Class Prep List & Agenda:

Mise-en-place is the religion of all good line cooks. Do not “mess” with a line cook’s ‘meez’ — meaning his setup, his carefully arranged supplies of sea salt, rough-cracked pepper, softened butter, cooking oil, wine, backups, and so on.
As a cook, your station, and its condition, its state of readiness, is an extension of your nervous system…

The universe is in order when your station is set up the way you like it: you know where to find everything with your eyes closed, everything you need during the course of the shift is at the ready at arm’s reach, your defenses are deployed. – Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential

Here’s what you can prep ahead of class, techniques learned and the order that the recipes will be prepared.

1st Recipe: Acorn Squash with Savory Apple Stuffing

●  To Do: Bake croutons in 350°F oven, increase oven temperature to 425°F, cut squash in half and seed, chop celery, garlic and apple, lightly beat eggs.

●  Techniques Demonstrated: How to dice an onion, delicious side dish.

2nd Recipe: Fennel Sausage with Beer, Apples & Onions

●  To Do: Grind fennel & caraway seeds, prepare apples, piece sausage, have a pan with a cover.

●  Techniques Demonstrated: How to slice an onion, hearty Oktoberfest style dish.

3rd Recipe: Semi Homemade Apple Cake

●  To Do: Make crumb topping, preheat oven to 325F, slice apples.

●  Techniques Demonstrated: Simple fall dessert using a cake mix.

4th Recipe: Kale & Apple Salad

●  To Do: Remove kale ribs, slice thin and rinse with salad spinner, have large salad bowl ready, cut the dates.

●  Techniques Demonstrated: Removing ribs from kale, cutting an apple into matchsticks.

Kale and Apple Salad

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 bunch curly (mix of red and green)kale, ribs removed, leaves very thinly sliced*
• 1/4 cup dates
• 2 Honeycrisp apple*
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1 ounce Pecorino, finely grated (1/4 cup)
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the kale, toss to coat and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. While the kale stands, cut the dates into thin slivers and the apple into thin matchsticks. Add the dates, apples, almonds and cheese to the kale. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.

Acorn Squash with Savory Apple Stuffing

Serves 4 (serving size: 1 stuffed squash half)

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
• 2 (1-lb.) acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded*
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 sourdough boule or country white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (3 cups)*
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 2/3 cup finely chopped celery
• 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon dried sage*
• 1 Piney River Gold Apple, peeled and finely chopped*
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable broth (more as needed)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. On a baking sheet, toss the bread with 2 tablespoons of the oil; season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes, until toasted. Transfer the croutons to a bowl.
2. Once the croutons are done, increase the oven heat to 425°F.
3. Brush 1/2 teaspoon oil over cut sides of squashes; top with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place squashes, cut sides down, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes or until almost tender. Remove from the oven.
4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onion and celery and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sage and cook, stirring frequently. Mix the apple, eggs and broth into the croutons; season with salt and pepper. Let stand for 5 minutes. If the stuffing is still dry, add more broth, one tablespoon at a time.
5. Spoon about 1/2 cup stuffing into each squash half. Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes or until squash halves are tender and lightly browned.

Fennel Sausage with Beer, Apples and Onions

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 large onion (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
• 3 large Piney Gold River Apples (about 1 1/2 pounds total), peeled, cored, thinly sliced*
• 4 links fennel sausage (about 1 pound), pierced all over with skewer /Chaotic Good Tempeh Italian Crumbles*
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 can English Ale /12 oz broth
• 2 tablespoons dry vermouth
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

1. Place caraway seeds and fennel seeds in a small resealable plastic bag. Crush seeds with a mallet.
2. Heat a deep saute pan or dutch oven to medium heat and add vegetable oil to the pan. Sear the sausages on all sides until brown all around.
3. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the onions and apples to the pan. Saute until onions start to soften. Add the bay leaves. Return the brats to the pan, with their juices. Make sure the sausages are nestled in the vegetable mixture.
4. Add the can of beer, lower the heat and cover. Simmer until the sausages are cooked all the way through. Mix vermouth, and ketchup in a measuring cup. Pour ketchup mixture evenly over the mixture after 5 minutes of cooking. Let the sausages simmer for about 15 minutes. Check for doneness.

Simple Apple Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 package of LillyBean Vanilla Cupcake Mix
• 4 tablespoons of any neutral oil
• 1⁄2 cup of milk or 3⁄4 cup milk substitute
• 2 large eggs (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 Fresh Jonagold Apples*
• Non stick cooking spray

Topping:

• 6 tablespoons AP flour/GF flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons EV olive oil or unsalted butter 3 tablespoons sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:

1. Slice the fruit thin and set aside, if using apples, slice them at the last minute so they don’t oxidize.
2. Mix the crumb topping ingredients together by hand in a small bowl until clumpy, put the bowl in the freezer until ready to bake.
3. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
4. In a bowl add the cinnamon and dry cupcake mix together and blend with a fork. Add the oil, eggs, and milk and stir until well combined.
5. Pour batter into desired greased cooking pan, top with thinly sliced fruit, gently pressed into batter and sprinkle with crumble topping.
6. Cake can be baked in a greased preheated 10” cast iron pan, or a cake pan, or in paper lined mun tins. Be creative!
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes (for a cake, less for cupcakes) or until a toothpick comes out clean with little or no crumbs.