Twice a year I go to conferences as part of my graduate studies and every time I’m scheduled to leave at least one person will give my husband sorrowful looks. “Poor you!”, they exclaim, patting him on the shoulder, “What are you going to eat while Ari’s gone? Has she been cooking meals and putting them in the freezer for you?” I think it’s sweet of them to care but I also think it’s funny, because the truth is that my husband is probably a better cook than me. Sure he may be an unassuming businessman by day, but at home he has the culinary prowess of a kitchen superhero. It’s a hidden talent that, sadly, has no place on a business resume!

Some folks are surprised since I’m the one who has a foodblog, but it’s true. I may have my husband beat in the baking and desserts department, yet he’s my superior by far when it comes to soups/stews and breakfast. We’re about equal when it comes to savory dishes, but while I create chilis, pastas and stratas at home, he produces the same meals while also controlling at least twelve teenagers. No, we do not have an unusually large brood of children. Rather, my husband teaches a cooking class for teens - something I could never, ever do and that takes an uncanny amount of humor and patience.

So as I finish packing for a week-long trip I thought I’d honor my hubby’s unrecognized skills by sharing a recipe for one of his favorite stews. This is the sort of meal he makes on Sunday afternoons (as he did today) then takes to work for lunches throughout the week. It’s a one-pot dish with rich flavor, gorgeous colors and all the warm, filling qualities you want in your mid-day meal. I hope you enjoy it and though I’ll be away I’ll still be checking email, so I’m curious: what are your hidden talents?

// Edit: Katie reminds me that I forgot to share my hidden talents, which include making digital artwork & disco dancing. I love disco dancing! Someday I hope to dance just like this - and you better believe I’ve been practicing.

Don’t forget about the August book giveaway! You can find out more about this new, monthly event by clicking on the photo to the left or by clicking here.

Butternut Squash Stew with Rosemary and Tomatoes
Adapted from A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop. Original recipe can be found here.

Ingredients: Makes 4-5 main course servings

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
• Salt
• 5 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small butternut squash (about 1 1/2 lbs), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice (about 3 1/2 cups) *See notes.
• 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 Parmesan cheese rind
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon dry ground rosemary
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Zest of 1 small orange
• 1/4 cup premium orange juice
• Rosemary foccacia

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add the minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beans, squash, tomatoes, Parmesan rind, and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the cover, add the orange zest and juice, and continue to simmer until the stew thickens, about 15 minutes.

To serve, remove and discard the Parmesan rind. Stir the stew, adding salt and pepper to taste. Place a slice of focaccia in each bowl, ladle the stew into the bowls, and serve. Alternatively, you can serve the focaccia on the side.

* How to peel a butternut squash: With a sharp knife, chop off the bottom and top of the squash, then split it vertically down the middle. Remove the seeds with a spoon, then peel each half by placing it flat on a cutting board, pressing down, and using a regular vegetable peeler.

Those genius Chow foodies shared many delicious ideas, from filling a whole wheat tortilla with sweet potato slices, avocado and spinach (among other tasty things) to the PLT - a pear-lettuce-tomato sandwich. Yum! Reading through their responses made my mouth water and also got the mental wheels a’turning - maybe I could work baking into this, thereby eliminating all that pesky morning prep time while reaping the benefits of a luscious sandwich filling.

The result? Baked Sandwich Surprise! Ok, so it’s not really a “surprise” since you, the baker, know what’s inside the loaf. But that initial slice, the one where you see how your veggies have meshed with all that gooey melted cheese, well, that’s almost a surprise right? For the first time you see how the vibrant greens, reds and browns of the vegetables and nuts accent the creamy white of your chosen cheese. And the taste? Fabulous. Anyways, “baked sandwich surprise” sounds better than plain ‘ole “baked sandwich.” It’s all in the title baby.

The recipe below is pretty straightforward and if you follow one simple rule you’ll reap the rewards: “When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste.” By this I mean follow the directions for the dough/bread portion of the recipe (unless you are comfortable modifying bread recipes), and let your tastes decide what you fill the loaf with. I used zucchini, broccoli rabe, portabella mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella because that’s what I had in my fridge, yet the variation possibilities are endless. If you have time and are feeling adventurous, you can divide the dough into smaller portions and make individual, single serving sized sandwich loaves. I may do this next time just for kicks.

Baked Sandwich Surprise
Adapted from Beautiful Breads & Fabulous Fillings by Margaux Sky. (You can see other recipes from this book here and here.)

For the dough:
Ingredients: Makes enough for 1 large loaf

• 1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup whole or low-fat warm milk
• 1/2 cup buttermilk at room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/16 teaspoon kosher salt (Half of a 1/8 teaspoon measure)
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp olive oil

Place the warm water and milk in a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the liquid. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy. While the yeast is proofing, mix the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and salt together in another bowl.

Add the butter, sugar, eggs, buttermi and vanilla to the water and milk mixture. If you are using a stand mixer put the paddle attachment on; turn the machine to its slowest setting. Slowly add the flour/salt mix to the wet ingredients, half a cup at a time, mixing well.

When the dough forms a ball, switch to the dough hook attachment and knead for 4 minutes, sprinkling extra flour 1 tsp at a time as needed, until the dough is soft, firm, and springs back from a thumbprint. Alternatively, if you are making the dough by hand, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 minutes, until it reaches the consistency described above.

Grease a large bowl with 1 tsp of olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to coat, and allow to rise in a warm dry place for 1 hour.

Filling & Assembly: You can use whatever vegetables & cheeses you like and have on hand. Mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, shredded carrots, Monterey Jack Cheese… oh the possibilities!

Ingredients: Makes 1 large loaf

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 cup blanched and chopped broccoli rabe. (To blanch it place the broccoli rabe in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain well).
• 1 large sliced red onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced zucchini
• About 8 oz of sliced baby portabella mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon dill weed, plus 1 tablespoon dried basil
  (You can also use another favored herb/herb mixture. Sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, for instance.)
• 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, plus 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
  (You can use more or less depending on your tastes. Other cheeses to try: Monterey Jack, Muenster, etc. Any soft, melting cheese will do.)
• 1-2 cups roasted pine nuts, depending on tastes
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Roast the pine nuts: Heat your oven to 400 degrees, place the nuts on a baking sheet and drizzle them with olive oil. Mix the nuts with your hands to spread the oil around. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Bake for 10-15 minutes or to desired crispness and color. Set aside.

In a large skillet melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the broccoli rabe, zucchini, red onion and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, about 4-5 minutes, or until the zucchini, onions and mushrooms have softened. Remove from heat, mix well and cover.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a large non-stick pan with butter or non-stick spray.

Punch down your dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface so that the long side is perpendicular to your body. It should have a relatively rectangular shape and be only slightly thicker than paper thin. Brush the surface of the dough with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of salt, the dill weed, basil, mozzarella, spinach and roasted pine nuts over the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border along the edges of the dough.

Distribute the sauteed veggies over the pine nuts, then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Season with a little more salt and pepper, if you like.

With your hands, tightly roll the dough into a loaf, jelly roll fashion, with the rolling action going away from your body. Use your fingers to fold the outer edges of the dough as you roll to prevent the filling from falling out. When you reach the end, gently grab the last portion of dough and pull it towards you. Seal the roll by pinching this last portion of dough against the roll. Smooth out with your fingers by gently pressing the seam. Place the loaf into onto the prepared baking sheet seam side down.

Beat together the egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over the dough and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown.

Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes before slicing. If you want, you can serve the slices with small bowls of warm marinara sauce for dipping. This loaf will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge. Slice off a sandwich piece when packing your lunch or looking for a quick meal.