Friday, September 28, 2012

FFwD - NOT Endives, Apples, and Grapes


Thanksgiving Squash and Apples
Yes todays French Friday assignment  was for Endives, Apples, and Grapes but there was no endive in two grocery stores so I decided to go with Dorie's bonne idee and use squash instead.  I just happened to have 1/2 a butternut in the fridge since I had made butternut risotto a few days ago....remember the day the news came out that rice is high in arsenic?  Yeh, I heard that as I'm stirring my risotto.

Anyhow, we loved this and it will be making an appearance on our Thanksgiving table.  I served it with baked pork chops but I can imagine it with turkey and cranberry relish.  It was delightful to have something entirely new, a whole different set of tastes and textures.  And the smell?  Divine!  A raw grape will never again be quite as satisfying as one sauteed in butter with rosemary!  Tossing with toasted pecans is a must and completes the interesting textures going on!  I can't say enough good things about this dish!

Check out all the amazing French Fridays blogs and see what everyone is up to this week!

Butternut Sage Risotto

I just wanted to share a photo of my risotto because it was the best I've ever made.  The sage with the squash was extremely flavorful and paired perfectly with the creaminess of the rice.  It made a heavenly dinner followed by Tuesdays with Dorie nectarine upside down cake which I have yet to blog about.....but I will eventually.

14 comments:

  1. So happy to see that a few Doristas made the Bonne Idee. I came so close, but endives are easy to find around here and squash hasn't quite started to hit the markets yet. I will definitely be making this soon though, it sounds fantastic and I am always looking for Thanksgiving recipes which aren't fighting with the turkey and stuffing for oven time.

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  2. Such fun to see the squash variation as I really want to try that one soon...and yes, a nice addition to the Thanksgiving table here as well. Nice photo...looks so comforting and fallish and beautiful in color.

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  3. Your photos are lovely. Glad to hear you liked this recipe using squash. I need to give it a try. I loved the grapes, also. I hope you have a nice weekend:)

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  4. Yummy! Love the squash in your dish, now -for me- that makes it a real Thanksgiving side dish !!
    I love butternut sage risotto and your photo is lovely;-)

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  5. I like the idea of the butternut squash, it would b perfect for Thanksgiving. Your risotto looks fantastic and so perfect. I just
    made the rice pudding again using arborio rice and it is wonderful. Only one problem, I like it too much and I don't
    think it is too good on the hips. Have a great weekend.

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  6. One of the things I like so much about this book is that it encourages us to think on our feet and make everything our own as you have done here. I'm such a fan of rosemary that I will certainly make this again and again but that part will always be there!

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  7. Yes, the grapes stole the show.
    I totally want to bury my head in the grass about the whole rice deal - however, I still contend that it's better for you than a chicken mc nugget...

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  8. It is wonderful that you enjoyed this recipe as well and I must say that the idea of adding butternut squash to this sounds so delicious, especially when it is paired with porc chops! And I do like the look of that butternut risotto, it is so colorful!

    Have a good weekend!

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  9. I am not a big fan of endive but I gave it a try! Next time tough it's going to be squash... definitely. Lovely photographs. Have a great weekend!

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  10. The grapes were so good, weren't they? I'm happy you had great results with the squash as I will definitely give that a try, WITH the toasted pecans. Your whole combo sounds wonderful. I can never find a good recipe for baked pork chops. I'd love to know how you prepare them.

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  11. So glad you loved this one! I was so-so on this dish, but it's your gorgeous risotto that's really piqued my interest!!! YUM.

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  12. I loved this one too! I can’t wait to try it with squash…looks fantastic!! Beautifully done, Guyla!

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  13. Your risotto looks fantastic! The squash version sounds great!

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  14. your risotto is just great looking! how kismey that you made this with squash instead of endives!

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