25,000 people attended the fifth ever-expanding International Biscuit Festival and their taste buds voted our Ms. Pearl Buttermilk Biscuit the People’s Choice Award Winner ahead of 20 other signature biscuit creations. Mahasti shared her biscuit recipe on WBIR recently. In case you missed it, here it is in all its first place glory.

For the biscuit:

2.75 cups all purpose flour

1 tbl sugar

3/4 tsp. Salt

1 Tbl plus 1 tsp baking powder

½ stick unsalted butter

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

For the topping:

3/4 cup Mayonnaise

3 Tbl lemon juice

one 16 oz package frozen corn kernels

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Black Pepper

1 cup Cooked Bacon chopped (In her version, Mahasti used Benton’s bacon.)

6-8 Roma Tomatoes

Salt

Fresh Basil – julienned

Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch slices. Set aside. Combine mayonnaise with lemon juice. Pour mayonnaise mixture over biscuit, spread around with spatula to cover completely. Sprinkle the cheese over the mayo layer, and sprinkle lightly with black pepper. Sprinkle corn over mayonnaise mixture, followed by cooked bacon pieces.

Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, until cheese has melted and starting to brown. Remove the biscuit from the oven and overlap tomatoes on top of biscuit. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, sprinkle with fresh basil before serving.

Serves 8 – 10

Mahasti’s most recent appearance on WBIR had her using a seasonal vegetable widely available at most Knoxville area farmers’ markets – turnips. For this recipe, Mahasti bought her turnips from Mountain Meadows Farm in Norris, TN. (Be sure to stop by their booth at the Market Square Farmers’ Market before it closes for the season on November 23.)

The popular root vegetable is a good source of calcium, vitamin C and potassium while being very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. By keeping the greens, you’ll retain the nutrition found in them such as vitamin A, vitamin K and beta carotene.

While popular in many fall soups and crock pots, Mahasti decided to create an enjoyable side dish that might accompany a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of soup on a cold day. The next time your family needs an excellent side dish, think TURNIPS!

4 cups turnip root, diced

4-6 cups turnip greens and stems, cut into ½ inch strips

¾ cup onion, diced

¼ cup oil

¼ cup honey

4 Tbl cider vinegar

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

Turnips usually come in a bunch of 3 or 4 turnips with greens attached – one bunch should yield the above measurements.

Cut turnip greens from bulbs, keeping the stems. Cut the greens from the stems. Wash the stems, and roots under running cold water. Wash the greens by submerging them in a large bowl of water, removing to a colander and repeating as necessary until no sand or dirt remains in your bowl after lifting the greens out.

Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add diced turnip root and stems. Stir the vegetables, then pat them into a single layer and cover the skillet with a large lid. Turn the heat down to medium low and leave the turnips undisturbed and covered for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, stir and repeat the process above leaving the turnips covered for another 5 minutes.

Remove lid, add honey, vinegar, salt and black pepper. Increase heat to high – stirring only once or twice. Cook turnips for another 5 minutes. Add the greens, stirring to wilt the greens then leave turnips undisturbed until all of the moisture has evaporated and been absorbed into the vegetables.

Serve hot or at room temperature as a side dish.

Good morning! We’re sharing the recipe for the okra fritter brunch special we had over the weekend. It’s a delicious idea for any okra you might have from this year’s CSA. Be sure to catch Mahasti every first and third Saturday morning on WBIR for more great recipes using seasonal ingredients.

Here’s the link to last weekend’s segment.

½ cup red onion, finely chopped

1 cup fresh okra, trimmed and thinly sliced

1 large egg

1.5 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1 cup yellow cornmeal

¼ cup flour

1 tespoon sugar

1/2 tespoon cayenne

1 tsp salt

About 1 cup vegetable oil for frying

Whisk egg in a medium bowl, then whisk in buttermilk, cornmeal, sugar, cayenne, and salt until smooth. Stir in okra and onion mix until everything is well incorporated.

Add enough oil to skillet to measure 1/4 inch and heat over medium heat until it shimmers. Cook rounded tablespoons of batter (6 to 7 fritters per batch), turning once, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

Serve with a side of ranch dressing.

 

Our menu experienced some changes last fall. The tuna salad is no longer available but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy this classic lunchtime sandwich. A few of our customers have since asked for the tuna salad recipe and today’s the day we share it with everyone. In Mahasti’s simple to follow recipe, she’s substituted sour cream for mayonnaise, thus lowering the calorie count. The addition of Sriracha lends some tanginess, while chipotle sauce adds a smoky profile. The bells peppers, relish and onion add a nice crunch.

Enjoy!

