Sage Shortbread With Goat Cheese Food

BROWN SUGAR SAGE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dark brown sugar, confectioners' sugar, minced sage and salt. Use your fingers and rub the sage into the sugar to release its flavor. Add the flour and mix to combine. Add the butter and blend on low until a smooth dough forms. Scrape the bowl and paddle and blend for another 15 seconds.
• Place the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, flatten into a disk and wrap. Allow the dough to chill for at least two hours or up to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line two half sheet pans with parchment.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Working on a lightly floured surface (or between two pieces of parchment), roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out desired shapes with a 2 1/2-inch people-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer cutouts to the parchment-lined baking sheets and bake until the edges are a deep golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on the sheet pans.

SAGE SHORTBREAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Blend blue cheese, flour, butter and sage in a food processor until a sticky dough forms. Turn out and work pecans into dough. Divide dough in half and roll into logs about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. The rolls must be very firm before baking. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and cut rolls into 1/4-inch slices. Place slices 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden. Let cool on a wire rack. To serve, top each shortbread with a small amount of goat cheese. For an impressive, festive canapé, you could add a dollop of cranberry sauce, a small piece of pecan and top with a small piece of deep-fried sage leaf.

GOAT CHEESE, APRICOT, AND SAGE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium-size saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Don't let the onions and garlic brown. Next, add the chopped sage and salt and pepper to taste, and cook until the onions are translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the apricots and cook until heated through, 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Thoroughly mix in the goat cheese and set aside. (This can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before stuffing the chicken breasts.)
• Place each chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. With a kitchen mallet, a cleaver, or a heavy tin can, such as a can of tomatoes, pound the breasts until they are between 1/8 and 1/4-inch thick. (They will not roll easily if they are too thick.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread about 1/4 cup of the stuffing down the center of each chicken breast. Fold up the short ends of the chicken breast, and then roll one long side jelly-roll-fashion to the other side. Tie the ends with string to secure them. Place the egg in a shallow bowl and the panko crumbs in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken in the egg, and then roll in the panko crumbs until completely coated. In an ovenproof saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the pan and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Then put the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is a deep golden color and firm when pressed, 10 to 12 minutes.
• After the chicken breasts come out of the oven, remove the strings and put them on a warmed platter; tent with foil. Next, place the pan over high heat and deglaze it with the wine. Boil until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the chicken stock. Boil until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes, and add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Cut each breast in half crosswise and place one half on its side on the plate. Lean the second half against the first, facing down. Alternatively, slice breast into even slices. Drizzle with the sauce, garnish with sage leaves, and serve immediately.

WILD SAGE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine sugar, sage, salt, baking soda and flour.
• Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.
• Beat egg and cottage cheese together until smooth.
• Add melted shortening and yeast.
• Add flour mixture slowly to egg mixture, beating well after each addition until a stiff dough is formed.
• Cover dough with cloth and put in warm place until double in bulk (about 1 hour).
• Punch dough down, knead for one minute and place in well-greased pan.
• Cover and let rise for 40 minutes.
• Bake in a 350-degree oven for 50 minutes.
• Brush top with melted shortening and sprinkle with crushed, roasted pine nuts or coarse salt.

SQUASH WITH RICE, SAGE & GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Cut squash in half lengthways, then scoop out seeds and membranes. Brush insides with a little oil and place in a roasting tin filled to 1cm with water. Roast for 20-30 mins until almost tender when tested with a sharp knife. Scoop out some of the flesh and roughly chop.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a pan, then cook onion and garlic for 5 mins until the onion is tender. Stir in the rice and fry for 1 min. Add the vegetable stock and cook for a further 10-12 mins until the rice is tender and the liquid has all been absorbed.
• Stir in chopped squash flesh, sun-dried tomatoes, goat's cheese, half the sage leaves and seasoning.
• Stuff the squash with the filling, top with remaining sage leaves and cover with foil.
• Return to the oven and cook for a further 15 mins until the cheese is melted and all is heated through. Stand for 5 mins before serving with a green salad.

SAGE BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 16-inch-long, 3/4-inch-wide rope.
• Braid 3 ropes together on a prepared sheet, tucking in sage leaves as you work. Pinch ends to seal; tuck under loaf. Brush with beaten egg. Drape loosely with buttered plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough, sage leaves, and egg wash. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 55 minutes.
• Bake loaves until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Brush center with butter and continue baking until outer crust sounds hollow when bottom is tapped, about 8 minutes more. Brush all over with butter. Let cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

CREAMY MASHED POTATOES WITH GOAT CHEESE AND FRESH SAGE

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 12 minutes; drain well. Return to same pan. Add cheese, 1/4 cup milk, and butter; mash until smooth. Mix in chopped sage; season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat, thinning with more milk, if too thick.) Mound potatoes in bowl. Garnish with fresh sage sprigs.

GRILLED TOMATOES STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons fresh sage and fry 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried sage to paper towel.
• Combine cheese, onions, shallot, salt, and remaining 1 tablespoon fresh sage in bowl. Season with pepper. Using small sharp knife, remove cone-shaped piece 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep from top of each tomato. Divide cheese mixture among tomatoes; top with fried sage.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place tomatoes on grill rack; cover barbecue with lid. Cook until tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes.