walnuts

Cotton Candy Grapes & Cheese

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Cut Above: Cotton Candy Grapes & Cheese! If you haven’t tried these tasty hybrid grapes recently, you may have to take a trip to the wild side. Their nostalgic flavor resembles the vanilla-caramel addiction to cotton candy memories of childhood county fairs. Who doesn’t yearn for that?!?! The pop of spun sugar makes them chewy, sweet, and run-down-your-chin juicy. Sounds like the perfect reward for walking 3 miles every morning. You can come up with your own justification, I’m sure. 

COTTON CANDY GRAPES & CHEESE

Ingredients:

1 pound cotton candy grapes, seedless

4 ounces bleu cheese wedge

1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 

Instructions:

Bring a wedge of bleu cheese to room temperature. Wash a bunch of cotton candy seedless grapes; pat dry. Arrange the bleu cheese, green grapes, and chopped walnuts on a cutting board. Serve with artisan bread toast points or stone-ground crackers. Serve. 

Derby Pie

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Symphony of Flavors: Derby Pie! Chocolate, nuts, and bourbon…..oh my! Not everyone gets excited about desserts infused with a little bourbon. I find the hints of caramel slightly smoky with the crunch of nuts simply irresistible. For those who aren’t sure, the alcohol in the bourbon bakes off naturally, leaving behind a restaurant-worthy gourmet treat. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. I’m told in the right circumstance, some cooks even garnish it with a sprig of fresh mint. Go Horse! 

DERBY PIE

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

3/4 cup white corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate bits 

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

2 tablespoons bourbon

10” unbaked pie shell

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325°. Spray the pie plate with nonstick oil. Form the pie crust into the pie plate. Set aside. Cream butter while gradually adding the sugar. Mix well. Add eggs, white corn syrup, sea salt, flour, and vanilla extract. Stir until combined. Fold in chocolate bits, chopped walnuts, and bourbon. Pour into prepared pie crust. Bake 40-50 minutes, or until set. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired. Serve. 

Figgy Honey-Baked Cheese

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Figgy Honey-Baked Cheese!  Looking for an appetizer that brings in the cheer? It’s easy to create your own version of elegance when you use quality ingredients that begin with cheese. To awaken the taste buds, sprinkle in a few red pepper flakes which compliment the natural sweetness of honey. The crunch of walnuts satisfies those earthy snack-seekers.  Bake it all together for the most captivating sweet holiday aroma. Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly. Fa-la-la-la-la…la-la-la-lah!

FIGGY HONEY-BAKED CHEESE

Ingredients: 

8-ounce wheel Normandy Camembert cheese, double crème 

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons natural honey

2 tablespoons fig jam

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoon walnuts, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Place cheese wheel in an oven-proof dish. Score the cheese in a criss-cross pattern. Pour melted butter over cheese.  Drizzle natural honey over cheese. Spread fig jam over cheese.  Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.  Top with chopped walnuts.  Bake 20-25 minutes until cheese is soft and bubbly.  Serve warm with sliced apples, assorted crackers, and baguette slices.  

Butterscotch Icebox Cookies

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Butterscotch Icebox Cookies! Here’s an old-time favorite from the North Pole. Imagine Mrs. Claus, with her crew of kitchen elves up to their elbows in flour as the aroma of bakery items fill the air. Repeat after me: “Never substitute the butter with another oil.” It will completely change the outcome. Think about it for a minute. If you remove the “butter” from butterscotch, what will that leave? Trust me, you don’t want to find out. Go for the gold instead and reap the reward. Catch the spirit and watch your little helpers share the excitement, too. 

BUTTERSCOTCH ICEBOX COOKIES 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar 

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

3 1/2 cups flour

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions:

Melt the butter. Stir in brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. In a medium bowl combine baking powder, sea salt, and flour. Pour the flour mixture into the sugar mixture, stirring to form a solid dough. Fold in walnuts. Shape dough into two long rolls. Wrap each log in wax paper. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. To bake, preheat oven to 375°. Slice dough thinly. Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. 

Crunch Compulsion

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Crunch Compulsion! If you’ve always wanted to make toffee, but didn’t have the patience for standing at the stove waiting for the candy thermometer to reach its mark, think about an easy alternative. Crunch Compulsion has the rich buttery taste of toffee layered over a firm graham cracker base. With a finishing touch of pecans and walnuts, you can certainly see where the “crunch” comes in. 

CRUNCH COMPULSION 

Ingredients:

1 package graham crackers

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. 

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the graham crackers in a single layer, completely covering the bottom of the baking sheet. Sprinkle pecans and walnuts over crackers. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, brown sugar, white sugar, cream of tartar, and cinnamon. Stir constantly until mixture boils. Do not burn. Reduce heat to medium and let mixture boil for 3 minutes without stirring. Carefully pour mixture over graham crackers, allowing liquid to cover all. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely. Break into pieces. 

