Pumpkin Crepes With Fontina Cheese Sauce Food

PUMPKIN CREPES WITH FONTINA CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Beat egg with a hand mixer in a bowl. Slowly add flour and salt, alternating with milk, mixing well between additions. Add melted butter and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate batter for 1 hour.
• Heat a small, 6- to 7-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and brush with oil. Pour 1/4 cup of the crepe batter into pan, tilting to coat surface completely. Cook until crepes are dry on the surface, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing pan with oil between crepes as needed, to make 4 to 5 crepes total.
• Heat butter and olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add pumpkin and leek; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until leek is translucent and pumpkin is tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine fontina cheese and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until cheese has melted and sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Divide the leek and pumpkin filling down the center of the crepes and fold the sides over the filling. Place filled crepes into the prepared casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce on top and add a few rosemary leaves.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

BAKED CHEESE CREPES

Steps:

• Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Heat a 6-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Brush the skillet with some butter. Working quickly, pour 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture into the pan, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan evenly. Cover and cook until the egg crepe is just set, about 1 minute. Invert the skillet over a plate, and allow the egg crepe to drop onto the plate. Repeat to make 10 crepes total, brushing the skillet with melted butter as needed and stacking crepes on the plate.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Arrange 1 egg crepe on a work surface. Place some of the fontina and mozzarella cheese in the center of the egg crepe, then sprinkle with some basil. Roll up the crepe. Place the filled crepe in the prepared baking dish, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining egg crepes, cheese, and basil. Spoon the marinara sauce over the crepes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and dot with 2 tablespoons of butter. Bake until the cheese melts and the top is golden, about 15 minutes.
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 small onions, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 2 (32 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 dried bay leaves
• In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)
• Yield: 2 quarts
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

FONTINA PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta until just done. Don't overcook. Drain and place in large bowl.
• Over medium heat in medium sized pot melt the butter.
• Add the sliced mushrooms and saute until just browned.
• Stir in the flour and cook for approx 3 minutes or until the bitter taste of the flour is gone. Do not brown.
• Add the hot milk and cook until just thickened.
• Add the seasonings to your taste.
• Combine the sauce with 2 cups of the cheese until melted. Add to pasta in bowl and mix.
• Spray a large casserole dish with non stick coating and pour in the pasta mixture. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
• Cover and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until bubbling.