1 – 12 oz Can Tuna in water

2 Tbl Onion, chopped

¼ cup Red Bell Pepper, diced

2 Tbl Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice

2  heaping Tbl sweet pickle relish

2 heaping Tbl Dill Pickle, chopped

Scant ¼ cup sour cream

1/8 tsp Sriracha Sauce

1 tsp chipotle sauce (from a can of chipotle en adobo)

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp plus a pinch salt

Drain Tuna and squeeze out all of the water.  Transfer Tuna to a large bowl, add remaining ingredients and toss well with a spoon till everything is well distributed.

Serve on Flour Head Bakery Every Day White sliced sandwich bread.

The next time you’re traveling in Mexico and want to experience traditional cuisine, we suggest seeking out Sopes. They may be found in the food stalls of Ciudad Juarez or in sophisticated restaurants throughout Mexico City.

If you’re not looking to travel that far or you don’t want to settle for a cheap imitation that caters to American taste buds by covering everything in a ton of cheese, try this recipe that Mahasti created. The pickled onions really pull the dish together and are a great complement to the chorizo.

The recipe for the dough allows you to create small appetizers and a light snack, or one can make them into something larger and use them as a main course.

For the Sopes:

1 cup Masa Harina

¾ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp salt

½ cup plus 3 Tbs boiling water

2 egg yolk

1.25 cup Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Place Masa Harina, baking powder and salt in a large bowl, and mix until combined.  Pour boiling water over masa.  Mix the Masa with a wooden spoon, until no dry Masa remains in bowl.  You may have to add a little more water.  Allow mixture to cool enough to handle.

Lightly beat egg yolks and pour over Masa mixture.  Add cheese and with your hands work the Masa into a smooth soft dough.

Divide the dough into 6 – 8 pieces depending on the size you would like to serve.   Roll each piece into a smooth ball.  Flatten the balls out with the palm of your hand.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment.  Lightly grease the parchment paper.  Place the flattened dough on the prepared sheet.  With your fingers work up the edges of the dough and flatten the centers.

Bake the Sopes in preheated oven for 15 minutes – or just until the edges start to brown.  Remove Sopes from oven and set aside.  Sopes can be covered with Saran wrap and refrigerated overnight.

Pickled Onion:

 

1 Large Red Onion, sliced into strips

1 cup Cider Vinegar

¾ tsp. Salt

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Cinnamon

Place all ingredients except onions in a small saucepan and bring to boil.  Place onions in a small bowl and pour hot liquid over onions.  Allow onions to rest at room temperature for 15 – 20 minutes.  Drain onions and refrigerate.  Pickled onions can be kept in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

 

To Assemble and Serve:

Shredded Monterey Jack

Cooked chorizo

Chopped Lettuce

Sliced Radishes

Sour Cream

Pickled onions

Your favorite Salsa

Top the sopes with Chorizo and Cheese – return the sopes to the oven and heat until Cheese has Melted and is starting to brown.  If you refrigerated your sopes overnight – allow sopes to bake until warmed through.

Place Chopped lettuce on a plate – top with heated sope.  Top with radishes, pickled onion, salsa and sour cream.

Serves 6 – 8

Comfort food can take many shapes. In the winter time, comfort foods tend to be warming and rich, as well as easy to make. Tomato Head’s Chicken Enchiladas fit the description.

Mahasti presented the restaurant’s recipe on WBIR this morning. But if you missed it, it’s here for you to give it a whirl. Or, even easier, order your own plate of enchiladas at either the Maryville or Knoxville restaurant today.

Tomato Head’s Chicken Enchiladas
For the Chicken:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/3 cup oil
½ large onion, largely diced
8 cups of water
1 Tbl salt

To Assemble the Enchiladas:

1 -16 oz jar Frontera enchilada sauce
8 – corn tortillas
½ lb shredded Monterey Jack cheese
sour cream
chopped onion

Heat the oil, in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add chicken breast, water and salt. Increase heat to high, when water starts to boil, reduce heat to low and allow chicken to simmer for 20 minutes until done.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the broth and allow the chicken to cool until it is cool enough to handle. Shred the chicken by pulling it apart. Set aside.

Pour 1/3 of the jar of enchilada sauce into the bottom of an 8 X 11 baking dish. Arrange 3 or 4 corn tortillas on your work surface. Place approximately ¼ – 1/3 cup chicken on each tortilla followed by ¼ cup of shredded cheese. Roll the tortillas up to form cylinders. Place the tortillas seam side down. Repeat the process until all the tortillas have been filled and place in the baking dish.

