Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
If fall had a flavour, it just might be this cake. Inspired by those warm cinnamon-sugar-coated apple cider doughnuts you find at farm markets while apple picking, this cake captures in a bite everything we love about a crisp autumn day. Pair this cake with Fitzpatrick Fitz Brut or Verve Cider.Ingredients
Serves 12
½ cup + ⅓ cup (205 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
½ cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
1 cup (250 ml) light brown sugar
¼ tsp (1 ml) fine sea salt
5 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
⅓ cup (80 ml) applesauce
¾ cup (180 ml) hard apple cider
½ tsp (2.5 ml) ground nutmeg
1 tbsp + 2 tsp (25 ml) ground cinnamon, divided
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground cloves
3½ cups (860 ml) all-purpose flour
2½ tsp (12.5 ml) baking powder
¼ tsp (1 ml) baking soda
2 large apples, peeled and diced
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease a 12-cup (3 L) Bundt cake pan with cooking spray or butter, then dust all over with flour to coat evenly. Tap out any excess flour. Set pan aside.
- In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream ½ cup (125 ml) butter, oil, brown sugar and salt until well combined and lightened in colour, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add vanilla, applesauce, cider, nutmeg, 1 tbsp (15 ml) cinnamon and cloves. Mix until well combined.
- Remove bowl from stand mixer and sift flour, baking powder and baking soda right over batter. Top with diced apples and use a spatula to fold everything together until just combined.
- Scoop batter into prepared Bundt cake pan and smooth top to even. Transfer pan to oven and bake until a wooden skewer inserted into centre comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk granulated sugar and remaining 2 tsp (10 ml) cinnamon. Set aside.
- Once cake has baked, let rest on a rack for 10 minutes. Carefully turn out of pan and cool to room temperature.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt remaining ⅓ cup (80 ml) butter. Continue to cook, watching carefully and stirring constantly, until milk solids start to separate and turn golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Once cake is cool, set on a rack over a baking sheet. Brush all over with brown butter and then spoon on cinnamon-sugar mixture, pressing gently into cake. Transfer to a serving platter. Slice and serve.
Drink Pairings
Radicchio Salad
Skip the store-bought salad kit and bring this showstopping salad to Thanksgiving instead. This eye-catching salad hits every flavour note—crunchy, salty, nutty, bright, sharp and bitter. Feel free to prep the salad in advance, but keep the elements separate and assemble just before serving. Enjoy this recipe with Tantalus Pinot Noir, Steller’s Jay Sparkling Rosé, Mission Hill Compendium or CedarCreek Sauvignon Blanc.Ingredients
Serves 6
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice
1 small shallot, finely diced
1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt, plus more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
⅓ cup (80 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 lbs (900 g) red grapefruit
1 small head radicchio, leaves roughly torn
½ cup (125 ml) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves or microgreens
½ cup (125 ml) canned smoked almonds, chopped
2 oz (60 g) Manchego, shaved
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk orange juice and shallots and set aside for 5 minutes. Whisk in maple syrup, Dijon, salt and a good pinch of pepper. Very gradually whisk in oil until dressing is emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to use. Dressing can be made up to 1 week in advance.
- Cut away peel and pith of grapefruit and slice flesh into ½-in (1.25 cm) thick rounds.
- When ready to plate, layer radicchio and grapefruit rounds on a serving platter. Sprinkle with parsley, almonds and Manchego. Drizzle with dressing and serve.
Drink Pairings
Miso Sake Braised Cabbage
Umami-rich and deeply caramelized, this tender braised cabbage starts with a hard sear, building smoky flavour and golden edges before simmering in a mixture of brown butter, miso and sake. This dish is equally at home over a bowl of steamed rice or next to a piece of grilled fish. Pair this recipe with Nik Weis St. Urbans-Hof Old Vines Mosel Riesling or Hakutsuru Sho-Une Junmai Daiginjo Sake.Ingredients
Serves 3 to 4
⅓ cup (80 ml) sake
¼ cup (60 ml) miso
¼ cup (60 ml) mirin
3 tbsp (45 ml) unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced fresh ginger
⅛ tsp (a pinch) cayenne pepper (optional)
1 small shallot, finely diced
1 small red or green cabbage (5- to 6-in/12.5 to 15 cm across)
⅓ cup (80 ml) butter, room temperature
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil
¼ cup + 2 tbsp (90 ml) whipping cream
¼ cup (60 ml) sliced green onions, for garnish
1 tbsp (15 ml) toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
steamed rice or mashed potatoes, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
- In a small mixing bowl, combine sake, miso, mirin, rice vinegar, ginger, cayenne pepper (if using) and shallots. Stir well and set aside.
