Kale, Butternut Squash, and Cheddar Bread Pudding

I made this recipe the first time for breakfast for my family and it was a huge hit!  I used whole grain bread instead of baguette and it turned out great.   When I had this with Mark I paired it with a steak for dinner, which wasn't such a great pairing.  I feel like this dish is more of a main, and more appropriate for brunch.  Maybe with an arugula salad, and some bacon if you are feeling meaty.  Originally from Epicurious

• 2 pounds peeled seeded butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt plus additional for sprinkling
• 7 large eggs
• 2 1/4 cups half and half
• 6 tablespoons dry white wine
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 day-old baguette (do not remove crust), torn into 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups)
• 1 cup chopped shallots (about 4 large)
• 2 bunches Tuscan kale (about 1 pound), ribs removed, kale coarsely chopped
• 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt; bake until squash is tender, turning with spatula occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes.

Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add half and half, wine, mustard, and 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt; whisk to blend. Add baguette pieces; fold gently into egg mixture. Let soak 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until soft, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add kale; cover and cook 2 minutes. Uncover and stir until kale is wilted but still bright green, about 5 minutes (kale will be a bit crunchy).

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

Generously butter 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Using slotted spoon, transfer half of bread from egg mixture to prepared baking dish, arranging to cover most of dish. Spoon half of kale over bread. Spoon half of squash over bread and kale; sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat with remaining bread, kale, squash, and cheese. Pour remaining egg mixture over bread pudding.

Cover bread pudding with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered until custard is set and bread feels springy to touch, about 20 minutes longer.

Preheat broiler; broil pudding until cheese browns slightly, about 2 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and serve.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Butternut-Squash-and-Cheddar-Bread-Pudding-355792#ixzz2aaKLbTnD

Blinders

Hi Laurel here...who would have known...a show about Texas football and race turns out to be an issue?!

So in the beginning of the episode assistant coach Mac makes some racist comments, on camera, in front of reporters.  He's sort of a Paula Deen about it, he totally doesn't even realize that he is being offensive...he refers to his black players as being "junk yard dogs" and thinks that he's giving them a complement.

Anyway it turns out it causes a bunch of race issues at school.  Tami Taylor tries to have a forum at school so kids can hear and be heard and maybe some of the racial tension can be dissipated.  Much to Tami's chagrin it turns out to be too volatile of an issue and the forum blows up in her face.

Smash in the beginning doesn't care about Mac's comments, he only cares about football.  But Waverly convinces him that it has more far reaching implications than just football.   At the same time he witnesses his mom getting turned down for a loan which may or may not have anything to do with her race but the show leaves us with our suspicions.

To Smash's credit he goes to Coach Mac to discuss the issue and Mac overreacts and tells him to "quit his whining".   Aren't educators supposed to listen to their students and respond appropriately?  I know I'm looking at this with liberal 2013 los angeles eyes but I really think this guys should be fired.

Mark here...I agree with Laurel.  The assistant coach is kind of dense about his comments.  What's weird is that Smash, unbeknownst to Mac was actually on his side prior to their confrontation.

The other plotline of the episode is the powder puff football game which Tyra and Julie are forced to join by Tami Taylor for cutting class.  What's funny is that Tyra becomes really serious about it and eventually Julie gets into it as well.  Although she's pissed initially.  Matt and Tim Riggins are coaches of the team and Matt unfortunately picks Julie 3rd for his team.  In any case both shine through, but Tyra develops a chip on her shoulder because of her mom and Buddy Garrity.  She is super suspicious of her mom's new job with Buddy after they suddenly have work to do after hours.  She takes her anger out on Lyla.  Although I've come to like Lyla, I understand Tyra's anger. She calls Lyla out as a spoiled brat.  Weirdly, I'm waiting for these two to find common ground, maybe that's crazy?

Upping the Ante

Mark here... Laurel and I are sitting down for the next episode of Friday Night Lights, "Upping the Ante".  I've made us some blue cheeseburgers with heirloom tomatoes and sweet potato fries with honey mustard dipping sauce.  This episode wasn't totally riveting but there were some interesting points.

The episode picks up on the tension between Jason and Buddy Garrity as the Garritys have Jason over for a barbecue.  The tension between the two of them bubbles over into an argument about Lyla's future and Jason's ability to take care of her.  Jason blows up and announces that they are getting married.  This prompts Buddy and Lyla's mom to walk away.  Later, Lyla and Jason are talking and it's clear Lyla has changed from the beginning of the series.  She's suddenly concerned with going to school and all the things she was ignoring prior to Jason's injury.  She clearly still loves Jason, but isn't willing to just be taken care of.  This isn't to say she thinks Jason is incapable of providing, but its hard to deny the situation has forced her to realize she needs to be independent, something she should've realized before.  Of course, Jason isn't happy with this.

Separately Tyra and Julie form a bond when Matt is pulled away by the football team during a date and Julie needs a ride home.  Tyra proves a good mentor to Julie.  Sure their backgrounds are different, but they are both smart and Tyra's worldly enough to help Julie.  This is particularly clear when Matt asks Julie to babysit his grandmother, she calls on Tyra to help and Tyra excels.  She brings along some white wine and does grandma's toenails!

