Winter Apple Squash Panzanella Food

WINTER PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook until it foams. Add the garlic and thyme, and immediately add the bread cubes. Toss to coat well. Add most of the grated cheese and stir. Transfer bread to a baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and salt and pepper and gently toss again while still warm to melt the cheese. Bake stirring once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and lightly colored on the outside but still soft within, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Soak the sliced onion in the sherry vinegar and a pinch of salt for about 15 minutes. Set aside.
• Toss the squash with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil, sage, salt, and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until the squash is tender and lightly caramelized, about 15 to minutes. Let cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the quartered Brussels sprouts and cook until tender but retain a touch of crispness, about 1 1/2 minutes, and drain.
• Into the reserved red onions and vinegar, whisk in remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Season with pepper.
• In a large bowl combine the roasted squash, croutons, and Brussels sprouts. Add the vinaigrette and toss. Add the parsley leaves and toss again. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Garnish with grated Parmesan and serve immediately.
• Chef note: "Soaking the onion briefly in sherry vinegar--sometimes called blooming the onion--mellows the raw onion taste."

WINTER PANZANELLA WITH SQUASH AND SALAMI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool. Add the bread to the baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the salami and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, reserving the drippings in the skillet.
• Add the sliced fennel and celery to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook, stirring, until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the roasted peppers and marjoram.
• Pour the fennel mixture over the bread cubes and let sit 2 minutes. Add the squash and salami and toss to coat. Top each serving of panzanella with the asiago and fennel fronds.

WINTER PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Take baby beets and cut them in half. Place on a long sheet of aluminum foil. Split shallots lengthwise, leaving them unpeeled, and add to foil. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, marjoram, thyme, and oregano leaves and season with salt and pepper. Fold foil into a packet and roast in oven until fork tender and nicely caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• In saute pan, cook pancetta until crisp.
• Meanwhile refrigerate goat cheese so it is easier to break up over the salad later.
• Toss the bread chunks with 1⁄4 cup oil until the bread is wet with the oil. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and bake until the bread begins to brown, about 10 minutes.
• While the bread is going, make the dressing. In a large mixing bowl, add the honey, lemon juice, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, 4 tablespoons oil, salt, pepper, and stir together. Add all the remaining ingredients except arugula and gently stir. Taste for seasoning. Remove beets and bread from oven, peel shallots, and add to bowl. Stir together and season with salt and pepper. Add pancetta and arugula.

PANZANELLA WITH WINTER SQUASH AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt to taste. Roast 25 minutes or until soft and caramelized on the edges, turning the slices over halfway through. Remove from heat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add bread and stir until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegars, salt to taste, mustard, garlic and 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) olive oil.
• Combine bread, celery, radishes, half the squash, thyme, parsley and pepper in a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup vinaigrette and toss together.
• Whisk 1 tablespoon olive oil into remaining vinaigrette and toss with lettuce and chives. Place on a platter or in a wide bowl and top with bread mixture. Garnish with remaining squash and the Parmesan shavings. Sprinkle sage over the top, and serve.