Warm Mushroom Salad with Cauliflower & Barley
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
4 to 5 cups (1 L to 1.25 L) small cauliflower florets (about 1 small head cauliflower)
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups (1 L) chopped cremini mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
2 cups (500 ml) cooked barley
1 lemon, juice only
1 cup (250 ml) chopped parsley leaves
½ cup (125 ml) toasted pine nuts
1 cup (250 ml) shaved Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, coat cauliflower with 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to lined baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl.
- Heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes, until just soft. Add garlic, butter and soy sauce and sauté for another 5 to 8 minutes, until cooked through and browned. Remove from heat and transfer to bowl with cauliflower.
- Add barley to bowl with cauliflower and mushrooms. Add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil, and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Add parsley, pine nuts and Parmesan and mix to combine. Serve at room temperature.
Drink Pairings
Maple Squash Salad with Pecans, Pomegranate & Blue Cheese
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 medium acorn squash
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp (10 ml) ground cumin
2 tsp (10 ml) paprika
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) maple syrup, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
½ tbsp (7.5 ml) butter
½ cup (125 ml) raw whole pecans
¼ cup (60 ml) pomegranate seeds
¼ cup (60 ml) crumbled blue cheese
¼ cup (60 ml) cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice squash in half and scoop out the seeds. With flat side on cutting board, cut squash into ½-in (1.25 cm) half-moons (skin is edible and can be left on). Transfer to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, oil and 1½ tbsp (22 ml) maple syrup. Pour over squash and gently massage to ensure squash is thoroughly covered in seasoning. Transfer to lined baking sheet, spacing apart evenly, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 10 minutes, or until fork-tender.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add remaining ½ tbsp (7.5 ml) maple syrup. Add pecans and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until coated in maple butter and lightly toasted. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Arrange squash on a large platter and top with pecans, pomegranate seeds, crumbled blue cheese and cilantro. Serve warm.
Drink Pairings
Roasted Beets with Whipped Feta, Hazelnuts & Mint
Ingredients
Serves 4
8 medium beets, mix of yellow and red
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup (250 ml) crumbled feta, room temperature
¼ cup (60 ml) cream cheese, room temperature
½ lemon, zest and juice
1 tsp (5 ml) honey
¼ cup (60 ml) toasted hazelnuts
¼ cup (60 ml) mint leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Tightly wrap all the beets together in foil with 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until fork-tender.
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine feta, cream cheese, 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil, lemon zest and juice and honey. Whip on high until mixture is smooth.
- Remove beets from oven and let cool until cool enough to handle. Peel beets and slice into ¼-in (0.5 cm) rounds. Spread whipped feta onto a serving plate and lay beets on top. Top with remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil, hazelnuts and fresh mint.
Drink Pairings
Winter Greens & Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Ingredients
Serves 2
2 chicken breasts, boneless, skin-on*
salt and pepper, to taste
½ tsp (2.5 ml) paprika
½ tsp (2.5 ml) garlic powder
½ tsp (2.5 ml) onion powder
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil, divided
¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk
¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
1 tsp (5 ml) red wine vinegar
1 small shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped chives
5 oz (140 g) baby kale
1 small head radicchio, thinly sliced
¼ cup (60 ml) thinly sliced red onion
¼ cup (60 ml) dried cranberries
¼ cup (60 ml) toasted bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place chicken skin side up on lined baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Drizzle with 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and bake for 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken reads 165 F (74 C). Remove from oven and set aside to rest.
- In a small bowl, mix together buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, shallot, garlic and chives. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, toss together kale and radicchio. Add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and gently massage into leaves to break down the fibers. Add buttermilk dressing to taste and toss to coat. Any leftover dressing will keep in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Add red onion, cranberries and bread crumbs. Slice chicken and serve alongside salad.
Drink Pairings
Blooming Toddy
Ingredients
Serves 1
6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) hibiscus tea
1 tbsp (15 ml) agave syrup
1½ oz (45 ml) aged tequila
candied ginger or dried hibiscus flower, for garnish
Instructions
- In a heatproof glass or mug, make hibiscus tea. Add agave syrup and stir to dissolve, then stir in tequila and garnish with candied ginger or a dried hibiscus flower.
Drink Pairings
Gin & Juice Toddy
Ingredients
Serves 1
½ oz (15 ml) yellow grapefruit juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) honey
6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) hot water
1½ oz (45 ml) gin
honeycomb stirrer or honey stick, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine grapefruit juice and honey in a heatproof glass or mug, then add hot water and stir to dissolve honey. Stir in gin and garnish with honeycomb stirrer or honey stick.
Featuring
Kentucky Comfort Toddy
Ingredients
Serves 1
½ oz (15 ml) orange juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) hot water
1½ oz (45 ml) bourbon
Dehydrated Orange Wheel*, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine orange juice and maple syrup in a heatproof glass or mug, then add hot water and stir to dissolve maple syrup. Stir in bourbon and garnish with a Dehydrated Orange Wheel.
- *To make Dehydrated Orange Wheels, preheat the oven to 200 F (93 C). Cut an orange into ¼-in (0.5 cm) slices, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dust lightly with sugar, then place in the oven to dry for 2 to 3 hours, turning every 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Featuring
Tropical Toddy
Ingredients
Serves 1
½ oz (15 ml) lime juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) natural cane or Demerara sugar
6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) hot water
1½ oz (45 ml) aged rum
toasted mini marshmallow, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine lime juice and sugar in a heatproof glass or mug, then add hot water and stir to dissolve sugar. Stir in rum and garnish with a mini marshmallow toasted with a culinary torch.
Featuring
The Classic Toddy
Ingredients
Serves 1
½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) honey
6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 ml) hot water
1½ oz (45 ml) whisky
cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine lemon juice and honey in a heatproof glass or mug, then add hot water and stir to dissolve honey. Stir in whisky and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Featuring
Wise Reflection
Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Casamigos Reposado Tequila
¾ oz (22 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) Simple Syrup**
3 dashes orange bitters
6 sage leaves, divided
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine tequila, lemon juice, Simple Syrup, bitters and 5 sage leaves. Shake vigorously and fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with remaining sage leaf.