CANDIED PECANS

1 large egg white

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups pecan halves (8 to 9 ounces)

Preheat oven to 300°F. Brush large rimmed baking sheet with butter.Whisk egg white in bowl until foamy. Add sugar, spices, and salt. Whisk until mixture is thick and opaque. Add pecans; stir until coated. Using forks, transfer nuts to sheet, spacing apart; discard remaining coating.Bake nuts until deep golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool completely on sheet. Transfer to container; cover and store at room temperature. (Can be made 4 days ahead.)

Makes about 2 cups.Bon AppétitDecember 2005

FRISEE SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE, WALNUT, AND CRANBERRY CROSTINI

If your Thanksgiving dinner is a formal affair, serve the crostini on small plates with the frisée salad. If your guests like to hang out in the kitchen until dinner is served, offer the crostini as passed hors d'oeuvres topped with a sprig of dressed frisée.


24 1/4-inch-thick slices ciabatta bread
4 tablespoons walnut oil, divided
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
6 tablespoons minced shallots, divided
1/3 cup dried cranberries
8 cups baby frisée, torn into thin pieces
2 teaspoons Banyuls vinegar or red wine vinegar
Fleur de sel or fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet. Brush bread slices on top side with 2 tablespoons walnut oil. Bake until crisp, about 5 minutes.

Mix walnuts, cheese, 4 tablespoons shallots, and dried cranberries in medium bowl. Spread mixture on toasts. Bake until cheese melts, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine frisée, 2 tablespoons shallots, 2 tablespoons walnut oil, and vinegar in bowl. Sprinkle with fleur de sel; toss. Serve with crostini.

Makes 12 servings.
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November 2005

DRIED CRANBERRY, WALNUT, AND LEMON SCONES

Jennifer Wickes of Pine Beach, New Jersey, writes: "I grew up in Bermuda learning to make English sweets like these scones. You can adapt the recipe to any season by adding a different mix of berries and nuts. This combination is perfect for fall."

2 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, diced
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup (or more) chilled half and half, divided

Position rack in top third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in bowl for glaze.

Whisk flour, baking powder, lemon peel, salt, and 1 cup sugar in large bowl. Add chilled butter; using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Mix in cranberries and walnuts. Add 1/2 cup half and half and1 tablespoon lemon juice. Toss with fork until dough comes together in moist clumps, adding more half and half if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Press out each half on floured surface to 6-inch-diameter (1-inch-high) round. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Transfer to baking sheet; brush with glaze.

Bake scones until golden and tester comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 12.
Bon AppétitNovember 2005

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH, RED GRAPES, AND SAGE

An inventive new take on a classic fall side. What to drink: A fruity red with a nice acidity. Try: Keenan 2002 Merlot, Carneros, Napa ($25).

1 2 1/4-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes (about 8 ounces)
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine butternut squash, grapes, onion, and sage in large bowl. Drizzle with oil and melted butter. Season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Spread out onto large rimmed baking sheet. Roast until squash and onion begin to brown, stirring occasionally, about 50 minutes. Transfer to platter, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts, and serve.Makes 4 to 6 servings.Bon AppétitOctober 2005

ALMOND-CRUSTED SHRIMP CAKES WITH LEMON SOY MAYONNAISE

For lemon soy mayonnaise
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste

For shrimp cakes
1 bacon slice, chopped
3/4 lb large shrimp in shell (21 to 25 per lb), peeled and deveined
1 slice firm white sandwich bread
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped scallions (about 4)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups sliced almonds (6 oz)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Garnish: lemon wedges and fresh cilantro leaves

Make lemon soy mayonnaise:Stir together all mayonnaise ingredients in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve.

Make shrimp cakes:Pulse chopped bacon in food processor until finely chopped. Pat shrimp dry, then add to bacon and pulse just until shrimp is coarsely chopped (do not purée). Soak bread in milk in a shallow bowl until very soft, about 30 seconds. Add wet bread to shrimp mixture, discarding any remaining milk, and pulse until just combined.

Transfer shrimp mixture to a bowl, then stir in scallions, cilantro, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and pepper until combined well.

Spread almonds on a large plate. Using a 1/4-cup measure, drop 1 mound of shrimp mixture onto almonds. Sprinkle almonds over shrimp mound to coat, gently pressing to form a (3 1/2-inch) cake (1/3 inch thick). Transfer cake to a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Make 7 more cakes in same manner, transferring to baking sheet. Discard any remaining almonds.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook 4 cakes, turning over once and rotating for even browning, until almonds are golden and cakes are just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Discard any almonds left in skillet, then add remaining tablespoon oil and cook remaining 4 cakes in same manner. Serve warm, with lemon soy mayonnaise.

Makes 4 main-course or 8 first-course servings.GourmetQuick KitchenOctober 2005

Farmer's Pasta
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Recipe SummaryDifficulty: Easy Prep
Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 servings

Butter, for greasing pan
2 tablespoons (or more) olive oil
6 ounces pancetta, chopped
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups whole milk
8 ounces Fontina cheese, grated
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
6 ounces provolone cheese, grated
1 pound rigatoni pasta
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups fresh coarse bread crumbs
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and saute until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a small bowl. Pour off all but 1/4 cup of the pan drippings (if necessary, add more oil to the pan drippings to equal 1/4 cup total). Reduce the heat to medium. Add 3 teaspoons of garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in all the Fontina, mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone cheeses.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until almost al dente, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. (The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.) Drain pasta and add directly into the cheese. Add the parsley, basil, and pancetta and toss to coat. Season the pasta mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared dish.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. Add the bread crumbs and toss to coat. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta mixture. Drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil and bake until the sauce bubbles and the bread crumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

LEMON-SCENTED RICOTTA AND MASCARPONE CREAM PUFFS

Chef Sal Passalacqua of Dimaio Cucina in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, writes: "My father's family is from Sicily and I spent my teenage years there, so that's where a lot of my culinary influences come from. At first glance, Sicilian cooking seems very simple, but that simplicity depends on using the freshest ingredients and often the combination of sweet and tart flavors. The anchovy pasta and the ricotta and mascarpone cream puffs here are perfect examples."
These can be served for dessert, tea, or brunch. Mascarpone, an Italian cream cheese, is sold at many supermarkets and at Italian markets.

3/4 cup whole milk

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, diced

1 tablespoon sugar

Pinch of salt

3/4 cup all purpose flour

4 large eggs

Vegetable oil (for frying)

1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese

1/3 cup mascarpone cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar, divided

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

Bring milk, butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Add flour; stir until batter is smooth and forms ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in eggs, 1 at a time.

Add enough oil to heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 2 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan and heat oil to 350°F. Working in batches, drop 1 tablespoon batter into oil for each cream puff. Fry until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer cream puffs to paper towels to drain. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

Blend ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and lemon peel in medium bowl for filling. Cut cream puffs in half horizontally. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon filling into bottoms; cover with tops. Arrange on platter. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Makes 3 dozen.

Bon AppétitSeptember 2005Sal Passalacqua Dimaio Cucina, Berkeley Heights, NJ