89 county recipes

Lard boeuf bourguignon layers thin sliced rump beef with carrots, mushrooms, and pork fatback in burgundy wine and cognac. A slow-cooked French country casserole.

Old-time country stew of pinto beans and white hominy simmered low and slow with salt pork and a whisper of marjoram. Frontier comfort food that fills the kitchen with smoky depth.

Plump shrimp simmered in beer with onion, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, celery, and lemon, then chilled for a cold appetizer that's pure low-country flavor.

Italian cheesecake blends silky mascarpone with creamy ricotta, brandy, and vanilla, then bakes into two graham cracker pies with a tender, lightly set filling. A no-water-bath cheesecake with old-country flavor and zero fuss.

Louisiana-style duck breast strips dredged in sage-seasoned flour, browned in butter, then simmered with mushrooms, celery, onion, bacon, and thyme. Serve over rice or noodles for a hearty Cajun-country supper.

Lapin en gibelotte braises rabbit in white wine with bacon, garlic, and a bouquet garni, then finishes the strained sauce with cream. Old-school French country cooking with no shortcuts.

Veal fricassee with fiddleheads gently simmers cubed veal in white wine and cream with onions and fresh chervil, finished with tender spring fiddlehead ferns. Elegant French country dinner.

Serve as an appetizer spread on thick slices of country-style white bread, or flat pita bread, or use as a side dish to accompany grilled or roasted meats.

Panfried quail browns the little birds in butter with thyme and ham, then deglazes the pan with fresh white grape juice. A classic French country preparation for game lovers.

Felvideki finom nulleves, a hearty Hungarian hare soup from the Upper Highlands with root vegetables, lard-browned liver roux, and rice. Old-country game cookery from the Felvidek region.

Thick, peppery cream gravy made from a butter or bacon fat roux, milk, and freshly cracked black pepper. Ready in 20 minutes and just right for smothering biscuits, fried chicken, or country-fried steak.

Traditional dry salt cure for a 14-pound ham using rough salt, brown sugar, and saltpeter. Includes a 3-week curing process with optional smoking instructions for homemade country ham.

French-style braised duck with olives, bacon, red wine, and Dijon mustard. A rustic country braise where the duck simmers low and slow until fork-tender, served over wild rice.

Wirsingroellchen are German Savoy cabbage rolls stuffed with ground leftover meat, parsley, and breadcrumbs, baked under a basting of sour cream. A thrifty, nutmeg-warmed classic from the old country.

Louisiana crawfish étouffée smothers tender tails in a buttery trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper with a kick of pepper. Serve over hot rice for Cajun country at its finest.

Tender lamb rib chops marinated overnight in red wine, crushed juniper berries, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil, then grilled until charred and smoky. Serve with olives and charred pepper skewers.