Eleven Madison Park Granola

                                         RECIPE COURTESY OF ELEVEN MADISON PARK

Eleven Madison Park Granola

Eleven Madison Park Restaurant was rated the best restaurant in the world.  Following dinner, guests were gifted with a jar of granola.  It is 5*.  

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cup oats
1 cup pistachios
1 cup unsweetened coconut chips
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tsp salt

Bring the next three ingredients to a boil stirring until lt. brown sugar is dissolved:
1/2 cup lt. brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup EVOO

Directions:
Place the oats, pistachios, coconut chips, pumpkin seeds and in a large bowl.

Place the sugar, syrup and EVOO in a pan over low heat. Stir until lt. brown sugar is dissolved.

Pour the boiled mixture over the oat mixture in a large bowl and mix well. When well coated place in baking pan with tall sides lined with parchment paper and bake at 300*F for 15 minutes and 225*F for the remainder of the time 2 to 3 hours until the mixture appears dry and caramelized. 

When baked and golden, remove from oven and allow to cool.  Place cooled granola in a large bowl and add 3/4 cup dried sour cherries.
Mix well to coat the cherries with granola. Place in air tight container. Yield 9 cups.   5*****

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

When baked and golden, allow to cool.  Place cooled granola in a large bowl and add the cherries, mix well.  Place in a storage container.                  

Glazed Parsnips

  

Glazed Parsnips

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

Pinch sea salt

1/2 teaspoon EVOO

2 -2 1/4 pounds parsnips. peeled

1/4 cup butter

freshly ground pepper

3 1/2 cups chicken stock

5 juniper berries

5 star anise, coarsely crushed

3 bay leaves

1/4 cup honey

lemon juice to taste

chopped tarragon 

1/4 cup golden raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees,

To toast the pumpkin seeds,  mix them with a splash of oil and lightly sat.  Spread them on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes.

Cut each parsnip in half.  Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.

Toss parsnips in butter seasoned with salt and pepper for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken stock, juniper berries, star anise, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Cook until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.

Add the honey and cook until the liquid has become rich and thick and the parsnips are glazed. Taste and season with salt and lemon juice, then add the tarragon and raisins. 

Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with the toasted pumpkin seeds

 

Carrot Ginger Soup

 

Carrot Ginger Soup

Warm up with a heart healthy recipe. Whether you are trying to eat healthier or incorporate more plant base foods in your diet, this recipe is worth a taste. 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon EVOO

1 cup onions chopped

3 cups carrots chopped

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and sliced  OR

   1 teaspoon ground ginger

3 garlic cloves. chopped

4 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Cashew cream or sour cream for topping

Pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds or chopped parsley for topping

Directions:

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat, when heated, add the EVOO and chopped onions.  (*Never cook the oil ). Sauté until "transparent" or glossy, stirring frequently until tender, about 5 minutes.  Add the ginger and carrots.   Stir to coat and cook another 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the garlic cook while stirring another minute.   

Pour in the broth and bring it to a boil.  Then reduce the heat and simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vinegar.  Then allow the soup to cool slightly.  

Puree the soup in a blender, working in small batches as necessary.  Blend on low speed for a few seconds, then slowly increase speed to create a creamy soup.  To serve, pour the soup into bowls and garnish with desired choice.  Yield: 4 servings

TIP:  My next batch, I will use less garlic.   Otherwise the flavor is great

Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu

Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu

This mash-up of a pumpkin spice latte and tiramisu gives the beloved dessert all the fall feels. To save time, you could use packaged ladyfingers instead—you will need approximately 30. Instead of mascarpone, you could use two 250-g bars of softened, Philadelphia-style cream cheese. 

