Creamed Sweet Potatoes w/ Roasted Figs

- (at least) 4 medium to large Sweet Potatoes/ yams
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 6 to 8 oz. of fresh Black Mission figs (approximately 8 figs)

Quarter figs and place in a shallow baking dish that has been greased with olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. of sugar in the raw and 1/8 tsp of sea salt and roast in 400 degree oven until the figs are completely softened and carmelized. This usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, tops. Side by side, the sweet potatoes can be roasted for 45 to 60 minutes (making sure to clean and pierce the skin of the potatoes first).
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the flesh of the potatoes, butter and cream and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Fold in the roasted fig quarters. You may add additional salt, butter and/or cream to taste. This dish is ideal for Thanksgiving but also is excellent with some of the smoked pork products from Lewis Waite farms (such as the smoked ham steaks).

Linguine with Shrimp, Cabbage and Ricotta Salata

This is a surprisingly addictive combination inspired by a dish that a friend of mine had at a restaurant, describe to me and then I turned into a recipe I make pretty regularly at home. Hope you enjoy this new idea for using up your cabbage!

- 1/2 pd. linguine, cooked to taste and strained. Don't salt the water too heavily.
- 1-2 tbsp. of butter (or olive oil)
- juice of 1/4 lemon
- 1 tbsp. of dry vermouth
- 1/2 pd. cleaned and shelled medium size shrimp (if you can only find larger, simply chop them for bite size pieces)
- 1/3 of a head of Savoy or Green cabbage sliced into long thin slivers
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup of crumbled ricotta salata
- fresh chopped herb. Options include thyme, parsley or savory.

Boil pasta and drain. In a saute pan, heat oil over medium heat and add cabbage and shrimp. When shrimp is almost done (turning pink), add lemon juice and vermouth and let liquid cook down a little. Add cooked linguine, herbs and crumbled cheese and toss together. Turn off heat and serve. The cheese has a lot of salt so taste the dish before adding additional salt. Enjoy.
*You can add one clove of garlic crushed to this recipe but it is also very nice without.