Thanksgiving Panzanella Recipes

THANKSGIVING PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Melt butter over medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Add onions and cook over low-medium heat, about 30 minutes, or until the onions go nearly perfectly transparent. Do not get color on the onions. Remove from pan and save.
• Add 1-2 T of the butter from the onions to the skillet and cook the apples over medium heat until they have taken on a light golden color and have become fork-tender. Remove and add to the onions.
• Cook the sausage over medium until browned, using the back of a wood spoon to break the sausage up as it cooks. Remove cooked sausage and any fat which rendered out and add to the onions/apples.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the french loaf and whole grain cubed breads. Using your hands, loosely crumble the moist cornbread and mix all three to incorporate.
• Add the onions, apples, sausage, butter, and reserved fat. Mix bowl contents to evenly moisten all components.
• Season with fresh thyme, sage leaf powder, grey sea salt, fresh black pepper, olive oil, and mix. If the panzanella is still too dry, slowly incorporate up to 1 C of good chicken stock. This will vary greatly depending on how dried the bread cubes are. Work a little at a time!
• Finally, mix in toasted, lightly crushed pecan halves, and garnish top with brown-butter fried sage leaves.
• Serve warm (or cold the next day; who doesn't love Thanksgiving leftovers?!) and enjoy!

PANZANELLA OF PLENTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Combine all dressing ingredients, whisking well, and set aside.
• Toss brussels sprout halves, butternut squash cubes, and beet cubes with 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. Spread veggies in a single layer on a baking sheet or two. Sprinkle with chopped thyme and bake for 25 minutes, stirring once. Remove and place into a large salad bowl for later mixing.
• Toss cubed bread with remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Spread out on a sheet pan and toast for no longer than 10 minutes. They should be crispy on the outside, but still slightly soft inside. Set aside to cool.
• In the salad bowl with the roasted vegetables, add the cranberries, chestnuts and leafy greens. Add the croutons and mix all ingredients evenly. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing again, and let it all marinate for about 10 minutes. Add any optional toppings and serve at room temperature.