FESTIVE RECIPES

The Abbey’s Butternut Squash and Apple Bisque with Toasted Almonds (serves 20)

• Fresh grated ginger 1 tsp

• Vegetable oil 1 oz

• Diced fresh yellow onion 5¾ oz

• Diced fresh celery 5¾ oz

• Minced garlic clove 2 each

• Butternut squash 2 lbs.

• Chicken broth 2 qt 3 cups

• Roux (flour and butter) 2 cups

• Apple sauce 3 cups

• Heavy whipping cream 1 lb.

• Kosher salt 1 tsp

• Black ground pepper ½ tsp

• Toasted sliced almonds 2 cups

1. Heat oil in pot and add the onion, celery, garlic and ginger. Cook until slightly tender.

2. Add butternut squash and chicken stock to pot.

3. Simmer until the vegetables are soft and tender; about 1 hour.

4. Incorporate roux until desired thickness.

5. Blend the soup until smooth and add the heavy cream.

6. Return to a simmer. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Garnish with toasted almonds.

Cajun Dirty Rice from Treemont

• Chicken broth (14-oz)

• 1 bay leaf

• Long grain rice 1 ½ cups

• Bacon grease or vegetable oil 1 tbsp

• Ground pork ½ pound

• Chopped medium onion

• Chopped celery rib

• Seeded and chopped ½ green bell pepper

• Finely chopped chicken livers ½ cup

• Minced garlic cloves 2 cloves

• Salt ½ tsp

• Cajun seasoning (like Tony Chachere’s) 2 tsp

• Dried thyme ¼ tsp

1. Set aside ½ cup of the chicken broth and pour remaining chicken broth in a medium saucepan. Add 1½ cups water and bay leaf. Bring to boil. Add rice, cover and cook 20 minutes.

Heat bacon grease in a cast iron Dutch oven. Add ground pork and crumble it with a wooden spoon.

2. Once you have the ground pork crumbled, add onion, celery, and green pepper. Cook stirring occasionally until pork is no longer pink and vegetables are softened. Add chicken livers and garlic and continue to cook five minutes.

3. Add salt, Cajun seasoning, and thyme.

4. Add reserved chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to release all the brown pieces. Let simmer one minute.

5. Remove bay leaf from rice and add rice to Dutch oven. Stir it into the ground beef mixture. Keep the heat on while you stir. Once it is combined well, remove from heat.