Recipe For Mushroom And Gorgonzola Soup

MUSHROOM-GORGONZOLA CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound sliced assorted mushrooms in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned and tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook, stirring, until softened, 30 seconds. Add 1 cup heavy cream; bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss with 12 ounces cooked fettucine, adding up to 1/4 cup pasta-cooking water to loosen the sauce. Off the heat, stir in 2 ounces crumbled gorgonzola until creamy; season with salt and pepper.

GORGONZOLA MUSHROOM BOULE

Steps:

• Put the butter and olive oil into a large skillet and set over medium heat. Slice the onion into thin slivers and add them to the melted butter. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for 15 minutes until translucent. Add the mushrooms, rosemary, salt and pepper, and raise the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms give up their liquid. Let the mixture simmer until the mushroom liquid has reduced by 3/4. Add the white wine and reduce again until the pan is almost dry. (The recipe can be made to this point the day before if you like. Reheat the mushroom mixture to continue with the recipe.) Add the crumbled gorgonzola and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and reduce by half. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and spoon into the hollowed out boule. Garnish with a few rosemary sprigs and serve immediately with sliced baguettes for dipping.

CHICKEN WILD RICE SOUP I

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, celery and carrots and saute for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute for 2 more minutes. Then add the flour and stir well. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly, until all has been added. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer.
• Next, add the rice, chicken, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley, ground black pepper, almonds and sherry. Allow to heat through, then pour in the half-and-half. Let simmer for 1 to 2 hours. (Note: Do not boil or your roux will break.)

PETITE FILET WITH GORGONZOLA AND PORCINI MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the beef:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle both sides of the beef with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe medium skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, carefully place the filet in the pan. Cook until browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes a side.
• Transfer the steak to the oven and bake until a meat thermometer reads 130 degrees F. for medium-rare, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the beef from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Another option is to cook the filets on the grill.
• For the sauce:
• Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and the shallots and cook until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the thyme, white wine, salt, and pepper and continue to cook until all of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the Gorgonzola, mayonnaise, and mustard in a food processor and combine until smooth.
• Transfer the Gorgonzola mixture to the skillet with mushrooms and shallots. Gently stir the cheese mixture into the mushroom mixture.
• Slice the beef and serve topped with a dollop of the cheese sauce. Reserve leftover sauce for another use.

GNOCCHI WITH MUSHROOMS AND GORGONZOLA SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the gnocchi: Lightly flour a baking sheet. Put potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with cold water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Reduce to a simmer; cook until potatoes are very tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 25 minutes.
• Drain potatoes. When they are just cool enough to handle, peel, and then pass through a ricer or food mill into a medium bowl. Sprinkle with flour, and add eggs. Season with black pepper and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir mixture with a fork to combine.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead until it is soft and smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide dough into 4 to 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope about 3/4 inch thick. Cut ropes crosswise into 1-inch gnocchi.
• Roll a cut side of each dumpling against the tines of a fork with your thumb so each piece has ridges on 1 side and an indentation on the other. Place on the floured baking sheet until ready to cook (up to 12 hours in the refrigerator, uncovered).
• Lightly brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Add half the gnocchi; when they rise to the top (after about 2 minutes), continue to cook until tender, about 15 seconds more. Transfer gnocchi with a slotted spoon to the oiled baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining gnocchi. (The cooked gnocchi can be tossed in oil and stored, in an airtight container, in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.)
• Make the sauce: Bring cream and stock to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Reduce heat, and let mixture simmer until slightly thickened and reduced by 1/3, about 10 minutes. Add Gorgonzola; stir until melted. Stir in nutmeg and cayenne. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium until hot but not smoking. Add mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and their released liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add gnocchi; cook, stirring gently, until just heated through. Pour cheese sauce over gnocchi and toss gently to coat evenly. Serve immediately.