Panzanella Alton Brown Recipes

Steps:

• Place an inch of water in the saucepan and bring to a bare simmer and keep it there. Manage the heat to avoid boiling.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes then sear the fruit on all the cut sides. Try not to cook the fruit until it turns mushy...but you do want color. When the fruit is almost done, add 2 ounces of the Marsala to the skillet and cook another 30 seconds. Remove the fruit to a bowl and pour over with whatever liquid remains in the pan. Stir in the basil. Set aside.
• Toast the cake pieces in a toaster oven, or quickly broil them in your main oven. We're looking for toasty golden edges here...not burnt bits. Divide the cubes between the serving bowls. (A few of these pieces will fall into your mouth...that's to be expected.)
• To make the zabaglione, whisk the egg yolks in the metal bowl vigorously for 3 minutes. They will lighten in color and increase in volume a bit. While still whisking, slowly add half of the sugar. Combine the rum with the remaining Marsala and drizzle half into the egg yolks, still whisking, then the rest of the sugar and then the remaining marsala/rum combo.
• Set the bowl over the simmering water and reduce the heat to low. Stir constantly for 8 to 10 minutes, to cook the eggs and create a light foam. Your arm will get tired but you will be a hero.
• The zabaglione will be done when it reaches a light, frothy ribbon stage (falls like a "ribbon" off the whisk) and hits 135 degrees F on your thermometer. At that point, remove the bowl from the saucepan and continue whisking for 1 minute to work in some cool air and stop the cooking.
• Top the cake "croutons" with the fruit and spoon on the zabaglione and consume while warm. Later, when the guests have gone, lick the remaining zabaglione out of the bowl like the savage animal you are.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.
• For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.
• In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

Steps:

• Soak the capers in 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a small bowl for 10 minutes. Drain.
• Cut the crust off of the bread. Cut into 2-inch slices and grill, drizzling about 2 tablespoons of olive oil on both sides of the bread. Once grilled, cut or tear bread into 1 inch cubes and set aside.
• Submerge the tomatoes into a large saucepan of boiling water for 10 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes to a large bowl of ice water to cool slightly. Using a small sharp paring knife, peel off the tomato skins. Cut the tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut the tomatoes into 1-inch cubes and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk 2/3 cup of the olive oil, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the bread cubes, tomatoes, and basil; toss to combine.
• Transfer half of the bread mixture to a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish.
• Arrange half of the roasted peppers, drained capers, and olives over the bread mixture. Repeat layering with the remaining bread mixture, then the remaining roasted peppers, capers, and olives. Cover the salad and let stand at room temperature for flavors to blend, at least 1 hour.
• Garnish with the basil sprigs and serve.

Steps:

• For the turkey: Four days before service, place the salt, sage, thyme, black peppercorns, and allspice into a spice grinder and pulse until the peppercorns and allspice are coarsely ground, 5 to 6 pulses. Set aside.
• Set the turkey, breast-side down, on a large cutting board with the tail closest to you. Use an electric knife or heavy-duty kitchen shears to cut up one side of the backbone. Turn the bird around and cut back down the other side of the spine. Reserve the backbone for Giblet Stock. Discard any fat pockets or excess skin found inside the turkey. Turn the turkey breast-side up and use the heel of your hands to press down on both breasts, until you hear a cracking sound and the bird has flattened slightly.
• Rub the seasoned salt on both sides of the turkey. Place the turkey on a parchment paper lined half sheet pan, breast-side up with legs running with the long side of the pan. Store, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 4 days.
• Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and leave at room temperature for 1 hour.
• For the panzanella: Place the parsnips and rutabaga in a large nonstick roasting pan, toss with vegetable oil and set aside.
• Place one rack in the middle of the oven and a second one far enough below so the roasting pan will fit. Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the turkey directly on the middle rack of the oven with the legs perpendicular to the metal bars of the rack.
• Place the roasting pan with the parsnips and rutabaga on the rack below the turkey and roast both for 30 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Add the red onion to the roasting vegetables and stir to combine. Continue to roast both the vegetables and the turkey until a probe thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 degrees F, an additional 40 to 50 minutes.
• Remove the turkey from the oven onto a cooling rack set inside a half sheet pan and rest for 30 minutes.
• Add the Brussels sprouts, bread cubes and garlic to the roasting vegetables, stir to combine and roast for an additional 15 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the oven and immediately transfer to a serving bowl. Pour the apple cider vinegar in the warm roasting pan, stir and scrape off any browned bits from the pan. Pour the vinegar mixture over the salad, add the thyme and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Carve the turkey with an electric knife and serve with the panzanella.

Steps:

• Toss bread cubes in the bacon drippings.
• Sear the halved grape tomatoes in 2 tablespoons of oil, cut side down, until caramelized about 5 minutes, set aside.
• Combine red wine vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl, slowly whisk in olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified.
• Combine all tomatoes, bread, bacon, and lettuce and dress with vinaigrette, toss well, garnish with mint and basil and serve.