SAGE BROWN BUTTER RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with pan spray, line with parchment and spray the parchment. Set aside.
• Place the diced apples in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and cover with another plate. Microwave for 2 minutes, until the apples have softened and given off some liquid. Transfer the apples to a paper towel-lined tray and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the butter until it is a deep golden color, 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately pour the hot butter into a medium heat-proof mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon, clove, salt, baking powder and brown sugar. Whisk to combine. Whisk in the vanilla, whole egg and egg yolk until smooth. Add the all-purpose flour and stir with a rubber spatula until nearly combined. Add the reserved apple pieces and the nuts to the batter, saving about 2 tablespoons of each for topping the blondies. Stir the batter until the nuts and apples are evenly combined and then pour the batter into your prepared pan. Press the reserved pecans and apple pieces evenly into the top of the batter.
• Bake the blondies until golden and a toothpick insert near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 33 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan before cutting with a serrated knife into 16 bars.

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven, or a large (12-inch) skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it doesn’t burn.)
• Stir in shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add squash, sage, a large pinch of salt, the 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and the 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and cook until squash is golden at the edges and begins to soften, 12 to 17 minutes.
• Add stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and the 1 teaspoon salt. Cover the pan and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 14 to 18 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the pan dries out before the orzo and squash are tender, add a splash or two of water.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if needed, and a squeeze of lemon juice if the dish needs brightness. Dollop with ricotta if using, and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan and black pepper just before serving, garnishing the top with more red-pepper flakes and sage.