup/114 g all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup/55 g granulated sugar
• 3 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups/470 milliliters buttermilk, preferably full-fat (I used low-fat)
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

For the Dressing:

• 3 T unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
• 1 T neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola, plus more if needed
• 1 pound loose pork sausage (I used sweet Italian sausage)
• 1 large yellow onion, very finely chopped (2 cups)
• 4 celery ribs, very finely chopped (2 cups)
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 T chopped fresh sage (from 10 large leaves)
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 recipe cornbread for dressing, broken into 1-inch pieces, or 10 cups loosely packed cornbread
• 1 1/2 cups chicken, turkey or vegetable stock
• 1 cup buttermilk, preferably full-fat (I used low-fat)

To Make the Cornbread:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. Butter the bottom and sides of a 10-inch skillet, preferably cast-iron, and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. (I weighed the dry ingredients when possible.)
4. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk and eggs. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir until incorporated.
5. Fold in the melted butter.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and smooth the top.
7. Bake until the top is lightly browned and the sides pull away cleanly from the skillet, about 25 to 30 minutes.
8. Cool completely and serve warm or room temperature, or reserve to make cornbread dressing.

To Assemble & Bake the Dressing:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees, preferably on convection. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium and pour in the oil.
3. Add the sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it into small pieces, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
4. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate, keeping any fat in the skillet. Add a few additional tablespoons oil if needed to evenly coat the bottom.
5. Add the onion and celery to the skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes.
6. Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, fennel seeds and sage, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
7. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the cornbread pieces and toss to combine.
9. Pour in the stock and buttermilk, and stir until well mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
10. Transfer the cornbread mixture to your prepared dish and spread evenly.
11. Drizzle the melted butter over the top.
12. Cover the dish with foil and bake until heated through, 30 to 35 minutes.
13. Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees, remove the foil and bake until the surface is golden brown in spots, 15 to 20 minutes.
14. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving warm.

Skillet Caesar Salad Roast Chicken

Oops… I posted the skillet dessert before the skillet dinner. Now you know that I always plan dessert first. 😉

I loved the way this dish was originally described: “The only thing better than a roast chicken and a Caesar salad is a Caesar salad served with a chicken smothered in Caesar dressing and roasted until the garlic, anchovies, and mustard become deeply caramelized and flavorful.” Wow.

This fabulous, full-flavored roast chicken is from Bon Appétit magazine’s “Healthyish” column- one of my favorites. The recipe is by Molly Baz. Plating the carved chicken in the warm skillet kept the meal at a perfect temperature for serving.

For our family, the croutons were the absolute highlight. They brought a “grilled chicken Caesar salad” to the next level. 🙂 I made them using a pain au levain boule from a local bakery. I also incorporated additional romaine in the salad and garnished it with grated Parmesan. We ate the dish with roasted potatoes on the side.

Yield: Serves 4

• 8 anchovies, mashed to a paste
• 8 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 6 T mayonnaise, divided
• 1 T Dijon mustard
• 2 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more
• 1 3 ½–4-lb. whole chicken or 4 chicken legs (thigh and drumstick; about 3 lb.)
• Kosher salt
• 8 medium shallots, unpeeled, halved lengthwise
• 1 to 2 lemons, divided
• 1 oz Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for garnish
• 4 oz country-style bread, torn into 1 ½” pieces (I used 1/4-loaf Pain au Levain boule)
• 2 to 3 romaine hearts, leaves separated, torn or sliced (I used 3 Artisan hearts)

1. Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°, preferably on convection roast.
2. Whisk anchovies, garlic, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon mustard, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 ½ teaspoons pepper in a small bowl.
3. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the anchovy mayo in another small bowl.
4. Pat chicken dry; season outside and inside all over with salt.
5. Arrange breast side up in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and tuck wings underneath.
6. Arrange shallots around (if using legs, nestle under and around); season with salt and pepper.
7. Brush remaining anchovy mayo all over chicken, making sure to get it into the nooks and crannies, then brush shallots with any leftover anchovy mayo.
8. Place chicken in oven so legs are facing toward the back (this is the hottest part of the oven and will help the legs cook before the breast dries out) and roast until some anchovy mayo and fat begin to drip onto shallots, about 15 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and, using tongs, turn shallots to coat in drippings. Return skillet to oven and continue to roast chicken, stirring shallots once or twice, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 155°, about 35–55 minutes. (I used an oven probe.) If skin starts to get too dark on the top before chicken is done, tent area with foil, leaving the rest of the bird exposed. If using chicken legs, start checking at 30 minutes (a thermometer inserted right at the joint should register 160°).
10. Transfer chicken and shallots to a cutting board, leaving behind any juices and fat in skillet. If shallots need more time to soften and darken, roast a bit longer without chicken before proceeding. (I did not continue to cook the shallots.) Remove the shallot peels. Reserve skillet.
11. Reduce oven temperature to 400°.
12. Finely grate half of zest of 1 lemon into a large bowl; cut lemon in half and squeeze in juice.
13. Add reserved 1 tablespoon anchovy mayo, remaining 3 tablespoons mayo, and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and whisk to combine, then stir in Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Set dressing aside.
14. Add bread to reserved skillet with fat and turn to coat. Return skillet to oven and toast bread, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and crisp, 12–15 minutes.
15. Transfer croutons to bowl with reserved dressing. Add romaine and gently toss until lettuce is well coated. Season salad with salt and pepper.
16. Slice remaining lemon into wedges.
17. Carve chicken and nestle back into skillet or transfer to a platter; arrange shallots and lemon wedges around. Serve the chicken with the salad. Garnish with grated Parmesan, if desired.

