JAKE POT RECIPES

Steps:

• For the pasta dough: Create a mound of flour on a clean, flat work surface. Using your fingers, make a well in the center of the mound. Pour the eggs and egg yolks into the well; add the tarragon and 1 tablespoon water. Using a fork, whisk the eggs while incorporating the flour from the inside of the mound, working outward until the flour and eggs are combined. With the palms of your hands, knead the dough. If the dough seems dry and shaggy, dampen your hands with water and knead until the dough is moist but not wet. If it feels wet, add flour, 1 teaspoon at a time. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• For the vodka cream sauce: Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the shallot, sprinkle with salt, and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until fragrant but not burned, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat before carefully adding the vodka and tomatoes. Then put the pan back over medium-high heat and simmer until the alcohol has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tarragon, basil and lemon zest. Then lower the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream; cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Cover and keep warm over low heat.
• To make the linguine, remove the dough from the plastic wrap. Cut the dough into equal quarters and roll each into a small, thick log. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the logs of dough. Feed one piece of dough through a pasta roller set to the widest setting. Fold the dough into thirds and continue to rolling, adjusting the setting to achieve desired thickness. Cover with a thin towel and repeat with the remaining dough logs. Cut the sheets into the preferred noodle length.
• Switch the pasta roller to a linguine cutter. Feed each sheet through the cutter. Flour the noodles and then separate them, or hang them to dry to prevent sticking. Repeat with all of the pasta sheets.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the fresh pasta and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes. Remove the pasta and transfer to the pan with the sauce. Turn off the heat and gently stir just to coat the noodles.
• For the lobster: Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lobster pieces, sprinkle with salt and cook until the lobster is cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Squeeze the lemon over the lobster.
• Transfer the pasta to serving bowls, cover with a spoonful of sauce and top with the cooked lobster. Garnish with tarragon leaves and serve.

Steps:

• For the soup:
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and cinnamon stick and saute until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken stock and the coriander, if using, and bring to a boil. Simmer for several minutes. Stir in the squash until smooth, then simmer gently to let the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Puree the soup in a blender until smooth. (The soup can be made ahead to this point, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for several days or frozen for about 1 month. It will thicken as it cools and may need thinning with stock or water when reheating.)
• Return the soup to the pan and reheat gently. Add the half-and-half, if using. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Keep warm until service.
• To serve:
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Garnish evenly, with the cheese and pumpkin seeds, if desired.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Halve lengthwise, discard the seeds, then cut into 1-inch dice. Place in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter ceases to foam and has turned a light brown, pull the pan off the heat and immediately add the sage, sugar, vinegar (stand back so as not to get splattered), molasses and toasted spice rub. Mix well and let simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the squash and toss well, then transfer to a heavy rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the squash in a single layer. Place in the oven and roast, tossing at least once, until very tender and caramelized, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Set aside until cool enough to handle but still warm, so the liquids are runny.
• Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the warm squash and all the cooking liquids to a food processor and process until smooth. Use immediately, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Serving suggestions: Serve the puree on its own as a side dish for roast chicken, turkey, or pork; stir into polenta just before the end of cooking; use as a stuffing for ravioli; make into a soup; or use to flavor pastina. Or omit the sage, season with ground cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg to taste, and use as a substitute for canned pumpkin in your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
• Put mixture into a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.