Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Butternut Squash Bisque


This is one of my favorites in the fall. I revised this from a recipe on Allrecipes.com.

1 T oil or butter
1/2 cup onion, diced
3/4 cup carrots, diced
4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
3 cups of vegetable or chicken stock or broth
salt
pepper
ground nutmeg
1/2 cup cream

Saute the onions in the oil over medium heat until tender. Add carrots, squash and stock. Season to taste with the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, and simmer until all the veggies are tender (the carrots take a little longer than the squash). Using a food processor, or blender puree the soup until it is smooth. (I like to use an immersion blender). Return to the pot and add the cream. Heat through, without boiling it. Serve with a dash of nutmeg.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops

We tried this recipe last night and loved it! I received it in an email from America's Test Kitchen. The flavor was fantastic. Sorry we didn't get a picture. We gobbled them up too fast!

Glaze
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar or cider vinegar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider or apple juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Pinch cayenne pepper

Chops
4 boneless, center-cut pork loin chops , 5 to 7 ounces each, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions
1. Combine all glaze ingredients in medium bowl; mix thoroughly and set aside. Pat chops dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper.

2. Heat oil in heavy-bottomed 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Add pork to skillet and cook until well browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn chops and cook 1 minute longer; transfer chops to plate and pour off any oil in skillet. (Check internal temperature of thinner chops; see note above.) Return chops to skillet, browned side up, and add glaze mixture; cook over medium heat until center of chops registers 140 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; transfer chops to clean platter, tent with foil, and let rest 5 minutes.

3. When chops have rested, add any accumulated juices to skillet and set over medium heat. Simmer, whisking constantly, until glaze is thick and color of dark caramel (heatproof spatula should leave wide trail when dragged through glaze), 2 to 6 minutes. Return chops to skillet; turn to coat both sides with glaze. Transfer chops back to platter, browned side up, and spread remaining glaze over chops. Serve immediately.