Creamy Grits With Roasted Butternut Squash And Blue Cheese Recipes

CREAMY GRITS WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Toss the squash with the olive oil to coat evenly and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• While the squash is baking, bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the 2 teaspoons salt and slowly add the grits in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook and stir for 15 to 20 minutes, until the grits begin to thicken. Add the milk and continue to cook and stir for another 5 minutes, until the grains are tender and the mixture is thick.
• Remove from the heat and add the Parmesan cheese, butter, and rosemary, stirring to melt. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, if desired.
• Place the grits on a platter or divide evenly between individual serving plates and scatter the roasted squash on top. Sprinkle with the Gorgonzola, garnish with rosemary, and serve warm.

GRITS AND ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Adjust the oven racks to their top positions and preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Toss the squash, tomatoes, garlic and 2 sprigs thyme with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet, turning the tomatoes skin-side up. Toss the mushrooms with the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the same bowl; spread on another baking sheet. Place the tomato mixture on the top rack and the mushrooms underneath and roast until the squash is tender, the tomatoes char and the mushroom edges are crisp, 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the grits, broth, milk, remaining 2 sprigs thyme, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cayenne pepper in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, uncovered, for 16 minutes, stirring halfway through. (The grits should be fairly thick; if they're not, microwave up to 2 more minutes.) Remove and discard the thyme.
• Heat the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over low heat. Add the hazelnuts and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and slightly brown, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the brown sugar and vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Divide the grits among 4 plates. Top each with a portion of the roasted vegetables and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with warm hazelnut butter sauce before serving.

CREAMY ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Toss butternut squash, garlic cloves, and salt together in a bowl.
• Combine 4 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook until butter melts. Pour over butternut squash-garlic mixture and stir until squash is evenly coated. Spread squash out on the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash is soft and lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon avocado oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add roasted butternut squash and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove and let soup cool slightly until warm, but no longer steaming hot. Stir in 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup half-and-half, and pepper.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Add more broth, milk, or half-and-half if soup is too thick.
• Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with crumbled Gorgonzola. The soup tastes best at room temperature.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add squash and saute until fork-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add garlic, sage, and thyme; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Fold in cream and spinach; bring to a simmer. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Add ziti and toss until evenly coated. Cook until sauce has thickened, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Divide between 8 bowls. Top with walnuts and more Parmesan.