Roasted Butternut Squash, Garlic & Rosemary Lasagna

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Aprons & Stilettos

Butternut Squash Lasagna

The fall season calls for deliciously irresistible winter squash and butternut squash is one of my all-time favorites. Last night I had the opportunity to hang out with Chef Don Garrett from Wine Country Artisans Catering who made an AMAZING homemade butternut squash ravioli. These raviolis were hands down the BEST butternut squash raviolis I’ve ever tasted (perhaps we will have a blog post soon and Don will share with us his recipe!) Nevertheless, as I was eating his leftovers this afternoon for lunch, I got inspired to whip up something tonight for dinner that incorporated this wonderful autumn squash. In the past, I’ve made butternut squash soup, roasted squash with thyme and butternut squash risotto… hmmmm, I have lasagna pasta sheets – let’s make lasagna! I haven’t made lasagna in a long, long time so this was the perfect dish to make. Not only is this dish comforting — a perfect pair to the cooler weather — but it’s easy to make.

Prepping Lasagna

2 1/2 cups fresh butternut squash, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
olive oil
2 – 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 – 2 cups milk
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons butter
No-boil lasagna pasta
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt & pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss fresh butternut squash pieces with olive oil and lightly season with salt. Roast for 10 minutes. Stir butternut squash and roast for another 10 – 15, until tender and golden.

While squash is roasting, melt butter in a large saucepans. Add garlic and cook over medium heat until fragrant (1 minute). Stir in flour and cook roux, stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Slowly add milk, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook and stir frequently until thickened yet smooth – about 5 – 8 minutes. Stir in roasted squash.

Butter a casserole dish and pour some sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Begin layering the lasagna pasta sheets. Spread the sauce on top of the noodles and sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering noodles, adding the sauce and finishing with Parmesan cheese. Pour heavy whipping cream over the top of the entire dish and sprinkle a little more cheese. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is bubbling and golden brown. Allow dish to cool for about 5 minutes. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

Serves 4 – 6.

Wine Pairing? Try pairing this decadent dish with a rich & buttery Chardonnay. Do you have a personal favorite? Share with us in the comments below or on twitter!

Enjoy! ~Crystal

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FALL in LOVE with FALL salad

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Aprons & Stilettos

With our gardens filled with persimmons and pomegranates and Thanksgiving around the corner I was inspired to throw a few of my favorite fruits together and make a festive salad. Simple and delicious with colors that scream Fall, this salad will be a great addition to your Thanksgiving feast or a new just because treat. And don’t worry if you don’t think persimmons are your thing, give this combination a chance and you just might become a fan .

FALL in LOVE with FALL salad (for 4)

1 bag of Arugula (5 oz)
3 Persimmons
1 Pomegranate
1 Red onion
Chia Seeds
Olive oil, one lemon, salt and pepper for dressing

I started off by slivering off round thin pieces of persimmon ( I used a mandoline) which can get tricky since some might not come out perfect, but its for taste so don’t worry. Place each sliver one by one covering each individual plate as I did or on your dish of choice if you are making a bigger salad. Take the arugula and toss with olive oil, fresh lemon juice and season to taste with salt pepper and when its ready place the greens in the middle of your dish so the persimmons are still visible. Add your red onions slices and I actually added slices of fennel as an afterthought which was great, and then top it off with sprinkles of chia and pomegranate seeds. The salad is not only visually appetizing but taste amazing and fresh. Hope you enjoy!

Coconut Milk & Poached Salmon Soup with Blood Orange Salad

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Aprons & Stilettos

Morgan and I were laying out by the pool, enjoying the 90+ degree weather and a glass of Kunde Sauvignon Blanc when we decided to make soup for dinner. Soup?! On such a hot day. Yes. I love soup, even during the warmer months, but I don’t experiment enough with making them. It was settled then. Soup it was.

Ingredients for Salmon Soup

We both love Thai cuisine and decided to integrate similar ingredients used in Thai cooking to build our Coconut Milk & Poached Salmon Soup. And what better way to brighten up the strong aromatic & spicy components of our soup than with a delicate blood orange salad.

We rushed off to Oliver’s to pick up the essentials.

Coconut Milk & Poached Salmon Soup

1 Wild Pacific Alaskan Salmon, Filet – middle piece
3 cups vegetable stock
1/2 white onion
2 garlic cloves
1 stalk lemongrass, snapped in half
Ginger, sliced (about 12 rounds)
2 (13 fl. oz) cans coconut milk
3 chilies, chopped (we used two Jalapeño & 1 Fresno pepper)
Fish sauce, few dashes
2 bay leaves
1 lime, juiced
5 – 7 springs cilantro
Salt, to taste

Salmon for Coconut Soup

Combine stock, 1/2 onion (whole – not sliced), garlic, lemongrass and ginger in a pot and bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes. Add coconut milk, chilies, fish sauce, and bay leaves and simmer for another 10 minutes. Strain and return the broth to the stove. Cut the raw salmon filets into small chunks, add to the broth and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Once the salmon is cooked thoroughly, add in juice from one lime, cilantro and salt. Serve immediately with blood orange salad and vino of your choice.

We were out of the Sauvignon Blanc so we enjoyed a glass of Rosé with our dinner which paired great with the spicy kick in our soup. Don’t have bottle of Rosé or Sauvignon Blanc? Pinot Gris or Gewürztraminer would also be a fine match.

Blood Orange Salad

Arugula
2 blood oranges, sliced
Small bag of sliced almonds
1/2 red onion, sliced

Citrus Vinaigrette

1 blood orange, juiced
Olive oil, heavy drizzle
Red wine vinegar, few dashes
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper, to taste

Blood Oranges for Salad

Combine all citrus vinaigrette ingredients and set aside. Cut the skins off of the blood orange and slice orange wedges for salad. Combine oranges with arugula, onions and almonds and toss with citrus vinaigrette.

Serves 3-4

~Enjoy, Crystal