Spinach, Apple and Pecan Salad from the bigoven.com

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3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 golden delicious apple; halved, cored,
1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion; cut in thin strips
3/4 lb spinach; washed, stems removed, leaves torn
1/2 cup toasted pecans

  1. In serving bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper until thick.
  2. Add apple and onion.
  3. Toss until apples and onions are covered with dressing.
  4. Place spinach on top, then pecans.
  5. Just before serving, toss.
  6. might add some blue cheese

4 servings

Spinach Salad with Bosc Pears, cranberries, red onion and hazelnuts from epicurious.com

355430Dressing

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
  • 8 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, stemmed if needed
  • 2 firm but ripe Bosc pears (do not peel), quartered lengthwise, cored, and cut into long, thin slices
  • 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

To make the dressing, in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover tightly and shake vigorously to blend. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside.

Place the onions in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand for 30 minutes. This crisps the onion and takes away the raw onion taste. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels.

In a small bowl, toss the cranberries with 2 tablespoons of the dressing to soften them. Set aside for at least 20 minutes or until ready to serve the salad.

To assemble the salad, place the spinach, onions, and pears in a large bowl. Give the remaining dressing a last-minute shake and pour over the salad. Toss to coat evenly. Arrange the salad in a large serving bowl or divide it evenly among 8 salad plates. Scatter the cranberries and hazelnuts over the top(s). Serve immediately.

Cook’s Notes
You can substitute unsalted cashews for the hazelnuts. Toast cashews, as directed above for hazelnuts, for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.

The dressing can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered tightly, and refrigerated. Remove from the refrigerator 2 hours before serving. The nuts can be toasted up to 1 day in advance; store at room temperature in an airtight container. The onions and cranberries can be prepared up to up to 4 hours in advance. Set aside at room temperature.

 

Broccoli and Apple Salad with Seasoned Nuts from whatroseknows

  • 1 medium appbrocolli-apple-seasoned-nuts-4le cut into small pieces
  • 2 small heads of broccoli chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup shredded or matchstick carrots
  • 1/4 red onion chopped into itty bitty pieces
  • 1 cup Planter’s Winter Spiced Mix – divided
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbs apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste (I usually give it 3 shakes)

Step #1 Combine broccoli, onion, apple, carrots, and 1/2 cup Planter’s Winter Spiced Mix into bowl.

Step #2 Mix together mayo, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.

Step #3 Add the mayo and Greek Yogurt mixture to the broccoli and apple mixture and stir together until well coated.

Step #4 Sprinkle the remaining Planter’s Winter Spiced Mix on top.

he Planter’s Winter Spiced Mix gives this salad extra crunchiness and a little bit of extra sweetness. This addition has made it my favorite variation of a broccoli & apple salad yet! This may not be your typical side dish for the holidays, but the added spiced nuts do make it a little more fitting. Plus, everyone seems to try and not indulge over the holidays and with this salad, you don’t have to feel guilty!

 

Nancy Silverton’s Best Fall Salad

  1. salad6 slices of thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon (OMIT)
  2. 1/2 cup hazelnuts
  3. 1 tablespoon hazelnut or canola oil
  4. Kosher salt
  5. Pepper
  6. 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
  7. 1/4 cup minced shallots
  8. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  9. 1 teaspoon sugar
  10. 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  11. Light green leaves from 2 small heads of Bibb lettuce
  12. 1/2 cup Concord grapes, halved and seeded
  13. 4 ounces Gorgonzola dolce, crumbled
  14. Snipped chives, for garnish
  1. Preheat the oven to 325°. On a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet, bake the bacon for about 17 minutes, turning once, until browned but still chewy. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain, then cut into 1-inch pieces. Leave the oven on.
  2. Meanwhile, spread the hazelnuts in a pie plate and bake for about 12 minutes, until lightly browned and the skins start to crack. Transfer the hazelnuts to a clean kitchen towel and rub them together to remove the skins; let cool. Coarsely chop the hazelnuts and transfer to a small bowl. Stir in the hazelnut oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the sherry vinegar with the minced shallots, lemon juice and sugar. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until incorporated. Season the shallot vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
  4. In a large bowl, toss the lettuce leaves with 1/4 cup of the shallot vinaigrette and season lightly with salt and pepper. On a serving platter or plates, layer the lettuce leaves with the bacon pieces, chopped hazelnuts, Concord grapes and Gorgonzola dolce. Garnish with snipped chives and serve, passing the remaining shallot vinaigrette at the table.

