Pomegranate and Apple Cake
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Recipes from “Growing and Cooking Winter Vegetables the Organic Method” Presented at Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens on September 18, 2010 by Cathy Thomas No-Noodle Chinese Chicken Salad with Peanut and Ginger Dressing 2 (5 oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breasts 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil Seasoned Salt Dressing 1/3 cup rice vinegar 1½ Tbsp. minced fresh ginger 1½ Tbsp. soy sauce 3 Tbsp. agave syrup or sugar ¾ tsp. Dijon-style mustard 1 tsp. salt ¾ cup peanut oil Salad ½ head green cabbage, cut in half lengthwise, cored, cut into ¼-inch-wide crosswise slices ¼ head red cabbage, cored, cut into ¼-inch-wide crosswise slices 1 heart of romaine lettuce, cut into ¼-inch-wide crosswise slices 1 large carrot, peeled, cut into 1-inch-long matchsticks 2 Persian (baby) cucumbers or ½ hothouse (English) cucumber, thinly sliced 1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro 2 green onions, cut into ¼-inch-thick diagonal slices, including dark green stalks ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts Garnish: 3 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds (see Cook’s Note) Directions 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in small roasting pan or pie pan. Drizzle with oil and season with seasoned salt. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Cool and cut into bite-size pieces. 2. Prepare dressing: In small bowl or 1-quart glass measuring cup with handle, combine vinegar, ginger, soy sauce, agave syrup or sugar, mustard, and salt. Stir to combine with fork or whisk. Stir or whisk in oil. 3. Prepare salad: In large bowl, toss cabbages, romaine, carrot, cucumbers, cilantro, green onions, peanuts, and cooked chicken. Stir dressing and pour over salad; toss. Divide between plates and top with sesame seeds. Yield: 8 servings. Cook’s Note: To toast sesame seeds, place in small skillet over medium-high heat. Shake handle to redistribute seeds as they toast to light brown. Watch carefully because they burn easily. Cool. Red Times Three Salad 3 valencia oranges 1/2 cup sherry vinegar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced 1 Tbsp. minced fresh basil leaves 3 to 4 medium beets, cooked, peeled, sliced 1 cup pomegranate seeds Optional garnish: handful of microgreens Optional garnish: crumbled goat cheese 1. Remove zest (colored portion of peel) from 1 orange and mince; set aside. Use a sharp knife to remove skin from all the oranges; to peel, slice off top and bottom of each orange to expose flesh, then place cut side down on work surface and cut off peel and pith in strips, cutting from top of bottom following the contour of the fruit. Cut oranges into slices about 3/8-inch thick 2. Prepare vinaigrette: In small bowl or glass measuring cup with handle, combine, zest, vinegar, and salt; stir to dissolve salt. Whisk in oil. Add onion and basil. Stir and taste; adjust seasoning as needed. 3. Arrange beet slices in single layer on 6 salad plates. Top with orange slices, arranging them in single layer so part of the beet slices show. Stir vinaigrette and spoon over beets and oranges. Top with pomegranate seeds. If desired, garnish with microgreens and optional cheese garnish. Cheddar-Thyme Crisps 2½ oz. white cheddar cheese, grated, about 3¼ cups 3 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated, about 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. 2 oz. shelled, roasted, salted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped, about ½ cup 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh thyme leaves 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. You will need to use new parchment paper with each batch. 2. Combine cheeses in small bowl. Drop the mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lined baking sheets, leaving about 1½ inches between them. Add a small portion of pistachios to each pile. Flatten each pile slightly with back of spoon. Add a little thyme to each. 3. Bake 5 minutes or until crisps are bubbling and edges are golden. Allow to stand for several minutes, then slide off paper with a thin metal spatula. Blot crisps gently with paper towels and serve at room temperature. Yield: About 50 crisps. Sautéed Chard Italian-Style Not only is this a great side dish, room-temperature leftovers are irresistible as an appetizer atop toasted rounds of French baguette. Remove stalks from 3 pounds of clean chard; set stalks aside for another recipe. Stack leaves and cut into thin strips. Place in Dutch oven or large pot with about 3 cups water and pinch of salt; cook on high heat until leaves are tender. Drain well in colander, pressing out excess water (can be refrigerated airtight at this point if desired). Heat 1/3 cup extra- virgin olive oil in large, deep skillet on medium-high heat. Add 2 medium garlic cloves (minced) and pinch dried red pepper flakes. Stir 30 seconds (do not brown garlic). Add chard and cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Add salt as needed. .