Legend has it that mushrooms are the key to immortality. They have been said to stimulate and sharpen our senses, and feats of superhuman strength have been attributed to them. Early Egyptians considered mushrooms to be food for royalty, barring their consumption by the commoners. Here in Alabama we suspect the pharaohs were partaking of the psychedelic variety. We do agree with one thing, though: Those little suckers are good eatin’. There are very few foods that pair with beef as well as mushrooms do. Their savory and earthy flavors complement everything from steak and salads to satays. A marinade of soy, balsamic vinegar, and butter amplifies their natural gifts, while they caramelize on the grill. Serve these grilled delights with any recipe in this chapter. Also try topping them with Mustard Horseradish Sauce (page 229).
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
This pasta has some really big energy about it. It’s so extra, it’s the type of thing you should be eating in your bikini while drinking a magnum of rosé, not in Hebden Bridge (or wherever you live), but on a beach on Mykonos.
Reminiscent of a classic diner dessert, this chocolate cream pie offers pure comfort in a cookie crust.