Penne With Sweet Potatoes And Fennel Recipes

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel, retaining drippings in the skillet.
• Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir onion and fennel in hot bacon drippings until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add sweet potato, place a cover on the skillet, and cook until sweet potato is tender and slightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Pour whiskey into the skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir bacon in the vegetable mixture. Add brown sugar and stir to incorporate. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until the whiskey has been absorbed and the liquid is caramel-colored, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Peel half the skin from the eggplant and then chop into bite-size pieces. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt, and drain a few minutes on paper towels.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat, and add the sausage. Crumble the sausage and cook until brown. Add the garlic, celery and onions to the sausage. Pat the moisture off of the eggplant and stir the pieces into the mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the vegetables, partially covered, to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and basil. Bring to a bubble and simmer the sauce to combine the flavors.
• Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat the sauce on the stovetop over medium heat. If the sauce is too thick add a little water or chicken stock if using to thin it out.
• To serve, bring a pot of water to a boil. Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta to al dente. Add about 1 cup of starchy water to the sauce. Then drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Adjust the seasoning, then serve in shallow bowls and top with grated cheese and a drizzle of EVOO.

Steps:

• Scrub and pierce sweet potato; place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 10-12 minutes or until tender, turning once. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard skin. Place potato in a large bowl and mash with milk., Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet, saute pine nuts and sage in butter until pine nuts are toasted. Remove from pan and set aside., In the same skillet, saute garlic in oil for 1 minute. Stir in the sweet potato mixture, salt and pepper. Drain pasta, reserving 3/4 cup cooking water; add to sweet potato mixture. Stir in the cheese, pine nut mixture and reserved cooking water. Sprinkle with additional cheese if desired.

Steps:

• Use a fork to poke holes into 1 sweet potato. Wrap the sweet potato in a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 10-12 minutes, until fork-tender.
• Peel and dice the other sweet potato into 1-centimeter (½ inch) cubes.
• Carefully scoop the pulp of the cooked sweet potato into a food processor or blender. Add about 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and blend under smooth. Add a splash of water if the puree is too thick.
• In a pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms start to crisp, about 3 minutes.
• Add 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the mushrooms and remove from the heat. Drain the mushrooms of excess oil in a paper towel-lined bowl.
• Add 6 tablespoons of the butter and sage to the pan and cook until brown bits start to form on the bottom, being very careful to not burn the butter.
• Once slightly brown, remove the sage and add the cubed sweet potato and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, until the potato becomes tender.
• Stir in the reserved purée and chicken stock. Simmer for two minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and the mixture comes together smoothly.
• Add the penne and mushrooms and coat evenly in the sauce.
• Finish the pasta with 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and sherry wine vinegar, stirring to combine. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
• Serve warm, garnished with chives, crushed amaretti cookies, and more Parmesan.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss chicken with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and arrange on a large rimmed baking sheet, skin-side up.
• In the same bowl, toss potatoes and fennel with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and arrange in an even layer around the chicken.
• Roast until chicken and potatoes are a deep golden brown and fennel is starting to caramelize at the edges, about 35 to 45 minutes.
• As chicken cooks, combine vinegar, lemon zest and juice, mustard, garlic and 1 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a thin stream and stir in pecorino. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board to rest. Toss the fennel fronds and parsley with the roasted vegetables.
• To serve, cut the chicken off the bone and slice. Divide chicken and vegetables among plates. Serve with a handful of leafy greens if you like, and spoon the pecorino vinaigrette over everything.