crimini mushrooms

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Garlic Smashed Reds and Mushroom Demi

/ Ren

Pastured beef short ribs are seared until well browned, then braised in burgundy with celery, onions, carrots, garlic, green peppercorns, fresh thyme and rosemary.  Once tender, the ribs are allowed to stand until firm, then seared a second time with fresh crimini mushrooms.

Meanwhile, the braising liquid is furiously reduced, strained and finished with cold butter and demi-glace.  Served atop smashed red potatoes flecked with roasted garlic and minced chives..

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Garlic Smashed Reds and Mushroom Demi

 

Quick Demi-Glace, Home Version (adapted from Saveur Magazine)

1/4 lb. uncured bacon, finely chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup sprouted wheat flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2-1/2 quarts homemade beef stock, divided
1/4 cup good red wine (not cooking wine)
10 sprigs fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 leaves fresh sage
sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper

Render bacon in a large, heavy skillet over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes. Add onions and carrots and cook until somewhat softened, about 8 minutes.  Use a sifter to sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook another 10 minutes. Add wine, herbs and 8 cups of stock and simmer uncovered until reduced in volume by three-quarters, about 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

Strain sauce, discarding solids. Return to pan with remaining stock and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 hours.  Demi-glace may be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for up to three months.

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Grilled Bison with Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, Blue Cheese and Fresh Sage

/ Ren

Pastured American bison is salted and allowed to air-dry overnight, then rolled in cracked, tri-color peppercorns before being grilled over an open wood fire.  Served over a bed of caramelized onions with crimini mushrooms, melted  blue cheese and fresh sage..

Grilled Bison with Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, Blue Cheese & Fresh Sage

For the Steaks

American bison sirloin steak(s), cut 1 inch-thick
approx. 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt per 8oz steak
approx. 2 teaspoons freshly-cracked black, green and pink peppercorns per steak
peanut oil

Coat both sides of each steak with sea salt, wrap loosely in butchers’ paper and refrigerate.  Remove steaks  from refrigerator, then rub off any remaining salt (the surface should feel dry to the touch).  Coat each steak with cracked pepper and allow to come to room temperature as you prepare the fire.

Once the flames have died down and the embers are glowing red, lightly oil the steaks then grill for about 5 minutes on the 1st side and 4 minutes on the 2nd side for medium rare.  Remove steaks and allow to rest a full 5 minutes before serving on top of sauce.

For the Sauce (inspired by a recipe by Ree Drummond)

2 tablespoons pastured butter
1 tablespoon bacon drippings
1 small yellow onion, halved and sliced
1/2 cup fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup fresh, heavy cream
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves (substitute 1 teaspoon rubbed sage)

Melt butter and bacon drippings in a heavy skillet over medium heat.  Add slices onions and stir to coat.  Stirring only often enough to prevent burning, cook onions until deep golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté 5 minutes, stirring continuously.  Add cream, Worcestershire and sage, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.

Rosemary, Garlic and Black Pepper-Grilled Lamb Chops

/ Ren

Local, pastured lamb is marinated overnight in olive oil, fresh rosemary, garlic and black pepper, then grilled to medium-rare over a smoky wood fire.  Served with crimini mushroom wild rice and grilled yellow tomatoes..

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Lay lamb chops in a glass dish and cover with fresh rosemary, garlic, black pepper and olive oil.  Cover and refrigerate 24 hours, turning once.  Allow to come to room temperature before grilling over a hot, smoky wood fire until just medium rare.  Transfer to a cutting board and allow to stand 5 minutes before serving (they will continue to cook a little). Lightly oil tomatoes and grill until the first split appears.

To prepare wild rice, soak dried crimini mushrooms in hot chicken or vegetable stock for 30 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a side dish to drain and use the soaking liquid to cook the rice until just tender, about 45-60 minutes.  Melt butter over medium-high heat until shimmering, then sauté until golden brown. Stir into rice and serve hot.