Earthly Eating

• Mushroom Stock:
Makes about 2 cups

2 3/4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup (about 1/2 ounce) dried chanterelles or porcini mushrooms
2 tbs. olive oil
8 ounces white mushroons, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
2 tbs. flour
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1. Heat vegetable borth in a saucepan until hot. Add chanterelles and remove from heat. Set aside a least 30 minutes, until plump.

2. Heat olive oil in a skillet, add white mushrooms and cooke for 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, thyme, wione and plumped chanterelles. Bring to a simmer.

3. Sprinkle in flour, increase heat to high and cook uncovered about 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring often.

4. Add balsamic vinegar and simmer 10 minutes. Pour into a colander and press mushroons to extract juive. You should have about 2 cups of mushroom stock. If you like, purée cooked mushrooms and add to stew for thickness. You will have about 1 cup of mushroom purée.

• Rosemary Mashes Potatoes:
Makes about 6 cups

2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (about 6 large potatoes)
2 tbs. butter, or more to taste
2 tbs. olive oil, or more to taste
1/2 cup half-and-half, or more to taste
2 ts. fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt, ot to taste
1/8 tsp. pepper, or to taste

1. Place potatoes in a large pot with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook 20 to 40 minutes, or until tender. Drain, cover and keep warm.

2. Add butter, olive oil, half-and-half, rosemary, salt and pepper and crush with a potato masher or a fork until smashed but not perfectly smooth. Add more butter, oil or half-and-half to taste.

3. To serve, place potatoes on plates, top with mushroom stew (from above) and garnish with rosemary or thyme.
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Sesame Drops
Makes 18-24 cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend well all ingredients in order given. Teaspoon onot oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until sides are golden brown. Top cookies with thaini honey spread: 1/2 cup tahini, 1/2 cup honey. Mix well and drizzle on cookies. You can also use this spread on breads, crackers, and top cakes with it as well.

Happy Eating!