Double Mustard Sheet-Pan Chicken with Potatoes and Greens

I have a couple sheet-pan dinners to share. Cooking an entire meal on one sheet pan may be the ultimate method for easy back to school dinners. Love it.

This dish uses Dijon mustard in the marinade and whole grain mustard in the dressing. Perfect for all of the mustard chicken fans in my house.

This recipe was adapted from epicurious.com, contributed by Anna Stockwell. I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, reduced the oil, and substituted my beautiful CSA arugula for the frisée. We ate it with Ritzy Summer-Squash Casserole. Great.

Yield: 6 servings

For the Chicken Marinade & Potatoes:

• 2 T Dijon mustard
• 2 T honey
• 3 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 8 to 10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 whole chicken legs (thigh and drumstick; about 2 lbs total), patted dry (I used 9 boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
• 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 to 1 1/2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved lengthwise
• 4 rosemary sprigs

For the Dressing & To Serve:

• 1 large garlic clove, finely grated
• 3 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 4 tsp whole grain mustard
• 4 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 6 to 8 cups arugula, 1 small head of frisée, or 1/2 small head of escarole, trimmed, torn into bite-size pieces
• 1/2 cup parsley leaves

1. Place a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 375°F, preferably on convection roast.
2. Whisk Dijon mustard, 2 T honey, and 1 T olive oil in a medium bowl to combine.
3. Season chicken on all sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Transfer to bowl with honey mustard and toss to coat. (I marinated the chicken for 4 hours in the refrigerator.)
4. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with remaining 2 T olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and remaining 1/2 tsp pepper.
5. Arrange chicken, “skin side” down, in the center of the sheet pan; discard excess marinade.
6. Arrange potatoes around outside of pan in an even layer, then turn cut side down (this will help them brown better). Arrange rosemary over potatoes.
7. Roast until chicken, flipping over to “skin side” up after 15 minutes, and potatoes are golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165°F, 20 to 25 minutes for boneless, skinless thighs or up to 30–40 minutes for bone-in meat.
8. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Whisk garlic, lemon juice, whole grain mustard, olive oil, honey, and salt in a small bowl. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
9. Divide greens and parsley among plates, drizzle with dressing, then top with chicken and potatoes. Drizzle additional dressing over chicken and potatoes. Garnish with chopped parsley, as desired.

Do Ahead: Chicken can be marinated 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.

Cornbread Dressing with Bacon & Sage

I am not usually the biggest fan of Thanksgiving stuffing but I was in love with this version. This classic Southern stuffing had wonderful flavor and a perfect balance of crunchy and custardy texture. Perfect. It will definitely be part of my Thanksgiving menu next year.

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Josh Miller. The skillet cornbread is baked in a piping hot cast iron skillet sprinkled with salt- resulting in a fabulously crispy crust. This cornbread would be delicious on its own as well. I made the cornbread a day in advance. The stuffing can be completely assembled one day before serving and baking.

Yield: Serves 8 to 10

For the Dressing:

• 10 cups 1-inch-cubed savory Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread (one 10-inch skillet loaf), divided (recipe below)
• 4 cups torn (1-inch pieces) white Pullman bread slices
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (6 ounces), melted, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
• 1 pound thick-cut bacon, chopped
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 1/2 cups chopped Gala apple
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
• 3 1/2 cups lower-sodium chicken broth, divided
• 3 large eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350°F, preferably on convection.
2. Toss together 5 cups cornbread cubes, torn white bread, 1/2 cup melted butter, and sage in a large bowl.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. In 2 batches, add cornbread mixture to skillet; cook, stirring, until bread is toasted, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer corn-bread mixture to a large bowl, and set aside. Wipe skillet clean.
4. Add bacon to skillet; cook over medium, stirring often, until crisp, about 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon; add to cornbread mixture.
5. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings in skillet; discard remaining drippings or reserve for another use.
6. Add onion, apple, celery, parsley, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add onion mixture to cornbread mixture.
7. Crumble remaining 5 cups cubed cornbread into cornbread mixture.
8. Whisk together 3 cups broth, eggs, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until blended. Fold into cornbread mixture.
9. Spoon mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
10. Drizzle with remaining 1/2 cup broth and remaining 1/4 cup melted butter. Bake in preheated oven until lightly toasted, about 35 minutes.

