Hard Cider Gravy

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I love gravy. I mean, who doesn’t? Let me just go ahead and put this out there – this gravy is the gravy to end all gravies. I was always a fan of white wine in pan gravy, but the use of hard cider just takes it to a whole new level. I first turned to it out of desperation. We were out of wine, but had some bottles of hard cider that we’d bottled the year before. It’s nice and dry, and is very similar to a white wine in flavor to begin with – but much more complex.

It was so good that I’ve been making it ever since – all year long. It’s equally good on chicken, and I’m looking forward to trying it with pork sometime in the near future. We enjoyed leftovers on hot open-faced turkey sandwiches the next night after making the turkey, and it was all I could do not to lick the plate clean.

Don’t let all those delicious drippings in the bottom of your roasting pan go to waste this year – turn it into a delicious gravy.

Hard Cider Gravy

pan drippings from a roasted turkey or chicken
1 cup hard cider or dry white wine
2-3 cups chicken broth or water
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp cold water
kosher salt and black pepper

Strain the drippings into a large measuring cup or bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes, then skim off and discard the fat. (Alternatively, use a fat separator.)

Place the empty roasting pan over 2 burners over medium-high heat. Add the cider and cook for 1 minute, scraping up the bits stuck to the pan. Pour into the skimmed drippings and add enough broth to make a total of 4 cups.

Add the broth mixture to a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Combine the cornstarch and cold water to form a slurry, then whisk into the broth. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Apricot Glazed Green Beans

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First off, in case you didn’t notice, the site is looking quite a bit different this morning. I’d like to send a big shoutout and thank you to my friend Jen for doing the redesign. She is so talented, and I really can’t thank her enough.

So, these green beans. They’re amazing! I’m not usually a fan of green beans, unless in a soup or the like. But, sauteed in some of this sweet (yet, sour sauce) with a little bacon thrown in for good measure – and I could have ate the whole bowl.

It’s perfect for Thanksgiving. Green beans are a traditional side on most turkey day tables, but it’s usually in the form of green bean casserole. This is much lighter and fresh, leaving more room for turkey & gravy! But, I also see myself enjoying this take on beans in the summer too – when green beans are pouring out of my garden. Definitely a keeper!

Apricot Glazed Green Beans

1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
6 clives of bacon, cut into pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/4 cup apricot preserves
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
kosher salt

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 Tbsp salt, then add the green beans, and cook until just tender 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic begins to brown, about 2 minutes.

Stir in the jam, vinegar, and 1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper. Add the green beans and toss to coat. Fold in the bacon. Serve warm.

Source: adapted from Woman’s Day, November 2012

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

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I first had this salad at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse several years ago, and was completely blown away. I’d never had a salad that was served with a warm dressing, much less one that had a bunch of bacon drippings added to the mix. It’s just enough to barely wilt the spinach, red onions, and thinly sliced mushrooms.

It couldn’t be any easier to make at home either, and makes for a wonderful lunch or dressier side salad for dinner. I served it with alongside the French onion soup I made last week, and it was great. This is Alton Brown’s recipe (because you can never go wrong with AB), and it uses red wine vinegar. But, I’ve also used balsamic as well – and just cut out the sugar from the recipe. Hands down, my favorite salad. Make it!

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinagirette

8 ounces baby spinach, washed and drained
2 large eggs
8 pieces thick-sliced bacon, chopped
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 large white mushrooms, sliced
3 ounces red onion (1 small), very thinly sliced

Place the eggs into a small saucepan, cover with water, and place over medium-high heat with the lid on. Bring to boil. Once boiling, turn off heat and let sit covered for 12 minutes. Drain, cool, and peel the eggs. Slice egg and set aside.

While the eggs are cooking, fry the bacon and remove to a paper towel to drain, reserving 3 tablespoons of the rendered fat. Crumble the bacon and set aside.

Transfer the fat to a small saucepan set over low heat and whisk in the red wine vinegar, sugar and Dijon mustard. Season with a small pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper.

Add the mushrooms and the sliced onion to the spinach and toss. Add the dressing and bacon and toss to combine. Divide the spinach between 4 plates or bowls and evenly divide the egg among them. Season with pepper, as desired. Serve immediately.

Source: Food Network

Tropical Quinoa Salad

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A couple of months ago, we finally gave quinoa a try, and am so glad we did. It’s healthy, quick, and takes on any flavor that you add to it. Last week I made coconut shrimp, but wanted something lighter to go with it. My first thought was a mango-lime rice, but wasn’t feeling up to my reigning title as “Starch Queen of the Eastern Seaboard”.  I had a mango, an avocado, and some quinoa – so I whipped up this salad, and everyone gobbled it right up. How awesome is it to hear your 4 year old say “I love quinoa!”?

It was light, yet filling, and flavorful. I think some fresh grilled pineapple would fit nicely into the equation here as well, so feel free to toss some in if you have it handy. That’s the great thing about quinoa, it makes it really easy to “wing it”, and make something fabulous from things you have in your pantry or crisper drawer.

Tropical Quinoa Salad

2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 mango, peel removed and diced
1 avocado, peel removed and diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Juice of 2 limes
3 Tbsp coconut or olive oil
kosher salt
black pepper

Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool.

In a small saute pan or in a 425 degree oven, toast the coconut until lightly browned. Set aside.

Combine quinoa, mango, avocado, red onion, toasted coconut, cilantro, lime juice and coconut oil. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature, or cover and chill until ready to use.