Mushroom Crostata Recipe

I think a mushroom-filled crostata would work wonderfully. The rustic look of the free-form savory pie and the earthy flavors of the five londs of mushroom used go hand in hand. I also added a bit of sharp Cheddar cheese for its melty, stringy and delicious qualities.

The reason I used that many mushrooms (shiitake mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms, beech mushrooms, Boletus mushrooms and fresh white button mushrooms) is because we're going on a family vacation for Spring break to San Antonio , Texas --follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more pictures-- and my mission was to "empty" our refrigerator. You could add pancetta to the mushroom filling if you don't mind the dish being non-vegetarian. It gives a subtly sweet, salty note, which is very pleasant.

Holiday Canape Appetizers

Canapés are small appetizers that are perfect for a holiday cocktail party. These sweet and savory Christmas canapes invoke the colors of the season through the use of candied orange bits. 

The base is a blini made of rice flour for extra crispness. The top is slightly melted sharp cheddar cheese with a garnish of oil-cured black olives and the candied orange rind. You may have heard that citrus and cheese don't play well together, but the tart/sweet rind doesn't have some issues. 

If you have other leftover dried fruit, feel free to use it instead. A spreadable cheese is also a great substitute for the cheddar. The bottom line is that you can assemble these appetizers quickly and make use of whatever ingredients you have on hand.

Sun-Dried Tomato Polenta Recipe

Polenta is a coarse corn meal that, if cooked properly, makes a great side dish. It's definitely a change from mashed potatoes. I had some left-over polenta from last time I made cornbread, so I made this version, flavoring it with a small jar of sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. 

The preparation is similar to making risotto. The polenta cookes in a certain amount of broth until all the liquid is absorbed and there isn't a raw, starchy taste. At the end, I add sour cream for a richer mouth-feel.

Salsify Potato Cheese Gratin

Gratin of salsify is a very common French winter dish. For my version, I added steamed fingerling potatoes and diced Granny Smith apples to make the flavors more interesting. The acidity of the apples and the starchiness of the potatoes give the salsify a great balance both in texture and taste. As you would any other gratin, the dish is covered them with béchamel sauce made with cheddar for a rich color. The crust is topped with Dubliner cheese.

If you've never tried Dubliner cheese, you should. We've all become addicted to it. Its flavor is very similar to an aged gruyère, but with fruitier notes and a sharper bite. It's become one of my "go-to" cheeses for cooking. It takes this classic French version of comfort food to another level.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup Recipe

I had 5 tortillas left-over from the burritos we made over the weekend that were going stale, so I decided to make a large pot of tortilla soup. I use the tortillas as a thickening agent in the soup, and also as a garnish on top of the dish. To the tortillas I added tomatoes and tomato paste for a little tartness, jalapeños for a little heat, and some kidney beans and soy chorizo for protein.

The spices give the soup an earthy flavor and the Cotija cheese and sour cream that I top each serving with are very soothing for the taste-buds.

Tortilla soup is a really hearty dish that's the perfect cure for the dreary weather we've been having here as of late.