 

Kale Salad with Apples and Hazelnuts

  • 5 cups cuFood52rly kale and mustard green leaves, torn into small pieces
  • 2 scallions,trimmed and thinly sliced on the bias
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
  • Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 tart apple
  • 1/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped and toasted
  • 1/4 cup pecorino romano or parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler
  1. In a large bowl, combine the kale, mustard greens, scallions, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to really blend the dressing and rub it into the greens. Let the salad sit while you prepare the rest.
  2. Core the apple. I like to do this with a melon baller. Thinly — like, super thinly — slice the two halves from stem to flower end. If you have a mandoline, that’s the easiest way to go. Add the apples to the salad and gently fold together so they don’t break in half. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  3. Spread the salad on a platter. Sprinkle with the hazelnuts and cheese shavings.

 

Apple Rutabaga Soup from Patrick O’Connell

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1 stick (1/4 pound) butter
1 cup onion, roughly chopped
1 cup Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1 cup rutabaga, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 quart good chicken stock
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup maple syrup
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, apple, rutabaga, squash, carrots and sweet potato and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent.

Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all of the vegetables are cooked through and tender.

Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into the same pot you used to cook the vegetables. Add the cream, maple syrup, salt and cayenne pepper.

Return the pot to the stove, bring the soup to a simmer, and serve.

Dutch Apple Cake from Elizabeth Peters

My husband and I came to Canada over 40 years ago from Holland. This traditional Dutch recipe is a family favorite and frequently goes along with me to potluck suppers and other get-togethers. —Elizabeth Peters,
Dutch Apple Cake One
– 3 medium tart apples, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices (3 cups)
– 3 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar, divided
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 2/3 cup butter, softened
– 4 Eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/8 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine the apples, 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon; let stand for 1 hour. In another bowl, cream butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and beat until smooth. Transfer to a greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan. Push apple slices vertically into batter, placing them close together. Bake at 300° for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Yield: 10-12 servings.

Apple pie cake from Martha Stewart

apple cake

2 cups flour
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
5 pounds (about 12) tart apples, such as Granny Smith
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a large bowl, combine flour,and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Using an electric mixer or a pastry cutter, cut in until the mixture forms pea-size pieces. Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. apples cut into thin slices, and place in a bowl. Pour off any accumulated liquid. Toss apple slices with remaining teaspoon cinnamon and lemon ,and put them in the prepared pan, pressing down gently as you pack them in (they will mound above the edge of the pan). Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.

Put the pan on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and let the cake cool in the pan to set. Serve at room temperature.

Fresh, Fruity Summer Porridge from “The Family Cooks”

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Summer porridge? It may sound like an oxymoron, but this hearty mix of raw oats, yogurt, and fresh fruit is cool and tangy. Spoon it into pretty glasses or mason jars, pop them into the fridge, and let chill overnight so the oats soften and all the flavors get to know each other. The next morning, enjoy breakfast in the sun, or just tuck a jar to go into your pocket–or into little hands–if time is tight.
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not “instant”)

3 cups plain yogurt (whole or low-fat) or kefir

3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

2 large apples (not peeled), grated

1 cup mixed fresh fruit, such as sliced kiwi or strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries (save a little extra for garnish)
1. Combine the oats, yogurt, honey, apples, and mixed fruit in a bowl, making sure that the apple is completely folded into the yogurt .

2. Divide the porridge evenly among six 8-ounce glasses or mason jars, cover tightly with wrap or lids, and refrigerate overnight. Have a good night’s sleep.

3. The next morning, as the sun rises, garnish the porridge with more fresh fruit and call the troops to breakfast.

 

makes 6 servings

 

prep time: 15 minutes; chill out time:overnight

 

Apple Tarts by Ina

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1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted
4 small (6 ounce) Granny Smith apples
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, small-diced
3/4 cup apricot jelly or warm sieved apricot jam
3 tablespoons Calvados, rum, or water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.

Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 squares. Divide the pastry between the prepared sheet pans and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.

Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally across the pastry and place one slice of apple on each side of the arranged slices. Sprinkle the apples evenly with the sugar and dot them with the butter.

Bake for 40 minutes, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Don’t worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tarts will be fine! When the tarts are done, heat the apricot jelly together with the Calvados until bubbly and brush the apples and pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tarts with a metal spatula so they don’t stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/apple-tarts-recipe.html?oc=linkback