Articles by Guest Chef Blogger

Our guest chef celebrates Veteran’s Day with Cobbler

The “super bowl” of holidays is finally upon us. The Halloween candy has run out and our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving plans and holiday shopping. Before our thoughts are completely consumed by the madness, let us take a moment to thank the brave men and women who have or are serving in the armed forces.
For many, Veteran’s Day is just another reason for the bank and post office to be closed or to put the trash out a day later. It’s easy to overlook and take for granted the many men and women sacrificing their lives daily to ensure our freedom.
I have two veterans in my family. My grandfather was in the army in World War II and my uncle served in Vietnam. I can remember how important I felt helping my grandfather put up and take down the flag while visiting his house.
Right now you may be wondering what this has to do with food…Well, I believe the ultimate in patriotic food is pie, whether it’s cherry, apple, rhubarb or pecan. A close second to pie, and perfect for the holidays, is cobbler. There is something about a warm dessert with melting ice cream on top that softens the heart and warms the soul. As we all begin to worry about frying turkeys and whether the stuffing should go inside the bird or not, we often overlook dessert.
This cobbler recipe can be put together a day ahead so the day of the big show all you have to do is top it with the dough and toss it in the oven. Enjoy the cobbler, and next time you see one of our troops in uniform, remember to thank them for their service to this country.

Apple Cranberry Cobbler with Cinnamon Ice Cream
For the filling:
4 cups granny smith apples peeled and cut into wedges
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 ½ cups sugar
2 vanilla beans
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon butter, softened

Combine apples, sugar, water, flour, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla bean pulp.  Put in buttered 9” pan and dot with butter.

Topping:
½ cup sifted flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 beaten egg

Combine all topping ingredients.  Beat with a wooden spoon until batter is smooth.  Drop batter in 9 portions over entire pan spacing evenly.  Batter will spread evenly during baking.  Bake at 350 degrees until apples are tender and crust is golden brown.  Serve warm with ice cream.

Serves 6 to 8 people

—Chef Christian Messier

Warm your soul with Roasted Pumpkin Bisque soup courtesy of Chef Christian Messier of SunDial Restaurant.

Halloween has come and gone and we find ourselves in the middle of the mad holiday rush. Thoughts of turkey, shopping, and a few days off consume us. The last thing on anyone’s agenda is stretching one’s culinary prowess. No time for experimenting — stick with the tried-and-true recipes that got you this far, right? Wrong!

This is the perfect time of year to show off your inner chef. Soup, to many, is a magical dish that takes years of study and practice to master. Wrong again! Soup can be the savior in a busy holiday household. With a few techniques and a small amount of creativity, anyone can come out looking like they belong in the top echelon of chef–dom.

If you have never made soup, and are somewhat intimidated, just remember that back in the day, soup consisted of some meat scraps, bones, water, herbs, and vegetables. The meat and bones cooked all day in the pot over a fire and vegetables and herbs were added for flavor.

Essentially there are two kinds of soups: broth based soups with meat and vegetables and pureed soups. Most soups start with mirepoix (two parts onion, one part carrot and one part celery), and the major ingredients come next, including meat stock, etc.

After 18 years of cooking, I have never even been pulled over by the soup police. A few tips: when you cut the vegetables, cut them the same size so they cook at the same rate. Season and taste each step of the way. A crockpot is the perfect soup making vessel because you can cook at low temperatures without burning.

I think soup tastes better the next day, so I like to cook, cool and reheat in the crockpot. You can start a meal with it or base the whole show around it. The added bonus: you might even get a chance to sit and dine with your family for a change. Happy souping!

Roasted Pumpkin Bisque with Ancho Chile pesto and crab
2 med size butternut squash
1 acorn squash
1 small pie pumpkin
2 med yellow onions
2 med size carrots
4 ribs of celery
1 cup pumpkin seed oil
1 med size sweet potato
1 head of roasted garlic
3 cups unsalted chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
6 oz pasteurized crab meat
½ cup chopped chive
1 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
ancho chile powder to taste

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut the bottom (the non stem end) of the garlic off exposing cloves, drizzle with olive oil, and roast cut side up until cloves are tender.
• Cut pumpkin and acorn squash in half, scoop out seeds, and rub with softened butter. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 20-30 minutes until flesh is soft and starts to brown.
• Peel seed and dice butternut squash.
• Medium dice carrot, onion, celery, and sweet potato.
• Put sweat onions, celery, carrot, and butternut squash in a pot with canola oil. Add chicken stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add roasted garlic cloves and sweet potatoes and simmer 10 minutes more.
• When butternut and onions have lost their crunch puree, mix in a blender and return to pot.
• Simmer for 10 more minutes, add cream and adjust seasoning.
• This soup can be put through a chinoise (fine strainer) for a more elegant velvety presentation. I prefer to leave more of the fiber in it, making it slightly more rustic.

For the ancho chile pesto:
• Toss pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas in Hispanic markets) in melted butter, season, and toast in oven at 350 degrees until they start to brown and smell nutty. Cool.
• Blend pumpkin seed oil, seeds, and ancho chile to taste. It should be spicy, which will offset the sweetness of the soup and crab.
• Mix crab, chives, salt and pepper.
• Garnish each bowl with 1 ounce of crab and pesto.
• Makes 6 to 8 servings.

— Chef Messier