Fettuccine with Sausage and Mushrooms

This was a dish that passed my family's taste test.  It was an easy enough and delicious dish, perfect for weeknight's dinner.

Fettuccine with Sausage and Mushrooms

Serves 4



Kosher salt

12 ounces fettuccine

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

1 small onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

1/2 pound sliced mixed mushrooms

2 cloves garlic, chopped

4 plum tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth

2/3 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Salt and freshly ground pepper



Bring a pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook as the label directs.  Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add sausage and cook, stirring, until browned, 3 minutes.  Increase the heat to high; add the onion, celery, and mushrooms and cook, stirring, until tender, 4 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.

Reduce the heat to medium high; add the tomatoes and wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.  Add the cream and cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.  Stir in the parsley and reduce the heat to low.

Add the pasta to the skillet and cook, tossing, until it absorbs more of the sauce, 2 to 3 minutes.  (Add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen, if needed.)  Season with salt and pepper.



Source:  Food Network Magazine, December 2012.

Smoked Salmon Hash

Hello and Happy New Year!

It was a beautiful morning when I woke up today.  The sun shone bright and not a cloud could be found in the sky, but the air was cold and crisp.  Last night we spent at home watching the ball drop at New York's Times Square.  Sounded boring, huh?  We're usually not too keen of going anywhere on New Year's Eve, it's mostly spent being together as a family.  I had an interesting book to read last night though, and didn't go to sleep until quite late so my morning started late.

Well, late or not, I got busy right away after woken up because I wanted to cook salmon hash for our breakfast/brunch.  The recipe is pretty simple though it required boiling the potatoes half-done the day before.  I could've cooked them from raw state on the pan with a little broth I supposed.  My husband received a box of smoked salmon at Christmas and we couldn't wait to eat it right away.  I'm beginning to like smoked salmon in hash and it didn't hurt that I already like hash dish to begin with.  The dish was terrific, especially those capers that offered a bite of briny and salty punch.

A big plate of hash with a sunny-side up egg is just right.

So here's the recipe.  I'm gonna need a nap in the afternoon :)

Smoked Salmon Hash

Serves 4

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (about 7 medium sized-ones)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 small red onion, chopped

1 pound hot-smoked salmon

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1 tablespoon coarse-grain mustard

1/4 cup capers, drained

1/4 cup sour cream; plus more for garnish

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions or chives

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water.  Bring to boil and cook until just barely tender, about 10 minutes (do not overcook).  Drain, cool completely.  When cool enough to handle, peel and cut the potatoes to 1/2-inch cubes.  This can be done a day ahead and refrigerate.

Shred the smoked salmon to 1-inch pieces over a medium bowl.  Add horseradish, mustard, capers, and 1/4 cup sour cream to the bowl.  Mix gently and add salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat.  Add cubed potatoes in a single layer to the skillet, sprinkle some salt and pepper, and cook from about 5 minutes; turn occasionally.  When the potatoes begins to get brown, add chopped red onions, cook until onions is soft and potatoes are golden brown and crisp; another 3-4 minutes.

Add salmon mixture and gently fold to potatoes and onions.  Cook just until the salmon is heated through.  Add additional salt and pepper if needed.  Before serving, sprinkle chopped scallions or chives on top of potatoes and serve with additional sour cream.

Source:  adapted from Heathman Hotel & Restaurant