Pastitsio

I thought this was a perfect recipe for a cold autumn night, except the weather wasn't cold at all :)). Nevertheless, we enjoyed it immensely :D

 

For the tomato meat sauce:

• 3 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 large)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 pound lean ground lamb
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 large cloves)
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the bechamel sauce:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan
  
• 2 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 2/3 cup Greek-style yogurt
• 3/4 pound small shells (I used orechiette)

Thanksgiving - the bird

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

A few images with the monster:

Roasted Butternut Squash Entree

I've got this recipe from Mary, but I decided to eliminate the dough (sorry, Mary, I hope you'll forgive me!) and make it into a crustless tart, if I am allowed to call it so. I loved the caramelized onion, next time I make this dish I'll certainly put in some more of it!

Doughnuts

Beautiful, tasty, golden doughnuts! What else to say about these beauties?

Ingredients:

500 gr flour

3 tbsp sugar
2 eggs and 1 yolk
200 ml lukewarm milk
3 tsp dry yeast
3 tbsp vanilla sugar

zest of a lemon
a pinch of salt

Mix the yeast with one tablespoon of sugar and a few drops of milk, then allow it to rise

Orange and Lemon Chicken Drumsticks

A very simple and cute recipe, not costly at all, just the right thing at a time when vegetables are not so abundant, but we feel the need for some fresh flavours on the plate.

Ingredients: 

- 6 chicken drumsticks (feel free to use 8, or a whole chicken, cut in pieces)

- 3/4 stick butter

- salt and pepper to taste

For marinating the meat:

- 1 orange

- 1 lemon

- 1 medium onion, very finely sliced

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- 10 drops Tabasco

Roasted Butternut Squash and Orange Soup

This is my first butternut squash soup ever! I can't believe I've never used this wonderful ingredient before, this soup tastes amazing!

What you'll need:

• olive oil
• 1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 large or 2 small carrots, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice
• 2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
• Kosher salt
• 1 large butternut squash, roasted, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1- inch cubes
• 2 cups white wine
• 2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 bundle thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 orange, cut in 1/2