Basic Steel Cut Oatmeal

basic-oatmeal
This steel cut oatmeal recipe is a great make-ahead option for a healthy breakfast or a savory side dish.

Sweet Potato-Kale Bread Pudding

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You can bake these little bread pudding muffins a few days ahead; cool and refrigerate. Reheat them in a low oven while the turkey rests. You also can cook this in a 2-quart baking dish instead of a muffin pan, if you prefer.

Lentil Soup with Roasted Pumpkin

Lentils are a staple food in Eritrea, and every time I prepare them I recall my years there. Adding cubed roasted pumpkin lends this soup vibrant color and transforms it into an ideal Thanksgiving starter.

Braised Kale Trio

kale
Use a mixture of different kales, if you can get your hands on them. A local farmer, Bibianna Love, opened my eyes to the incredible variety of flavors and textures between them.

Chef Kurt’s Mom’s Wild Rice Dressing

The spirit of the harvest season, the richness of my mother's kitchen and an acknowledgment of my Heartland roots, all brought together in one enameled, cast iron casserole. ~Kurt Friese

Sweet Potato Puree with Honey and Crispy Shallots

sweet-potato-puree
This is an incredibly versatile side dish that shows just how delicious healthy can be. Serve it with a holiday turkey or a simple roast chicken. Or top it with a mushroom sauté for a meatless feast.

Mushroom Stock

This mushroom stock has stunning rich flavor for stellar soups and fantastic risotto.

Harvest Pasta

There are so many things I love about this pasta. For one, it’s packed with loads of my favorite vegetables. For another, its incredible flavor is the perfect illustration of just how delicious healthy can be. But it also, to me, captures the essence of the change of season: summer’s bounty exuding a homey scent as it roasts in the oven, a portent of the many braises to come. What can I say? This dish truly nourishes me body and soul.

Creamy Corn Polenta

corn-polenta-recipe
Starchy, last-of-the-season corn is actually ideal for this polenta, giving it a natural creaminess, while the vanilla brings out its sweetness.

No Work Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

oven-roasted-tomatoes
I love the whole concept of canning, but more often than not I'll opt for low-heat and a deep freeze to preserve my summer plum tomatoes.