Another storyline was Tim Riggins needing his absent dad's signature on a form to get out of a speeding ticket.  His brother warns him about going to see their dad, but it ends up being a bonding experience.  There is a point where they are talking and it's clear Tim is drinking beer and the dad is drinking soda...made clear to us by the bottle vs can.  The whole thing plays out well, though I can't help feeling anxious about the ultimate outcome.  The two are playing golf, if Tim wins the dad has to come to a game.  Dad wins and Tim is angry and it doesn't end well, but then at the end of the episode the dad shows up at the game...

Hey Laurel here...first of all dinner was delicious!  Mark started with really good ground beef from our local fancy butcher, McCall's.  but beyond that the meat was seasoned so perfectly!  Might be the best burger I've ever had, at least in a really long time.

Ok on to the episode...The only thing I wanted to add is the situation between Smash and Coach Taylor.  We see Coach giving Smash a really hard time.  Smash is relegated to team manager and forced to do the team laundry, fold towels etc.  But later in the episode Coach goes to visit him at home showing that he does still have compassion for and respects Smash, he's not just making him be the "ball boy" for no reason.  In the end we find out he is letting Smash start in the next game, which as we know is dicey for Coach.  He is really sticking his neck out.

Just to add a little to what Mark said I'm so glad Tyra and Julie are becoming friends.  I feel like they have so much in common, they are both smart independent girls, it's just that Tyra's mom has no self respect and her sister is a stripper while Julie's family is totally perfect.

Also I think it's important to note that Julie and Matt are really on the rocks now because Matt is totally getting sucked into being a football star.  The whole reason Julie was willing to give Matt a shot in the first place was because he was sort of the anti-football player, he was on the team but didn't act like a football A-hole like all the rest of the guys.  But now he is getting into all the attention and accolades (what teenage boy wouldn't) and Julie feels like she's not getting what she signed up for...it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Bubble & Squeak

This recipe come from the 2 Fat Ladies.  Its meant to be hangover food for late nights but we though it worked perfectly well for breakfast as well.  The original recipe militantly called for lard, but we had leftover duck fat, which I think is a fine substitute.  The general idea is that butter won't do the recipe justice...and don't even think about oil!

Ingredients:

cooled cooked potatoes (I used 4 for the 2 of us and had extra, I boiled them until tender)
duck fat
1 onion, chopped
half a cabbage, shredded and blanched
kosher salt
pepper

First mash/chop the potatoes up.  In a cast iron skillet fry the onion in about 2 tablespoons of the duck fat over medium heat.  Add the potatoes and cabbage and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Add more duck fat on top, a few dollops around the pan.  Press into the fat and cook about 15 minutes.  Flip or turn over to brown the other side.  Again dollop the skillet with more duck fat.  Once, its all evenly browned and not burned, its done.

Steak & Eggs

Mark here... this recipe was for out steak and eggs breakfast.  It's fairly simple although the steak cooking times will depend on the cut and size of the steak.  We find it's best to ask the butcher.

Ingredients:
2 NY Strip Steaks
2 eggs
butter
kosher salt
pepper

For the steaks, it's best to let them come to room temperature for at least 15 minutes.  While they are doing this, liberally salt and pepper each side.

Once ready, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter over a medium high heat.  Add the steaks and cook roughly 3 to 3 and a half minutes per side.  Remove them from the heat and promptly cover with foil tent to sit for 10-15 minutes.

For the eggs, melt a tablespoon of butter over a medium heat in a skillet. Crack the eggs in a separate bowl and remove any shells (be careful not to break the yolk as well).  Drop the eggs into the skillet and cook roughly a minute.  Cover and cook another 30 seconds.  The result should be cooked whites and slightly runny yolks.  Serve!

Artichoke and Red Pepper Salad

This recipe again comes from Ina Garten.  I tweaked it a little because I didn't want to make as much.  I made about the same amount of dressing but didn't use it all.

Ingredients:

2 red peppers
2 boxes of frozen artichokes (defrosted)
Extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
1 shallot
dijon mustard
lemon juice
champagne vinegar
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
capers
red onion
parsley

First to roast the red peppers, coat with olive oil and place on a sheet pan and roast at 500F for about 35 minutes.  Be careful to line the pan with foil.   When done, let the peppers cool, then peel and set aside

Lay the artichokes out an a sheet pan and roast at 375.  Toss with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper.  Roast about 15 to 20 minutes, tossing them occasionally. Separa

To make the dressing, chop the shallot and put in a food processor ( I cheated and gave it a few pulses in the food processor).  Add 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon dijon, 1 tablespoon vinegar and a teaspoon of salt and pepper.  Pulse, then add the basil and while the processor is going, slowly add 1/2 cup olive oil.

Put the artichokes in a bowl and coat with dressing.  Add 2 tablespoons of capers and half a chopped red onion.  Cut up the red pepper and add.  Roughly chop a handful of fresh parsley and add. Toss and serve.

Baked Potato with Yogurt / Sour Cream Dressing

This was another Ina Garten recipe and it's really easy!

Ingredients:

2 Baking Potatoes
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Sat
Pepper
Greek Yogurt
Sour Cream
Chopped Chives

Preheat the oven to 400F.  Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and rub with the olive oil, then salt and pepper each side.  Bake for an hour or until tender.

The sauce is just one part greek yogurt, one part sour cream, salted and peppered to taste and with a handful of the chives.

Crack open the potatoes and dollop the sauce on top.