Sugared Sage Food

SUGARED CRANBERRIES AND SAGE LEAVES

Steps:

• Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer, uncovered, 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Put remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
• Lightly brush cranberries and both sides of sage leaves with sugar syrup, then immediately roll in sugar.
• Transfer to a lightly oiled rack and dry at room temperature, 2 to 3 hours.

SUGARED CRANBERRIES AND SAGE LEAVES

Steps:

• Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer, uncovered, 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Put remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
• Lightly brush cranberries and both sides of sage leaves with sugar syrup, then immediately roll in sugar.
• Transfer to a lightly oiled rack and dry at room temperature, 2 to 3 hours.
• Cooks' note: Sugared cranberries and sage leaves keep, chilled in 1 layer in a baking pan, uncovered, 3 days.

SUGARED SAGE

Steps:

• Beat egg white with 1/2 teaspoon water. Lightly brush sage sprigs with egg-white mixture just to moisten, tapping off excess. Sprinkle with superfine sugar to coat completely. Let dry on parchment that has been coated with a thin layer of superfine sugar.

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.

MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• Cover sweet potatoes with water in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and add salt. Cook, covered, over moderately high heat until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid, then drain sweet potatoes in a colander. Transfer sweet potatoes and reserved cooking liquid to a bowl and mash with a potato masher.
• Mash together butter, sage, and salt and pepper to taste, then stir half of sage butter into sweet potatoes. Serve potatoes topped with remaining sage butter.