RECIPE: Upside-Down Apple Pie, from author Courtney Wade

Author Courtney Wade loves the Catskills, and set out to find some of the best recipes she could from this tasty destination for New York State food enthusiasts. In her new book, The Catskills Farm to Table Cookbook, she captured in breathtaking photography not only great recipes, but also features local specialty farms, farmers markets, and top restaurants. She brings it all to the reader to enjoy from their home kitchen.

Courtney shares with us her Catskills-apple inspired recipe for Upside-Down Apple Pie, from The Catskills Farm to Table Cookbook.

Upside-Down Apple Pie

Serves 12

Ingredients

For the Glaze:

¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon corn syrup
¼ cup pecan halves

For the Crust Pastry:

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup lard
4–6 tablespoons ice water

For the Filling:

⅓ cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups sliced, peeled apples

Directions

In a 9-inch pie pan, combine brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup, and mix well. Spread mixture evenly in bottom of pan and arrange pecans over mixture.

To create pastry, combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut lard into flour with a pastry blender or fork, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle water over flour mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, while tossing lightly with a fork until dough is moist enough to form into a ball. Divide in half. Shape each dough into a ball and flatten into a ½-inch thickness, rounding the edges. Place bottom pastry over mixture in pan, gently pressing to fit pan.

Preheat oven to 425°F. In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon; mix well. Arrange half of apple slices in pastry-lined pan; sprinkle with half of sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining apple slices and sugar mixture. Top with remaining pastry. Fold edge of top pastry under bottom pastry and press together to seal edges. Cut several slits in top of pastry.

Bake at 425°F for 8 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake an additional 25 to 35 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Loosen edge of pie and carefully invert onto serving plate. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

About Courtney Wade

Courtney Wade is a chef, photographer, influencer and graphic designer who lives on a farm in upstate New York. Her unique perspective and dazzling photography bring this must-have collection of recipes and stories to life.

THE CATSKILLS FARM TO TABLE COOKBOOK
Written by Courtney Wade
978-1-57826-842-9, $20.00 paperback
978-1-57826-843-6, $12.99 ebook

Published by Hatherleigh Press.
Distributed through Penguin Random House.
Available wherever books are sold.
www.hatherleighpress.com

RECIPE: Farro with White Beans & Kale, from author Courtney Wade

The Catskills is in the process of becoming one of New York State’s premier destinations for local food enthusiasts. From specialty farms to farmers markets and top restaurants, this unique foodshed is featured in an exciting new book from author Courtney Wade, The Catskills Farm to Table Cookbook.

The Catskills Farm to Table Cookbook highlights the region, offering glimpses of delicious recipes and breathtaking photography which will take you on a journey of upstate New York and bring these flavors to your very own kitchen.

Courtney shares with us her Catskills-influenced recipe for Farro with White Beans & Kale, from The Catskills Farm to Table Cookbook.

Farro with White Beans & Kale

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup dry farro
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock (store-bought or see note below*)
1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed
1 bay leaf
½ cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
4 teaspoons olive oil
8 ounces baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
¼ cup shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chopped kale
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring farro, stock*, and bay leaf to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer until grains are tender but still chewy, about 30 minutes.

Stir beans into hot grains. Add cheeses and stir until melted. Cover and keep warm. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until browned on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Add the remaining olive oil to skillet and cook shallots and garlic, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add the kale and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the kale, mushrooms, and parsley into the farro and serve.

*Note: Store-bought chicken or vegetable stock will work just fine, but definitely taste as you use for saltiness. If you would like to create your own stock, check out my recipe below (which will create more than you need for the recipe above).

 

Chicken Stock

Makes 4 quarts

Ingredients

Carcass of 1 roasted chicken
1 onion, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 cup asparagus ends
1 tablespoon peppercorns
3 sprigs thyme
8 sprigs parsley
3 sage leaves
2 bay leaves
6 quarts cold water

Directions

Combine the carcass with all the ingredients in a large stockpot. Cover the chicken with water; note that more may be needed to fully cover it. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat and allow to simmer. Cook stock for 12 to 14 hours, adding more water if needed, to keep chicken submerged. Remove the foam that forms at the top of the stock. Strain the stock, discarding the solids, then pour into jars that can be stored, refrigerated, or kept in the freezer for up to 6 months.

About Courtney Wade

Courtney Wade is a chef, photographer, influencer and graphic designer who lives on a farm in upstate New York. Her unique perspective and dazzling photography bring this must-have collection of recipes and stories to life.

THE CATSKILLS FARM TO TABLE COOKBOOK
Written by Courtney Wade
978-1-57826-842-9, $20.00 paperback
978-1-57826-843-6, $12.99 ebook

Published by Hatherleigh Press.
Distributed through Penguin Random House.
Available wherever books are sold.
www.hatherleighpress.com

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Italian Desert Roses Cookies Recipe

 

If you’re looking for a special occasion dessert, try this recipe by author and expert Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn for Rose Del Deserto (Desert Roses) cookies. It includes healthy options based on Paola’s improved version of the classic Mediterranean diet in her cookbook, which she calls The Mamma Mia! Diet.

ROSE DEL DESERTO (DESERT ROSES)

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 35-40 cookies

INGREDIENTS

  • 130 g (⅔ cup) granulated sugar
  • 120 g (4.3 oz ) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 240 g (1 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 5 g (1 teaspoon) baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 180 g (1 cup) chocolate chips
  • 200 g (7 oz) approx., cornflakes (like Special K) or similar
    Powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350 °F). Cream the butter and sugar in a medium-sized bowl with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract. Then mix the flour and the baking powder together in a small bowl. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and stir in the chocolate chips. Roll teaspoon-sized balls of dough in a bowl of cornflakes. Place the cookies, well-spaced (about 3-4 cm), on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top, just before serving.

Note: This recipe makes about 35-40 cookies. If the dough is too sticky, add one or two spoons of flour. You can substitute chocolate chips with other ingredients such as raisins, for an even healthier snack. Store in a airtight container. You can also store the baked cookies in the freezer; before serving, let them thaw at room temperature and then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

ABOUT THE COOKBOOK AUTHORS

Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn is an Italian pharmacist, researcher and food writer. Cooking, eating healthy food and staying active have always been her life-long passions. She has a cooking blog Passion and Cooking, and contributes to several international magazines. She has previously published in Italy Love is Eating, focusing on Italian culinary culture.

Paola Palestini is a biochemistry professor at the Medical School of the University Milano-Bicocca, Italy. Recently, Paola has been actively involved in the promotion of the principles of a healthy diet through conferences and in collaboration with several magazines. She is the author of seventy-six scientific articles published in international journals.

THE MAMMA MIA! DIET
Written by Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn and Paola Palestini

Published by Hatherleigh Press.