Pour the remaining sauce over the rolled tortillas, making sure they are covered entirely. Sprinkle any remaining cheese on top of the sauce. Bake the enchiladas for 20 minutes – or until the cheese melts and the sauce is starting to bubble.

Remove the dish from the oven. Top with Sour Cream and chopped onion.

Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Colorful and seasonal, this pasta dish is an easy preparation for a winter’s day or evening. Mahasti presented the recipe on WBIR this weekend, but if you missed it, we always post her recipes to The Tomato Head blog. Enjoy!

Tomato Head’s Pasta with Cauliflower, Cabbage and Dried Cranberries

1 lb dry pasta of choice
Vegetable oil
4 cups cauliflower, sliced
4 cups white or savoy cabbage, chopped
1 Tablespoon roasted garlic, chopped
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup walnuts, chopped
¼ cup bread crumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is cooked, drain, rinse with cold water, toss with ¼ cup olive oil and set aside.

Place Spinach in a large bowl. Add dried cranberries, chopped walnuts and bread crumbs. Set aside.

Turn Oven Broiler on to High.

Slice cauliflower, toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place on the middle shelf of oven and roast for 9-10 minutes, just until the edges of the cauliflower begin to brown. Remove from oven and set aside.

Coat 3 or 4 large cloves of garlic with oil – place on a cookie sheet and roast under broiler until the cloves are golden brown. Remove from oven, allow the garlic to cool; chop and set aside.

Heat a large skillet, over high heat. Add ¼ cup of oil, cauliflower. cabbage and roasted garlic. Sauté the vegetables just until the cabbage starts to wilt. Add vinegar and salt, allow the vinegar to reduce for 30 seconds. Add the pasta and sauté for one minute or just until the Pasta is re-heated.

Add the contents of the skillet to the spinach bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Toss the pasta until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Divide into 4 – 6 bowls or serve family style with fresh bread.

Mahasti presented this “good morning” recipe on WBIR Saturday, December 17th. Did you catch it? If not, the full recipe is posted below and, even better, both the Knoxville and Maryville restaurants will be serving these delights throughout Sunday brunch. Enjoy!

Tomato Head’s Brown Sugar Cinnamon Biscuits with Cream & Orange Caramel Sauce

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
5 Tbl chilled butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup chilled buttermilk
1/3 cup brown sugar

Measure flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cinnamon into a medium bowl. Add chilled butter and work into flour with fingertips or a pastry cutter until the butter resembles small beads. Add buttermilk and work flour into buttermilk until you have a soft dough. Turn dough no more than 10 times. Gather into a ball. With a rolling pin, roll out the ball of dough, on a lightly floured surface, to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Scatter half of the brown sugar in the center of the biscuit dough. Fold one edge of the dough onto the sugared area. Scatter the remaining brown sugar onto the area that you just folded over. Fold the non-brown sugared area onto the newly covered brown sugar area. Gently lift the dough up and scatter a little more flour under the dough. Roll the dough back out to a thickness of 1”. Cut the biscuits out with a round biscuit cutter. Gather up any remaining dough into a ball and repeat, flattening and cutting the biscuits. Place the cut biscuits on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake in a 450 degree oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

For the Caramel Sauce
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup orange juice
½ stick butter

Place all the ingredients for the sauce in a medium size saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Keep warm while biscuits are cooking.

To Serve

Heavy Cream

Pour a small amount of heavy cream onto a plate, if serving individually, or on a platter if serving family style. Place biscuits on top of cream. Pour caramel sauce over biscuits and serve immediately.

Makes 8 – 10 biscuits depending on the size of your cutter.

‘Tis the season for pies and cakes and sweet things of all varieties. Mahasti presented The Tomato Head’s recipe for Pecan Pie on WBIR this morning and mm mm mm. We want a piece now, and we can have one (and so can you)…pecan pie is on the menu at both the Knoxville and Maryville locations today.

Tomato Head’s Pecan Pie

1 (9 inch) prepared pie crust
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup heavy cream
1 Tbl molasses
4 Tbl unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
½ tsp salt
6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1.5 cups pecan pieces

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Over medium heat in a large saucepan, heat together maple syrup, brown sugar, heavy cream and molasses until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Remove mixture from heat, add butter and stir until the butter has melted. Allow mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Whisking constantly, whisk in the eggs until they are well incorporated.

Fill pie crust with pecans, pour syrup mixture over pecans. Place the pie in the oven and immediately turn the heat down to 425. Bake the pie for 45 – 50 minutes or until the filling is set and center jiggles just slightly.

Allow pie to cool for 3 – 4 hours before cutting and serving with fresh whipped cream.