- Remove first few layers of cabbage leaves and discard. Cut cabbage into 6 wedges from top to core, making sure to leave a bit of core intact so wedges hold together during cooking.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook butter, stirring, until it begins to get foamy. When brown specks begin to appear in bottom of pan and butter begins to smell nutty, add to sake-miso mixture and stir to incorporate.
- In same pan over medium-high heat, warm oil. Arrange cabbage wedges cut-side down in pan and sear until well browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Press down gently on cabbage to make sure each piece is getting full contact with pan. When both sides are well browned, pour miso-butter mixture overtop, coating each piece of cabbage well, then pour in cream and transfer to oven.
- Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes, then flip cabbage wedges and spoon a bit of cooking liquid from pan overtop. Cook for another 20 to 25 minutes, basting with a bit more cooking liquid every 10 minutes. If sauce is looking over-reduced, add a splash of water. When finished, cabbage wedges should be lightly charred around edges and fork-tender in centre.
Drink Pairings
Chicken Marsala Meatballs
Juicy, savoury chicken and pork meatballs are simmered in a rich Marsala sauce with caramelized mushrooms, tender herbs and just a touch of cream. Serve over creamy polenta for a low-effort weekday indulgence. Enjoy these Marsala Meatballs with Vigneti Zabù Il Passo Nerello Mascalese or Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay.Ingredients
Serves 4; Makes 16 meatballs
1 lb (450 g) ground chicken
½ lb (225 g) ground pork
¾ cup (180 ml) panko bread crumbs
2 tsp (10 ml) minced garlic
1½ tsp (7.5 ml) salt, plus more to taste
¾ tsp (4 ml) freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
¾ tsp (4 ml) finely chopped fresh sage
½ tsp (2.5 ml) chopped fresh rosemary
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil, for frying
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 shallot, minced
2 cups (500 ml) sliced mushrooms (cremini, oyster or other fresh, seasonal variety)
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh tarragon
1 tbsp (15 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) Marsala
1 cup (250 ml) chicken stock
½ cup (125 ml) whipping cream
fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish
polenta, steamed rice or pasta, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine chicken, pork, panko, garlic, salt, pepper, sage, rosemary and eggs. Mix well until ingredients are evenly incorporated. Portion into 16 even-sized meatballs, about ¼ cup (60 ml) each.
- In a large ovenproof pan over medium-high heat, warm oil. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding pan, add meatballs and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Set aside on a plate and cool pan slightly.
- In same pan over medium heat, combine butter and shallots and sauté until softened, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms and tarragon and sauté until mushrooms release their juices. Stir in flour and cook for about 30 seconds, then stir in Marsala and cook for 30 seconds more. Pour in stock and cream and bring back to a simmer, stirring often, then return meatballs to pan and transfer to oven.
- Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, then flip meatballs and continue cooking for about 10 minutes more, until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C).
- Transfer to a serving dish or serve straight from pan. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve over polenta, steamed rice or your favourite pasta.
Drink Pairings
Wild Mushroom & Corn Risotto
Creamy, dreamy and wildly low effort, this fall harvest risotto takes all the stirring out of the equation. Carnaroli rice pressure cooks to tender perfection in minutes, making for a low-pressure weekday meal you’ll keep coming back to. Pair this Risotto dish with Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo or Salentein Portillo Pinot Noir.Ingredients
Serves 4 as a main or 6 as a starter
2 tbsp (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
2 cups (500 ml) sliced seasonal mushrooms (such as chanterelle, lobster or oyster)
½ cup (125 ml) fresh corn kernels
½ tsp (2.5 ml) each salt and freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1½ cups (375 ml) carnaroli or arborio rice
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh thyme leaves
¾ cup (180 ml) dry white wine
2¼ cups (560 ml) mushroom, chicken or vegetable stock (for pressure cooker method) or about 5 cups (1.25 L) (for stovetop method)
1 cup (250 ml) Swiss chard leaves torn into bite-sized pieces, stems removed, plus a few small leaves for garnish
¼ cup (60 ml) whipping cream
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 cup (250 ml) grated Asiago, plus more for garnish
crushed toasted hazelnuts, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- To prepare risotto with an electric pressure cooker, set cooker to sauté. Add oil, garlic and shallots and sauté until softened and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, corn, salt and pepper and sauté until mushrooms are softened, another 2 to 3 minutes. Add rice and herbs and cook 1 minute more, stirring to make sure rice is well coated. Deglaze with wine and stir well, making sure nothing is stuck to bottom of pot, then add stock and Swiss chard.
- Close lid, change setting to pressure cook on high and set timer for 6 minutes.
- When timer goes off, carefully release pressure using quick release method outlined in your pressure cooker’s instructions. Stir in cream, butter and cheese and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Alternatively, to prepare risotto on your stovetop, place a wide saucepan over medium heat and add oil. Follow instructions in step 1 above, then continue to cook, uncovered, stirring very often and adding more stock as needed to keep rice covered. When rice is cooked al dente or to your preference, stir in cream, butter and cheese and adjust seasoning to taste.
