• 1/2 pound butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1/2 pound proscuitto, chopped
• 1/2 pound mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sherry
• 1 & 1/2 cups chicken broth
• Cornstarch for thickening
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 ppounds tortellini

Saute first four ingredients until soft.

Add mushrooms–cook until soft

Add the Sherry and Broth.

Thicken with cornstarch.

You can make the above ahead of time. Then add the heavy cream and reheat.

Pour over 3 pounds cooked tortellini

This is the epitome of comfort food. Really good.

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This accompanies the Spinach Ring

• 3 Cups Cherry Tomatoes
• 2 Small Cloves of Garlic, Minced
• 2 Shallots or Green onions, Finely Chopped
• 1/3 / Cup Butter
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Chives or Parsley

In a heavy skillet sauté garlic and shallots in the butter over low heat for 1 minute.  Add the cherry tomatoes and cook, shaking pan frequently until they are just heated through and slightly soft, but not mushy.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, chives or parsley,  serve at once.

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Just served this dish for a ‘pre Easter Sunday Buffet’ dinner at our house.  It got great reviews.  It served 13 with some leftovers.  There were several other side dishes, but I think this would have been enough to serve 10 easily.  I used 4 cups of frozen spinach, thawed with the moisture squeezed out.  I used a dish towel to do this—did not cook the spinach.  It didn’t come out of the ring mold easily and had to be pieced together. I put it on an oven proof dish and baked it about 30 minutes more.  After reading this, if you still want to try this dish, read on.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups Milk, Scalded
• 4 1/2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Minced Onion
• 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
• 4 1/2 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
• 3/4  Teaspoon Nutmeg
• 3 Eggs, Well Beaten
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 3 3/4 Cups Well Drained  Spinach

Butter a 2 quart ring mold generously. Bring the milk to a boil with the butter.  Sauté the onions with a small amount of butter until transparent.  Scrape onions into a mixing bowl and add the parmesan cheese, flour, salt and nutmeg.  Mix well and add the beaten eggs.  In a thin stream, add the hot milk and the butter mixture, beating constantly.  Add the lemon juice and spinach, mix well.  Turn into the prepared mold and set in a pan of boiling water.  Place in lower third of preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 1 hour or until firm.  Remove from water and let set for 5 minutes.  Run knife around edge and reverse on a  warm platter.  Fill center with sautéed cherry tomatoes.  Serve immediately.

I made this early in the day and reheated before adding the cherry tomatoes.  See separate recipe for Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes.

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Cooking Spray

• 2 Medium Zucchini (about 1 pound)
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (3/4 pound)
• 1/4 Cup Dry Bread Crumbs
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• Freshly Ground Pepper

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees.  Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch rounds—In a bowl toss with olive oil.

In another bowl, combine parmesan, bread crumbs, salt and pepper.

Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, pressing mixture to stick on both sides. Place on baking sheet.

Bake Zucchini rounds until browned and crisp–about 25-30 minutes.  Serve immediately.

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• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, baked until just tender
• 2 pears, cut lengthwise into eights
• 2 golden delicious apples, cut as the pears
• 1/4 cup lemon juice tossed with apples
• 1/4 pound butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 Tablespoons rum
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cook, in a sauce pan, the butter, brown sugar, honey, rum and cinnamon on the stove until the sugar dissolves. 

Peel and slice potatoes diagonally, 1/4 inch thick. Arrange the fruit and potatoes standing up in a 13 inch pan.  Spoon sauce over all. Bake in a 400 degree oven 20 minutes, basting, until bubbling.  Brown under a broiler if desired. You can garnish with orange zest. 

I give Sharon Walters credit for this recipe.  Always a winner that can be prepared– up to the baking part– in advance.

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Serving Size: 8                                    Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 5 cups                              Fresh spinach, or kale or Swiss chard
• -                            (lightly packed and to torn into small pieces)
• 2 medium large              sweet potatoes peeled and cut in 1″cubes
• 1/4 cup                             Olive oil
• 3                                        onions, finely chopped
• 4                                        garlic cloves, minced
• 2                                        celery ribs,sliced
• 8 cups                               vegetable broth or water
• 1 1/2 cups                         chopped canned tomatoes (Use large can) — with juice
• 1                                         carrot sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon                    nutmeg
• dash cayenne and salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat, add onions, garlic and celery, and saute stirring often for 10 min. Stir in all the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the greens.

Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue stirring occasionally for 45 min, or until the potatoes are tender.

Remove 2 cups of the soup and puree it, then return it to the pot.

Stir in the spinach, or other greens, and cook about 5 min. until the greens are tender.

Recipe By: Joyce

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Serving Size : 10

Preparation Time : 30 min                  Cook time     : 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2  lbs                       Asparagus, tips reserved, stalks cut into 1-inch lengths
• 1/2 lb                      Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2  tablespoons       unsalted butter
• 3  medium              leeks, white and tender green parts only — thinly sliced
• 2 1/2  cups              chicken broth(stock)
• 2  cups                     water
• 1 large                      thyme sprig
• 1 1/2 cups                milk
• 1 1/4 teaspoons      salt
• 1/4 teaspoon          white pepper, freshly ground

Chive oil (recipe separate)

In a saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch the asparagus tips until crisp-tender, about 1 min. Drain the asparagus tips in a colander and refresh under cold water. Pat dry, halve the tips lengthwise and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan (pot). Add the leeks and cook over moderate heat, stirring until softened, about 5 min. Add the asparagus stalks, potatoes, stock, water and thyme and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 min.

Discard the thyme sprig. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender and then transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the milk, salt and white pepper. Let the soup cool to room temp, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Ladle the soup into chilled bowls and drizzle with Chive Oil. Garnish with the asparagus tips and serve.

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Suggested Wine: Sauvignon Blanc–1999 Caymus Vineyards or 1999 Silverado

NOTES : This creamy soup is the best the next day, after the flavors have gotten to know each other. Season generously before serving.

Recipe By      : Bon Appetit

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