mushrooms — Blog — Pear & Pecorino

Creamy Woodland Mushroom Soup

October goes by too quickly. It's the one month that feels fully immersed in autumn, without any feeling that the year is coming to a close, rather slowing its pace. Still colorful, full of bountiful apples, mushrooms, winter squash. It feels alive. Last weekend was the first that actually felt like autumn. Still-green leaves shivering in the wind, crisp air, the softest wisps of ashy clouds blanketing the sky, and warm auburn light of early sunsets.

Yet, the temperatures pop back into the 90s and we're back to eternal summer. Still, our big cat with his thick fur coat stopped hiding under the bushes for sanctuary from the sun. Maybe the length of his fur and the food we cook are the only signs of seasonal progression I need.

So long as it's cold enough for soup, I'm happy with October.

Main Dish, Side DishIsabellaOctober 18, 2020mushrooms, soup, autumn, fall, comfort food Comment

Creamy Mushroom Linguini

Creamy Mushroom Linguini - an ode to the farmers' market, embodying seasonal markets and winter comfort. These baby shiitakes sparked memories of simple mushroom pasta, made for quiet nights and farm-to-table meals.

I left the littlest mushrooms whole and cut the rest in half so they would be bite-sized and blend in with a twirl of linguine. The mushrooms soak up flavors of garlic and shallot, flavoring the cream wonderfully. I went for the old-style pasta water thickener, using the starchy water to create a richer sauce.

Main DishIsabellaJanuary 25, 2020pasta, mushrooms, winter, farmers marketComment

Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms

Autumn has officially begun and we can finally see some rain in the forecast! Which means it's time to explore the earthy realm of mushrooms and herbs. Paired with smooth, cheesy polenta, each forkful of my Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms is a little taste of decadent, fall goodness.

Creamy Kale and Mushrooms with Pancetta

The idea for my Creamy Kale and Mushrooms with Pancetta first came up when reviewing the plan for Thanksgiving a few years back. On the menu was the usual turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, along with some annual side dishes like yams, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Not to mention two desserts... It seems like every year we attempt to cut back the number of dishes, yet somehow end up expanding our ever-growing list of favorites.

Back when we had a dozen guests crowded around our table, 10+ dishes seem perfect for us. Our guests have dwindled down over the years, so we've been cooking for six; close family members and a few hungry kitties looking for scraps. But a cozy Thanksgiving dinner means more leftovers!

Side DishIsabellaAugust 1, 2019autumn, comfort food, kale, mushrooms, summer, thanksgivingComment