As the weather turns, we tend to crave heartier dishes. That’s just one of the things I like about fall, and that I enjoy about creating recipes for friends during this time of year. Today I am presenting a shareable dish and drink recipe, both that speak to the essences of fall and are perfect to share with friends or just your loved one during this time of year. It is my hope that as colder days set in, these recipes bring warmth to your home!
Harvest Flatbread with Italian Sausage
Ingredients (yields 6 servings):
- 1 lb. refrigerated or frozen and thawed pizza dough
- 1 small butternut squash
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup fresh parsley
- 1 tsp. finely chopped rosemary
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 8 oz. Italian sausage, casing removed, chopped into small pieces
- 3 oz. sharp white cheddar, grated
- Flour for surface and cornmeal for baking sheet
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees
- Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal or line with parchment paper
- On a lightly floured surface, shape the pizza dough into two large, thin ovals. Place on prepared baking sheet
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the butternut squash. Shave about half the squash
- Also with a peeler, remove two strips of zest from the lemon. Thinly slice zest.
- Add lemon zest to a bowl, with the squash ribbons, the parsley, rosemary, and toss with olive oil and ½ tsp each of salt and pepper
- Add sausage and cheddar, and combine
- Divide squash mixture evenly on two ovals. Bake until crust is a deep golden brown and squash is tender (18-20 min)
Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients (yields 4 drinks):
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 level tsp vanilla
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Nutmeg for garnish
- 2 ½ oz. Dark rum
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Preparation:
- Mix together batter ingredients in a large bowl (everything except rum and nutmeg)
- Refrigerate batter until almost firm
- Fill 4 glasses ¾ of the way full with boiling water
- Add ¼ of batter to each glass, and stir until dissolved
- Add rum and heavy cream to each glass
- Garnish with nutmeg
