Grits With Mushrooms And Acorn Squash Recipes

CREAMY CHEESE GRITS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large pot or dutch oven, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the grits. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook let cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the grits from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the grits are tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the salt, cheese, and butter and stir until melted. Cover and keep warm.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet or braising pan over medium heat. Add half of the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Flip the mushrooms over and brown on the second side, about 5 minutes more. Remove the mushrooms to a large plate. Add another tablespoon of butter to the pan and repeat with the remaining mushrooms.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the now empty pan over medium heat and add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3-5 minutes. Add the seared mushrooms and any juices that have accumulated. Add the tomatoes, their juices, and the thyme and bring to a simmer.
• In a small cup, stir together the cornstarch and 1 or 2 tablespoons of cool water to make a slurry. Add this to the pot along with 1/2 cup vegetable stock. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes more. Add the tomato paste and stir until blended. Stir in the cream, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and more stock if needed to make a spoonable sauce that generously coats the mushrooms. Heat thoroughly, being careful not to let it come to a boil. Taste, adding salt if you like.
• Serve the grits in shallow bowls topped with the mushrooms, sauce, and a sprinkle of chives.

GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450˚. Make the mushroom broth: Combine 7 cups water, the fresh mushroom stems, dried mushrooms, bay leaf and thyme sprigs in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook until the liquid is reduced by almost half, about 20 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large liquid measuring cup. (You'll need 4 cups broth; add more water if needed.) Wipe out the pan and return the broth to the pan.
• Meanwhile, combine the squash, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 grated garlic cloves, the thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; toss. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until the squash is tender and lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Return the mushroom broth to a simmer. Gradually add the grits, whisking constantly. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the butter, fontina and parmesan. Season with salt and stir in the parsley. Remove from the heat; cover to keep warm. If the grits seem too thick, thin with water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sliced mushroom caps and season with salt and pepper. Cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Stir and continue cooking until browned and tender, 3 to 5 more minutes. Push the mushrooms to the edge of the skillet. Add the shallot and remaining grated garlic clove to the center and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Stir everything together and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the grits among 4 shallow bowls. Top with the mushrooms and squash. Sprinkle with chives.

MUSHROOM GRITS QUICHE

Steps:

• For the quiche: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put a 10-inch square baking dish on a baking sheet, brush the bottom and sides with the butter and sprinkle with the toasted cornmeal.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a large skillet over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, about 1 minute, then add the garlic and cook, stirring, another minute. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally and adding up to 1 tablespoon more of oil if necessary, until lightly golden brown and their liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add the wine and cook until almost all of the liquid is gone, about 1 minute. Remove to a plate and cool.
• Bring the milk and 3 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring to a boil, stirring. Cook the grits, stirring occasionally, until thickened and slightly soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Asiago and half the Cheddar and some salt and pepper.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in a small amount of the grits mixture to warm the eggs, Whisk in the rest of the grits mixture and then fold in the mushrooms. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining Cheddar. Bake the quiche until it is just set and the cheese is bubbling, about 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
• For the pesto: Combine the kale, Parmesan, walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper and a splash of the olive oil in a food processor and pulse several times to coarsely chop. With the motor running, add the remaining oil until the pesto is thick and creamy. Stir in the lemon zest and season with some salt and pepper. If too thick, add a few tablespoons of cold water.
• To serve: Spoon the quiche into shallow bowls. Spoon some of the kale pesto on top and drizzle with olive oil. Serve warm with the hot sauce.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH MUSHROOMS AND RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and season cut sides of squash with salt and pepper. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil, and turn cut sides down. Roast until tender, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium straight-sided skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms, onion, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Saute until mushrooms are golden, 8 minutes. Add rice and broth and bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until liquid is absorbed, 20 minutes.
• Remove squash from oven and heat broiler. Carefully scoop out 2 to 3 tablespoons flesh from each squash half and stir into rice; season with salt and pepper. Divide rice mixture among squash halves, sprinkle with Parmesan, and broil until melted, 2 minutes.