Frank Stitts Butter Beans Recipes

FRANK STITT'S BUTTER BEANS

Steps:

• Combine the water, onion, herbs, and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Decrease heat to a simmer and cook gently for 15 minutes.
• Add in beans; adjust the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until the beans are just tender, 15-20 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, and add salt if necessary.
• Remove the pan from heat and let the beans rest in their liquid for 10 minutes.
• Serve sprinkled with herbs and drizzled with olive oil; finish with cracked black pepper.

HIGHLANDS BAKED GRITS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, bring four cups of water and the salt to a boil. Stirring with a wooden spoon, add the grits in a slow, steady stream and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened and tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat and add the butter, Parmigiano and white pepper, stirring until combined. Add the egg and stir to incorporate.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375. Butter 8 to 10 4- to 6-ounce ramekins, or a large, oven-safe casserole that will hold the grits.
• Divide the grits among the buttered ramekins if using or fill the casserole, then place in a baking pan and add enough hot water to it to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins or casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for approximately 20 minutes longer, or until the tops are crusty and beginning to brown.
• While the grits are baking, combine the wine, vinegar, shallots, bay leaf, chili pepper and ham in a medium sauté pan, set it over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Cook mixture until only 1 tablespoon of liquid remains. Now reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream. Whisk in the butter bit by bit, adding each new piece as the previous one is incorporated.
• Strain the sauce into a saucepan. Add the Parmigiano and season with salt and pepper, lemon juice and hot sauce to taste. Keep warm.
• Heat olive oil in a small sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Add the thin-cut ham or prosciutto, mushrooms and shallot and cook until the mushrooms are barely tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Unmold the grits onto serving plates and turn browned-side up. Ladle a little sauce around the grits and top with the mushrooms and ham. Garnish with thyme leaves. If using a casserole, you can simply put the sauce on top of the whole, garnish with thyme leaves and serve in big, heaping spoonfuls with extra sauce on the side.

FRANK STITT'S CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place chicken bones in a roasting pan, drizzle with the oil, and toss to coat. Transfer roasting pan to oven and roast, 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly colored.
• Add onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, if desired, and garlic; roast, turning chicken and vegetables occasionally, until bones are golden brown, about 30 minutes more.
• Transfer bones and vegetables to a large stockpot and add 40 cups cold water. Pour off any excess fat from roasting pan. Add a splash of water to pan and scrape up browned bits from the bottom and into the stockpot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Skim fat that has risen to the surface and reduce heat to low. Place thyme, parsley, and bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine to enclose. Add cheesecloth packet to stock, along with salt and peppercorns. Simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, skimming occasionally and adding more water as necessary to keep bones covered.
• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Strain stock through a colander into a large container. Let bones and vegetables drain thoroughly before discarding. Strain stock again through a fine-mesh or cheesecloth-lined strainer into a container set in the ice-water bath. Let cool, stirring occasionally.
• Cover stock and transfer to refrigerator. When stock has chilled, remove any fat from surface.