Sage Walnut Butter Food

RAVIOLI WITH SAGE-WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Combine the vinegar, honey and bay leaf in a small saucepan and boil over medium-high heat until syrupy, 4 to 5 minutes. Cover to keep warm.
• Add the ravioli to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the sage and walnuts and cook until the nuts are toasted, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high, ladle in about 1 cup cooking water and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by about half, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Drain the ravioli, reserving another 1/2 cup cooking water. Add the ravioli to the skillet and toss to coat, adding the reserved water as needed. Remove from the heat, toss with the parmesan and season with salt. Divide the ravioli among plates and drizzle with the balsamic syrup.

SAGE-WALNUT CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When bubbling, add the flour. Cook, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, for 1 minute. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
• Remove pan from heat; stir in cream, sage, walnuts, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cover; set aside to infuse for 30 minutes.

SAGE-WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey and a bay leaf in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until syrupy, 5 minutes. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1/3 cup sage leaves and 1 cup chopped walnuts; cook 3 minutes. Add 1 cup pasta-cooking water and cook until reduced by half, 2 minutes. Toss with 1 pound cooked tortellini, some grated parmesan and salt. Drizzle with the balsamic syrup.

GORGONZOLA AND PEAR AGNOLOTTI WITH SAGE & WALNUT BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the flour and eggs to the bowl of a food processor. Blend for 30 seconds until the mixture is sandy but holds together when pressed between your fingers. Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface. It will be crumbly, but once you start kneading, it will all come together. Gather the dough and begin to knead with the heel of your hand until it's supple and shiny, 1 to 2 minutes. If the dough feels too dry and not springy enough, add a touch of water and continue to knead until it reaches the right consistency. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Add the pink peppercorns to a small saute pan over medium heat. Toast the peppercorns until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer into a spice grinder and blend. Set aside.
• Heat a large, high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and the pear and saute, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sauteed pear to a small sheet tray to cool.
• Add the garlic and stick of butter into the same pan and gently melt over medium heat. Add the walnuts and sage. Cook the butter, swirling occasionally, until the milk solids have separated, and the butter is nutty and browned, but not burned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar, then remove the garlic and discard.
• Stir together the mascarpone and Gorgonzola dolce in a large bowl, beating well with a rubber spatula until fully combined. Add the cooled sauteed pears and 1/4 teaspoon of the toasted pink peppercorns and gently stir to combine. Season to taste with salt. Set up a pastry bag with a large round tip. Fill the bag with the mascarpone and Gorgonzola filling, then set aside.
• To roll out the pasta, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time (keeping the others covered with plastic wrap so they don't dry out), flatten the dough with your palm. Feed the dough through your pasta roller on the widest setting. Fold the dough on either end to create an envelope, then feed through the pasta roller a second time. Fold the dough into an envelope again, decrease the pasta roller setting to make it thinner and run the dough through again. Repeat this process of folding and running through the pasta roller two times before decreasing the thickness of the roller, finishing with the thinnest setting.
• Lay the sheets of pasta on a parchment paper-lined sheet tray and cover with a damp towel while you repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
• To fill and shape the agnolotti, lay a pasta sheet on a floured board with one of the long edges closest to you. Brush the edge closest to you with water. Pipe a line of filling down the center of the dough. Fold over the top portion of the dough to meet the edge that's been brushed with water. Pinch the dough on either side of each mound of filling to seal the dough and to ensure there are no air pockets. Using a fluted pasta wheel, trim the edge of the dough where it's folded to create a clean edge. Pinch the line of filling into 1-inch mounds. Cut between each mound of filling and pinch the sides. Transfer the agnolotti to a sheet tray dusted with flour and repeat with the remaining dough sheets and filling.
• Set up a large pot of boiling water and season generously with kosher salt. Add the agnolotti and cook for 2 to 3 minutes; they will cook quickly.
• Transfer the agnolotti directly into the brown butter sage sauce and toss gently to ensure they're fully covered. To serve, plate and garnish with more ground pink peppercorns, Parmigiano-Reggiano and pecorino.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH CANNELLONI WITH SAGE-WALNUT CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• To make filling, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet with sides over medium heat. Add onion; cook until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add squash cubes; cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 cup water. Reduce heat, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Mash mixture with potato masher or wooden spoon, and transfer to a medium bowl to cool. When cool, stir in Parmesan and ricotta. Set aside in refrigerator until ready to assemble.
• Wash the spinach or greens well. Remove and discard stems. Roughly chop spinach into smaller pieces. Heat remaining tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach a little at a time; cook, tossing, until wilted and any liquid has evaporated. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the olive oil and remaining tablespoon coarse salt. One at a time, add pasta sheets to boiling water, and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's instructions. Remove the pasta sheets with tongs, and drain them in a colander.
• To assemble the cannelloni, lay out the pasta sheets on work surface. Spoon about 1/2 cup filling down the center of a sheet, and top with a heaping tablespoon of spinach. Brush one long side of pasta with water, roll up, starting with other long side, and seal. Repeat with the remaining pasta and filling. Spread half of the sage-walnut cream sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish. Place the cannelloni in the bottom of the dish, and cover with remaining sauce. Garnish with a few sage leaves. Bake until top starts to brown and filling is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Serve.

BOW TIES WITH WALNUTS, BUTTER & SAGE

Steps:

• Place walnuts in large, dry nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Cook 4-5 minutes, until toasted, shaking pan constantly.
• Remove walnuts, set aside.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions, about 10 minutes.
• When pasta is almost done, melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add sage, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Cook a minute or two to blend flavors.
• Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then add pasta to butter in skillet.
• Gradually add pasta water.
• Stir in cheese and toss to combine.
• Garnish with toasted nuts and serve.