Series

Mashed Potato Base: • 6 large russet potatoes, peeled and quartered • 3 tablespoons kosher salt • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in pieces • salt to taste • 1 pinch cayenne • 3/4 cup milk • 4 ounces Comte, Gruyere, or Cheddar cheese, shredded Au Gratin Potato Topping: • 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and halved • 2 teaspoons kosher salt • freshly ground black pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons melted butter • 2 ounces Comte cheese, Gruyere cheese, or Cheddar cheese, shredded • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Butter a 13x9-inch baking dish. 2. For the mashed potato, add quartered russet potatoes to a pot with 3 tablespoons salt and enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium and simmer until tender when pierced with a sharp knife, but not falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain very well. 3. Return potatoes to the pot, and mash until almost smooth. Add butter, salt, and cayenne. Mash until smooth. 1. Add milk and the 4 ounces shredded cheese, and mash and mix until evenly combined. Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the top. Season the top with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 2. For the au gratin potato layer, slice each half potato into 1/8-inch slices. 3. Fan the potato out slightly at an angle, and place on top of mashed potatoes. Repeat with remaining potato halves to cover the surface, creating 4 rows across by 2 potato halves long, using 8 halves total. Depending on the size of potato and dish, you may have to adjust the layout to cover. 4. Generously salt sliced potatoes, and brush generously with melted butter. Scatter the 2 ounces shredded cheese on top, and finish with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. 5. For the au gratin potato layer, slice each half potato into 1/8-inch slices. 6. Fan the potato out slightly at an angle, and place on top of mashed potatoes. Repeat with remaining potato halves to cover the surface, creating 4 rows across by 2 potato halves long, using 8 halves total. Depending on the size of potato and dish, you may have to adjust the layout to cover. 7. Generously salt sliced potatoes, and brush generously with melted butter. Scatter the 2 ounces shredded cheese on top, and finish with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. 1. Bake in the preheated oven until sliced potatoes on top are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour.

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Chef Bobby's Wine Cellar

Chef Bobby’s Butternut Squash Pasta Ingredients • 1 butternut squash weighing about 2 1/2 pounds • 1 pound pasta • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil • 1/3 cup chopped shallots or onions • 1/4 cup packed, freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1/3 sour cream or heavy Cream or coconut milk • pinch of grated nutmeg • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, for garnish • 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste • Pepper, to taste • Water as needed to thin the sauce, about 1 cup Bake the butternut squash: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the butternut squash lengthwise in half and scoop out the guts and seeds and discard them (or save the seeds and toast them). Pour 1/4 cup of water into a baking dish and place the butternut squash halves cut side down. Bake for 40 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the squash. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Scoop out the squash flesh from the skins and put into a blender. Discard the skins. Sauté the shallots: in the olive oil over medium heat in a small skillet until just beginning to brown, about 2-3 minutes. Purée in blender: Add the shallots to the blender. Add 1 cup water, the parmesan, 1 teaspoons salt and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and blend until smooth. Taste and add more salt if needed. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a little coconut milk or more water. • Add sour cream or coconut milk or cream and heat until warm: 
Pour the sauce into a small pot set over low heat. Mix in the sour cream and warm it through. Do not let the sauce boil. 

Cook pasta in boiling salted water: 
Fill a pot with water and salt (1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water). Set over high heat to bring to a hard boil. Add the pasta and cook at a hard boil, uncovered until al dente. Do not over cook pasta. Mix cooked pasta with sauce: When the pasta is ready, drain and put it into a bowl. Mix with a little of the sauce and serve. Add a dollop of additional sauce and some parsley right when you bring it to the table. I sautéed sage leaves for a garnish and sprinkled hot pepper seeds. Of course more Parmesan. Chef Bobby Nahra Encore Catering & Banquets Freedom Hill Banquet & Events The Blossom Heath Inn HOOK SCS