Note: Dressing may be assembled up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill until ready to bake. Bake at 350 degrees until the internal temperature in the center of the casserole is 165 degrees.

For the Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread:

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil
• 2 cups yellow stone-ground cornmeal (about 8 1/2 ounces)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/4 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups well-stirred whole buttermilk
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 ounces), melted

1. Add oil to a 10-inch cast-iron skillet; place skillet in oven, and preheat to 450°F, preferably on convection. (Do not remove skillet while oven preheats.)
2. While oven preheats, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
3. Stir in buttermilk until smooth; stir in eggs, then stir in butter.
4. Carefully remove skillet from oven; pour hot oil from skillet into cornbread batter, stirring until blended.
5. Working quickly, sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in bottom of skillet, then immediately pour batter into hot skillet (do not stir), and return to oven.
6. Bake at 450°F until top is golden brown, about 22 minutes.
7. Immediately invert cornbread onto a wire rack (to retain the crispy crust); let cool completely before using, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Grilled Corn & Avocado Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing

I have a few side dishes to share showcasing sweet summer corn. The romaine lettuce base and generous sliced avocado and grilled corn topping made this a must try summer salad. I love salads with loads of toppings.

My entire family loves creamy blue cheese dressing (who doesn’t?), so I knew that a creamy feta dressing loaded with fresh herbs would be the icing on the cake.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Sue Li. I only used half of the prepared dressing in the finished salad.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 6 ears corn (about 3 pounds), shucked and silk removed
• 1 bunch scallions (about 6), trimmed
• 1 jalapeño
• 3 T olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
• 1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• 1/4 cup sliced fresh chives
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 medium head romaine lettuce, cut or torn into bite-size pieces (about 8 cups)
• 2 avocados, sliced

1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high.
2. Brush corn, scallions and jalapeño with the oil and season with salt and pepper. (I didn’t oil the corn.)
3. Arrange on the grill and cook, turning occasionally, until corn kernels are browned in spots and the scallions and jalapeño are charred all over and tender, about 10 minutes, a little longer for the corn.
4. Transfer vegetables to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
5. When cool, remove charred jalapeño skin. Then remove the stem and seeds. Finely chop.
6. In a medium bowl, using a whisk, mash the feta into a coarse paste. Whisk in buttermilk, lemon zest and juice and garlic, then stir in chives, parsley, and charred jalapeño. Season with salt and pepper.
7. In a large bowl, toss lettuce with half the feta dressing and arrange on a platter or salad bowl.
8. Cut corn kernels off the cob and slice scallions into bite-size pieces.
9. Arrange avocado slices, corn and scallions on top of the lettuce. Serve with remaining dressing or add additional dressing, as desired. (I reserved 1/2 the dressing for another use.)

Creamy Buttermilk Dressing

This recipe uses a combination of full-fat cottage cheese pureed with buttermilk to get its creaminess instead of using mayonnaise. It was fresh and tasty. This dressing would work well with one of my favorite quick and light summertime meals of grilled chicken sliced over a cold salad. I made it when I was receiving an exorbitant amount of lettuce varieties in my CSA share. 😉

The recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by chef Eli Dahlin of Dame in Portland, Oregon. I used fresh CSA parsley instead of tarragon. I also increased the amount of minced shallots.

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese (4% milk fat)
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 small shallot
, minced
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon or parsley
• coarse salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 medium head of red leaf lettuce, torn
• 2 heads of Boston lettuce, torn (or any other combination of lettuce)
• sliced or cut tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, avocado, or other vegetables, for topping, as desired
• crumbled feta cheese, for topping, optional

1. In a blender, puree the buttermilk with the cottage cheese, vinegar, Dijon and 
shallot until smooth.
2. Scrape the dressing into a small bowl or jar and stir (or shake) in the chopped herbs; season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. In a serving bowl, toss the lettuces with some of the dressing and assorted toppings.

Note: The dressing can be refrigerated overnight.

One Year Ago:

• Pasta Salad with Peas & Summer Beans

Two Years Ago:

• Watermelon-Tequila Cooler

Three Years Ago:

• Raw Baby Red Kale Salad with Chili & Pecorino
• Grilled Radicchio

Four Years Ago:

• Perfect Coleslaw
• Catalan Tomato Bread