Serve the bratwurst with high-quality mustard, and substitute parsnips for the potatoes if your family prefers something sweeter. When preparing the potatoes, don’t use a potato masher or the results will be too smooth. (We just love potatoes that are smashed!)
apple cider vinegar
Fennel Salad with Blue Cheese and Walnuts
This is the perfect salad for a casual lunch with friends because it comes together in a few minutes and most of the elements can be prepared up to a day before. It’s also ideal for winter since all of the ingredients are available year-round.
Braised Lamb Shanks with Bok Choy and Sweet-and-Sour Dill Oil
Don’t let the long braising time in this recipe intimidate you. It’s an easy “prepare it and forget about it” step and fills the house with an enticing aroma that will make your guests’ mouths water. It’s a perfect company’s-coming meal because it’s guaranteed to impress.
Braised Short Ribs with Moxie Beans
Long, cold New England winters would be unbearable if it weren’t for braises. There’s a solid six months between picking the last of the summer’s tomatoes and trimming the first spear of asparagus, and during that time I turn to sturdy long-cooked recipes like these short ribs, which have the added benefit of warming your kitchen as they cook. This is a recipe intended for a cold day, when the wind is blowing sideways and the snow shoveling feels never-ending.
Tangy Vinegar Cole Slaw
This simple vinegar-based cole slaw is our number one side dish. It’s a hallowed tradition on a barbecue sandwich—the tart, crunchy cabbage goes perfectly with the smoky flavor of the meat, and the vinegar helps cut through the pork fat.
Kathy Gunst’s Rich Beef-Bone Broth
Beef-bone broth has become all the rage in recent years, due to the popularity of the Paleo diet, one that promotes eating lots of meat as well as this type of rich, nourishing broth. It is said to have all kinds of health benefits, since it’s rich in protein, gelatin, and anti-oxidants.