Ingredents:
Ladyfingers
4 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup (125 mL) sugar, divided
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1 tbsp (15 mL) pumpkin spice
3/4 cup (175 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp (15 mL) icing sugar
Tiramisu
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) whipping cream
1 tub (475 g) mascarpone
10 tbsp (150 mL) sugar, divided
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
1 cup (250 mL) pumpkin purée
1 cup (250 mL) hot water
2 tbsp (30 mL) instant espresso
2 1/2 tsp (12 mL) pumpkin spice, divided
1 tsp (5 mL) icing sugar
2 tbsp (30 mL) roasted pumpkin seeds, chopped
Directions:
For the ladyfingers, preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites with a hand mixer until frothy, about 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup (60 mL) sugar and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks with remaining 1/4 cup (60 mL) sugar, vanilla and salt on high speed until light, creamy and doubled in volume, about 3 minutes. Gently fold egg whites into yolk mixture in two stages. Gently fold in pumpkin spice and flour, 1/4 cup (60 mL) at a time.

Spoon batter into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch (1-cm) round tip. Pipe batter into two rows of 4-inch (10-cm) lines, 2 inches (5 cm) apart on prepared sheet. Dust with icing sugar.

Bake, one sheet at a time, until lightly golden around edges and the centres spring back when lightly touched, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. (Ladyfingers will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.)

For the tiramisu, whip cream in a large bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Beat in mascarpone, 6 tbsp (90 mL) sugar and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute. Remove 3 cups (750 mL) of mixture and set aside. Beat pumpkin purée and remaining 4 tbsp (60 mL) sugar into remaining mixture.

In a shallow bowl, stir hot water with espresso powder and 2 tsp (10 mL) pumpkin spice. Let cool 10 minutes. Stir to mix any settled spice. Quickly immerse lady fingers in mixture and line up in rows in one layer along bottom of a 10-inch (25-cm) square pan with high edges. Spread pumpkin mixture overtop to cover ladyfinger base. Top with additional layer of dipped ladyfingers, saving rest for another use.

Spoon reserved cream mixture into piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe dollops by rows to cover lady fingers. Stir remaining 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pumpkin spice with icing sugar. Lightly dust overtop. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Sprinkle with chopped pumpkin seeds before serving. Serves 9 to 12

Paleo Granola

                                 Paleo Granola

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut chips
!/2 cup unsweetened Grated coconut
1/3 cup cacao nibs
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1 teaspoon ground cake spices w/ pinch black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Zest of an organic lemon

1 pound and 2 ounces mixed:  hazelnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cashews

Directions:

Preheat oven to 320*F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

Place the nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender, and process using short pulses until roughly chopped, stirring every few pulses, for even chopping.  The goal is to have bigger and smaller bits.  Pour into a mixing bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir vigorously until well combined.  Pay particular attention to the honey and coconut oil: they will tend to remain as individual wads, and you need to coax them into mingling with the other ingredients.

Pour out onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every ten minutes, until golden brown.

Let the granola cool completely on the sheet -- it will crisp as it cools -- then transfer to an airtight container.  It will keep for 3 weeks at cool room temperature or a couple of months in the refrigerator.

Green Beans in Corn Sauce With Pumpkin seeds

Green Beans With Corn and Raw 

Pumpkin Seeds and Tomato Salsa

Ingredients
1/2 cup raw hulled pumpkin seeds
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup fresh corn kernels from 1 large ear
1 cup water
3 to 4 fresh sprigs epazote or cilantro
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound green beans trimmed
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
1 fresh habanero, serrano or jalapeño chile finely chopped
1 garlic clove finely chopped
1 pound ripe tomatoes chopped, or 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Directions:
Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and toast until they are lightly colored and starting to jump or pop, 4 to 
5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Transfer the pumpkin seeds to a food processor, add 1⁄4 teaspoon of the salt, and pulse until finely ground. Set aside.

Combine the fresh corn, water, and epazote or cilantro in a blender and puree until smooth.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the green beans, sprinkle with 1⁄2 teaspoon of the salt, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to turn brighter green. Pour the pureed corn over the green beans, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often so that the sauce doesn’t stick to the pan, until the beans are tender and the puree has reduced to a creamy, thick sauce.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and chile and cook until softened and starting to color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until translucent, less than a minute. Add the tomatoes and the remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and pasty, 5 to 8 minutes.

Scrape the beans with the corn sauce onto a platter. Top with the tomato salsa, garnish with the ground pumpkin seeds, and serve.