A great use for leftover turkey after Thanksgiving.
- 12 oz. egg noodles
- 1 lb. morels, sliced into rings
- 4 C. cooked turkey, chopped coarsely
- 1 C. frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 C. unsalted butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 C. of milk
- 1/4 C. cream
- 2 C. low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 C. dry sherry (or vermouth or dry white wine)
- salt
- pepper
- nutmeg
- 1/2 C. bread crumbs
- 1/2 C. freshly grated Parmesan
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Cook pasta in 3-4 quarts well salted boiling water until just short of al-dente. Drain.
- Meanwhile, saute the mushrooms in a large saute pan with 3 T. butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has evaporated. Remove & set aside.
- Saute the shallot and garlic over medium heat in the same pan with 1/4 C. butter for 3-4 minutes or until translucent.
- Add the flour and bay leaves and cook another 3-4 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk & cream, whisking continuously, then the broth, then the sherry. Generously add salt & pepper to taste, then a couple fresh grates of nutmeg.
- Gently combine the pasta, mushrooms, peas and sauce in a large boil.
- Spoon the mixture into a buttered 9 by 13-inch baking pan and smooth out with a spoon.
- Sprinkle with bread crumbs and Parmesan.
- Bake 30-40 minutes until the sauce bubbles and a top crust has formed, 20 to 30 minutes.
There is a monument ins San Fransisco on Market Street called Lotta's Fountain - a gift to the city from singer/entertainer Lotta Crabtree in 1875. In 1906, with virtually every water main in town broken from the earthquake, Lotta's fountain pulled through with enough water to save the extraordinary Palace Hotel, a gem of the city. Ever since then, every April 18, survivors have gathered at the fountain at 5 AM, in remembrance of the catastrophe. But in 1910 a special Christmas Eve concert was held at the fountain to reward locals for their efforts in rebuilding the city, and Italian soprano Luisa Tetrazzini - who'd captured the city's heart some years before - gave a free performance. 250,000 people showed up for it. Legend has it that this dish was created by a local restaurateur in her honor.
Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis crispa) is a great alternative for this dish.