SERVES 6 Time icon HANDS-ON TIME 25 MIN, PLUS CHILLING Yes, hot sweetcorn slathered with salty butter is good but have you tried hot sweetcorn smothered with a pancetta, rosemary and garlic butter? It is divine!
1. Cook the pancetta in a frying pan over a high heat for 1 minute on each side until beginning to crisp. Add the rosemary and garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and the pancetta is very crisp. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Put the butter in a bowl, add the cooled pancetta mix and stir to combine. Chill for 20 minutes. Once firm enough to handle, spoon onto a sheet of cling film and roll up into a long cylinder, twisting the ends tightly. Wrap in more cling film and chill until firm (see make ahead).
3. Light a barbecue or heat a griddle pan. When the coals are glowing white or the pan is hot, peel back the husks from the corn and cut off or tie back with string. Rub the corn cobs all over with the oil, then grill for 8-10 minutes, turning, until charred and tender. Spread with the flavoured butter and eat straightaway.
The butter will keep, well wrapped, for up to 48 hours in the fridge or up to 1 month in the freezer.
A sunny white from hot Sicily has the right balance – try a fiano.
Sweetcorn with pancetta, rosemary and garlic butter
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer to large bowl.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season chicken with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Cook until golden and cooked through, 8 minutes per side. Let rest 10 minutes, then cut into 1″ pieces.
Add romaine, tomatoes, Parmesan, croutons, and chicken to pasta bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing, lemon juice, and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Pour over penne mixture and toss to combine.
We used a BIG wheel of brie for this video, which can be very expensive. You can get away with something about (or a little over) half the size. A little bit of brie goes a long way.
YIELDS: 8 SERVINGS PREP TIME: 0 HOURS 15 MINS TOTAL TIME: 0 HOURS 40 MINS
INGREDIENTS
1 (35-oz.) wheel brie 6 strawberries, tops removed and sliced 1/2 c. blueberries 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice 2 tsp. honey Graham crackers, for dipping
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°. Cut off the top rind of brie then place brie in a skillet about its same size. Bake until brie is bubbling and totally melted throughout, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, place strawberries and blueberries in separate medium bowls. Divide orange juice and honey evenly between each bowl and toss to combine. When brie is ready, arrange fruit in the pattern of the American flag. Serve immediately, with graham crackers for dipping.
Thanksgiving is next week. I started my annual holiday cooking routine last this week. From now until the New Year yummy aromas will be coming from my kitchen! The annual game of cat and mouse will begin; family members sneaking tastes of pies, cookies, and candies while I try to keep them hidden. Last year my son and husband went thru a couple of pecan pies a couple of days before Thanksgiving, luckily I made 6 pies!
The first thing I make every year is my homemade applesauce which we use instead of cranberry sauce. It goes great with roast turkey and the Prime Rib roast we make for Christmas. Sealed in mason jars or even just stored in the fridge and the sauce will last thru the holidays.
Over the years I’ve tried different types of apples to make my sauce. You never quite realize just how many types of apples there are until you start shopping for them. I’ve used Fuji, Mackintosh, Delicious, Gala, and Granny Smith apples just to name a few I’ve tried. I’ve discovered that the best applesauce is made by using different types of apples. Yes each apple variety has its own unique flavor and texture so mixing them up makes for a tastier and more robust sauce.
My family will only eat my homemade applesauce, no store bought sauce for them. Even my grandson, Dion, who absolutely will not touch store bought sauce, even as an infant, loves my sauce. It’s sweet and laced with lots of cinnamon. Dion says he likes it because it has a nice texture, not the strained baby food like texture the ones from the store have. It’s a bit chunky, but not too chunky, even the twins, Harper and Sadi, love it! By the way the cinnamon can be optional! My grandson Devon has recently declared that he dislikes cinnamon (this declaration boggles my mind as he still loves cinnamon rolls) so before I add the cinnamon I set aside a small portion just for him.
The applesauce is easy to make, just a bit time consuming. That’s why I make it well ahead of time.
This allows it to chill, we feel applesauce should be served cold. Here’s my recipe, it will make 2 pint size jars or 1 quart size jar.
Ingredients:
2 Red Delicious Apples
2 Golden Delicious Apples
2 Gala or Mackintosh Apples
2 Granny Smith Apples
2 cups sugar (add more if you want it sweeter or less if you don’t want it so sweet)
6+ Cups Water
1 tbls. ground cinnamon (you can adjust this to suit your taste)
Directions:
1. Fill a large pot about half way with water.
2. Wash and peel apples, then cut into bite size chunks about 1/2″ big
3. Place apple pieces in pot of water. Add more water if needed to cover the apples. The top layer will float a bit.
4. Add sugar and stir.
5. Cook on stove over medium heat until water has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to keep bottom from burning. As it cooks and softens you can mash the chunks a bit with the spoon used to stir. The sauce will start turning brownish. If it starts to bubble reduce heat. This process takes about 2-3 hours.
6. When the apples have all liquified and water evaporated remove pot from heat.
7. Stir in cinnamon.
8. Seal in mason jars according to canning instructions or allow to cool then transfer to sealed containers and store in refrigerator. Even If you seal it in jars you should store it in the fridge so it will be cool when served.
You can serve this as a snack, or with roast turkey or beef, and pork chops. It’s really yummy!
The Best Homemade Applesauce
Print Recipe
Homemade applesauce goes great with roast turkey and the Prime Rib roast we make for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sealed in mason jars or even just stored in the fridge and the sauce will last thru the holidays.
Homemade applesauce goes great with roast turkey and the Prime Rib roast we make for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sealed in mason jars or even just stored in the fridge and the sauce will last thru the holidays.
Fill a large pot about half way with water. This is why I put 6+ cups of water in the ingredients. You can adjust it to fill your pot.
Wash and peel apples, then cut into bite size chunks about 1/2" big
Place apple pieces in pot of water. Add more water if needed to cover the apples. The top layer will float a bit.
Add sugar and stir.
Cook on stove over medium heat until water has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to keep bottom from burning. As it cooks and softens you can mash the chunks a bit with the spoon used to stir. The sauce will start turning brownish. If it starts to bubble reduce heat. This process takes about 2-3 hours.
When the apples have all liquified and water evaporated remove pot from heat.
Stir in cinnamon.
Seal in mason jars according to canning instructions or allow to cool then transfer to sealed containers and store in refrigerator. Even If you seal it in jars you should store it in the fridge so it will be cool when served.
Recipe Notes
You can also make this applesauce in a crockpot. Just dump all the ingredients, except the cinnamon, into the pot. Cook for about 6 hours, add cinnamon, and place in storage containers.
If you do make it in the crockpot don't leave it much longer than 6 hours, overcooking will turn it into apple butter. That's good too!
Thanksgiving is next week. I started my annual holiday cooking routine last this week. From now until the New Year yummy aromas will be coming from my kitchen! The annual game of cat and mouse will begin; family members sneaking tastes of pies, cookies, and candies while I try to keep them hidden. Last year my son and husband went thru a couple of pecan pies a couple of days before Thanksgiving, luckily I made 6 pies!