Mandel Bread

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Graze or Gobble: Mandel Bread! There’s a reason family recipes are handed down through the generations. It’s usually because they are steeped in tradition and rich in memories. Mandel Bread is also known as Jewish Biscotti. When my friend, Lorrie, presented me with this homemade gift of love, I knew before the very first bite that it was something extraordinarily delicious. The twice-baked crunchy sweet texture, with a hint of almond, is perfect for dipping into a shot of espresso. The chocolate, flavorings, and another ingredient keep it from turning dry. Bet you can guess what that is. It’s worth every bite.

MANDEL BREAD (Lorrie’s Recipe)

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon rum extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

3 1/2 cups flour

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Cinnamon Sugar, for dusting

Instructions:

Beat eggs for 10 minutes, using a stand mixer. Gradually add sugar. Slowly add vegetable oil, vanilla extract, almond extract, and rum extract. Mix to incorporate. Sift together baking powder, sea salt, and flour. Add flour mixture to egg mixture. Allow dough to “rest” in the refrigerator for one hour. Remove from refrigerator and add chopped walnuts. Divide batter in half; putting one half back in the refrigerator for second batch. Divide the first batch into three loaves. Arrange parallel on a slightly oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar. Bake in a 350° preheated oven on the middle rack for 20 minutes, then move baking sheet to the top rack for 10 minutes to brown. Remove from oven and immediately cut into slices. Turn on sides and put back in oven on the top shelf to dry for another 8-10 minutes. Remove, turn on the other side and repeat. For the refrigerated second batch, add the chocolate chips to the remaining dough and repeat baking process.

Walnut Mango Granola

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Talking Points: Walnut Mango Granola! Have you noticed how versatile granola has become? It’s no wonder it has turned into a convenient substitute for breakfast when you’re on the run. Oats are full of iron and fiber, which the nutritionists keep drumming into our heads. It keeps us full, energizes the body, and detours junk food cravings. Nuts and seeds have heart-hearty benefits, which everyone wants, right? Personally, I prefer the crumbled version to sprinkle over my morning yogurt. Others prefer the chewy granola bars I find look too much like a candy bar. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy peanut butter and chocolate chips as much as the next guy. I get it, but always check the sugar content because basically that’s what holds everything together. Talk about unwanted calories. No thanks. In the end do what is right for you. Meanwhile, if you want to make your own, this recipe is as easy as pie.

WALNUT MANGO GRANOLA

Ingredients:

1 cup walnut halves, chopped

1/4 cup coconut flakes

2 tablespoons pistachio nuts, roughly chopped

1 cup oats

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 cup dried mango, chopped

1/4 cup dates, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325°. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick oil. Set aside. In a large bowl, toss chopped walnuts, coconut flakes, pistachio nuts, oats, and chia seeds. Thoroughly combine; set aside. In another bowl, mix cinnamon, coconut sugar, sea salt, vegetable oil, and maple syrup. Drizzle over walnut mixture and toss to coat granola. Spread granola mixture onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes; turn for even browning and bake 10 minutes longer. Remove pan from oven. Carefully stir in dried mango and chopped dates. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove granola from the oven and allow to cool completely. Transfer crumbled granola to an airtight container.

Bored With Cheese?

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Talking Points: Bored With Cheese? Anyone who has perused a deli market understands how confusing the cheese categories have become. The choices appear endless. Cheese can be aged for months, hand-rubbed with robust Italian spices, shelf-cured for optimal quality, or made with passion from a local dairy. Who knew? I recently picked up a “cheese flight” of three Wisconsin varieties. I loved the description detailing the best pairing options for fruits, nuts, and beverages. Not only is it a great way to try mild or robust cheeses, it turns a charcuterie board into a win, win for the night.

BORED WITH CHEESE?

Ingredients:

3.5-ounce wedge Tuscan-rubbed fontina cheese

3-ounce wedge parmesan cheese

1.5-ounce edge bleu cheese

1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced

1/2 cup walnut halves

Crackers and baguette slices

Instructions:

Arrange cheeses, apple slices, and walnut halves on a cutting board. Serve with crackers, sliced baguette, beer, and wine.

Piquant Pear Passion

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Enjoyable Eats: Piquant Pear Passion! Did you know a little bit of cheese and fruit make a great dessert at the end of a meal? Sure you did. The French have been doing it for years. Europeans, too. Bleu cheese, or its milder cousins Roquefort and Gorgonzola, is a perfect match with sweet ripe pears. Nuts provide that little extra crunch you crave. If making ahead, to keep the pears from turning brown, simply dip them in a wash of lemon juice and water. It works. If you wish to top off the dessert plate with subtle sweetness, drizzle some natural honey over the pears before serving. Obviously I threw in the greens as garnish. Habit, that’s for sure.

PIQUANT PEAR PASSION

Ingredients:

1-2 ripe pears, cored and sliced

4-ounces Bleu cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup walnut pieces

Arugula leaves, for garnish

Natural Honey, for drizzling (optional)

Instructions:

Arrange pear slices in a dessert dish. Add the bleu cheese crumbles. Sprinkle with walnut pieces. Garnish with arugula leaves. Drizzle pears with natural honey.