French String Bean Salad

From Ina Garten

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 1 1/2 pounds French string beans, both ends trimmed
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup good olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill

Directions

Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the beans and cook for 1 minute only. Time it carefully! You want the beans to be crisp-tender. Drain the beans and put them in the ice water until completely cool. Drain the beans again, dry on paper towels, and place them in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion.

Pour enough dressing over the beans to moisten them well, reserving the rest for another use. Toss with the dill, season to taste, and serve at room temperature. (If the beans aren't served immediately, refrigerate them and add a little extra vinaigrette and a sprinkle of salt before serving.)

Cranberry Bog Turkey Burgers

From Rachael Ray

Ingredients

Bog Burgers:

• 1 1/3 pounds (the average weight of one package from meat case) ground turkey breast
• 1 small McIntosh apple, finely chopped
• 1 small white onion, chopped
• 1 rib celery from heart of the stalk, finely chopped
• 1 rounded teaspoon poultry seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• Vegetable oil, for drizzling
• 4 sandwich size sourdough English muffins
• 1 cup prepared whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or reduced fat mayonnaise
• 8 leaves Bibb lettuce, cleaned

Directions

Combine turkey, apple, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl and form into 4 large patties. Preheat a large skillet or a grill pan to medium high heat. Drizzle skillet or brush grill with vegetable oiland cook patties 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Toast split English muffins. Mix together cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. Spread muffin halves with cran-mayonnaise and pile in burgers and Bibb lettuce. Serve burgers with corn on the cob and berry desserts.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and corn and cook for 5 to 6 minute. Drain ears and spread with butter. Sprinkle ears with a generous coating of chopped chives.

Roasted Acorn Squash and Gorgonzola Pizza

From Smitten Kitchen

Adapted from Giada DeLaurentis

Yield: 4 side dish servings

1 (1- pound) acorn squash
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (we used 1/2 tsp. and it had plenty of kick)
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus 1/4 teaspoon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1/4 teaspoon
1 pound pizza dough
1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola
1 cup arugula
Squeeze of lemon juice

- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

- Slice the squash in half from top to bottom. Scoop out the seeds. Slice the squash into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide half moons and place in a medium bowl. Toss the squash with the syrup, olive oil, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the squash until tender and golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.

- Keep the temperature on the oven at 375 degrees F. Roll out the pizza dough on a flour dusted piece of parchment paper to a 13-inch diameter. Place the pizza and the parchment paper on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and the Gorgonzola on the pizza dough. Bake in the oven until golden and cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.

- Peel the skins off the squash. Top the cooked pizza with the cooked squash. Toss with arugula with the squeeze of lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Slice and serve.

Comments: it took longer than 25 minutes for the squash to cook and our pizza dough wasn't fully cooked through until about 25 minutes