Recipes

The recipes included here have been submitted by the residents of Belville, collected (and at times translated) by the author. Mistakes might have been made at any part of the process, but with any luck, these will bring a bit of fun and inspiration to you, our readers! Always feel free to experiment with the recipes included. And if you do, reach out to info@ellehartford.com to let us know how it went!

That said, without further ado . . .

Lavender’s Perfect Gnocchi

Tavern keeper Lavender is famous for never writing her recipes down, but here are her tips for making Red’s favorite pasta!

Types of Gnocchi to Consider:

Shelf-stable gnocchi, made with potato flakes

Fresh potato gnocchi, made with mashed potato

Ricotta gnocchi

Lavender’s Method of Preparation:

1. Briefly boil the gnocchi (following recipe directions, depending on which gnocchi you choose), making sure that none of the pieces are sticking together.
2. Melt butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add gnocchi and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
4. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon and discard extra oil.
5. Note: Lavender admits that it is also possible to bake the gnocchi, drizzled in oil, at 400 degrees F for about twenty minutes.

Sauce Recommendations:

Tomato sauce

Pesto (Red’s favorite)

Browned butter & herb (a good seasonal option)

Sauteed vegetables with olive oil and garlic

Cream or cheese sauces (especially good in the winter!)

Sakura’s Spooky-Good Hot Chocolate

Delight your friends and loved ones with this gourmet hot chocolate recipe! Steam-ghosts not included.

Makes 4 Cups

Ingredients:

1/4 C sugar (or more if you like your drinks sweet)

1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder

4 C milk (for a thicker drink, use 3 C milk and 1 C cream)

1/2 C semisweet chocolate (chips or chunks)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan off the heat, whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder. Add milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla, then stir.
2. Place over medium heat and bring to a light boil. Stir constantly until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated.
3. Let cool to taste, then serve and enjoy!

Suggested Toppings:

Whipped cream

Sprinkles

Caramel drizzle

Dark chocolate drizzle

Cayenne powder

Cinnamon

Chocolate shavings

Peppermint (fresh leaves or sticks)

Halloween candy!

Trent’s Simple Salve

A salve is a soft medicinal spread that can be used to soothe skin or aching muscles. The recipe is very flexible: Trent encourages you to make it your own!

Ingredients:

1 C oil of choice: jojoba, olive, sweet almond, herb-infused

1/4 C beeswax pellets

1 - 2 Tbsp shea or cocoa butter (optional)

1 tsp essential oil (optional)

Water

Instructions:

1. Add the oil, wax, and butter (if using) to the top section of a double boiler. Fill the lower section with enough water so that the upper pan is resting on the water.
2. Heat the double boiler over medium heat until all ingredients are completely melted, stirring.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add any essential oils.
5. While still warm, pour the mixture into glass jars. (If the mixture starts to harden, just warm it up again until it’s soft!)
6. Once the salve has cooled and hardened in the jars (several hours or overnight), add lids and labels

William’s Recipe for Finding Rivers: The Milky Way

“This is a big one,” says our favorite familiar, “but not everyone has seen the Milky Way. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s easiest to find between April and October—and in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s even more visible. But if you live in a place with a lot of light pollution, you may never get a chance to see it. It’ll look like a faded stream, or even a cloudy path, winding among the stars from east to west.

“In the past, people came up with all kinds of explanations for the Milky Way. Some told legends about it being a river, or literally spilled milk. Get out to a quiet, dark place sometime, and take a look for yourself!”