- To serve, transfer to serving bowls and garnish with more grated cheese, a few small Swiss chard leaves and hazelnuts, if using.
Drink Pairings
Cider Braised Chicken & Lentils
Rustic, hearty and weeknight-friendly, this hearth-warming dish brings cozy autumnal depth to the table. It’s the kind of meal that wraps around you like a knit blanket—earthy, nurturing and built for slow evenings. Lonetree Dry Cider and Juno Chenin Blanc make great pairing options for this dish.Ingredients
Serves 3 to 4
2 lbs (900 g) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 slice bacon (⅓-in/0.8 cm thick), cut into ⅓-in (0.8 cm) lardons
2 tsp (10 ml) smoked paprika
2 tsp (10 ml) chopped fresh sage
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 cup (250 ml) chicken stock, plus more as needed
1 × 12 oz (355 ml) can dry cider
1 cup (250 ml) dried green lentils, rinsed and drained
1 small apple, cut into ¼-in (0.6 cm) dice
½ cup (125 ml) fresh cranberries
baguette, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towel, then season liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-high and warm butter until it begins to foam. Add chicken skin-side down and brown lightly, about 3 minutes per side, then remove from skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add bacon, paprika, sage, rosemary, garlic and shallots. Sauté, stirring often, until bacon starts to render its fat and shallots are softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in stock, cider and lentils. Bring to a simmer, then return chicken to pan along with apples and cranberries.
- Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until lentils are tender and chicken thighs are at least 165 F (74 C) when probed with a thermometer at thickest point. If more time is needed and pan looks a little dry, add a splash more stock and cook a few minutes longer.
- Serve straight from skillet with a nice, crusty baguette to soak up juices.
Drink Pairings
Limoncello Spritz
Channeling the bright flavours of Italy, the Limoncello Spritz offers a vibrant, lemon forward alternative. This spritz is crisp, citrusy and slightly sweet—with the taste of the Amalfi Coast in every sip.Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Luxardo Limoncello
3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco
1 oz (30 ml) soda water
1 lemon wheel, for garnish
1 sprig fresh thyme, for garnish
Instructions
- Add cubed ice to a large stemmed glass. In a mixing glass, combine Limoncello, Prosecco and soda water. Pour into glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh thyme.
Featuring
Hugo Spritz
The classic St-Germain Spritz, also known as the "Hugo Spritz," is a lightly sweet floral option that feels like a summer breeze in a glass. This spritz is delicate, refreshing and effortlessly elegant, making it a crowd-pleaser for any gathering.Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco
1 oz (30 ml) soda water
lemon or lime & mint, for garnish
Instructions
- Add cubed ice to a large wineglass. In a mixing glass, combine St-Germain, Prosecco and soda water. Pour into wineglass and stir. Garnish with a lemon twist. Or, to make the popular variation of a St-Germain Spritz, the Hugo Spritz, garnish with a lime wheel and fresh mint leaves.
Featuring
Char Siu Chili Chicken
This savoury, sweet and little bit spicy dish is inspired by the famous red-tinted Cantonese barbecue pork. An overnight marinade followed by low and slow grilling lead to tender, flavourful chicken with a beautifully caramelized crust. Serve with Barossa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon or Cedar Creek Chardonnay.Ingredients
Serves 4-6
¼ cup (60 ml) hoisin sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) light soy sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) Shaoxing cooking wine or sherry
2 tbsp (30 ml) chili oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) sriracha
1 tbsp (15 ml) dark soy sauce
1 tsp (5 ml) five-spice powder
2 to 3 drops red food colouring (optional)
3 lbs (1.4 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (breasts, thighs or drumsticks)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except chicken and whisk until smooth. Add chicken pieces and toss until well coated. Cover and marinate in refrigerator overnight.
- Remove chicken from marinade and set aside. Transfer marinade to a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer until volume has reduced by about half.
- Prepare your grill for indirect cooking: for 2-burner grills, preheat 1 side to medium and place chicken, skin-side up, on unheated side. For single-burner grills, preheat to low and place chicken directly over flame.
- Close barbecue lid and cook, flipping chicken every 8 to 10 minutes and rotating around grill to avoid any hotspots; adjust flame as needed to maintain grill temperature around 400 F (200 C). After second flip, start basting chicken with reduced marinade. Cook until a thermometer registers 165 F (74 C) when inserted at thickest point, about 35 minutes. If you want a bit of extra char, move chicken pieces to heated side briefly to allow sugars in marinade to caramelize.
- Serve with steamed white rice and a cool, crisp cucumber salad.
Drink Pairings
Tandoori Cedar Plank Salmon served with Cucumber-Mint Raita
This new spin on a perennial crowd-pleaser celebrates BC’s cultural diversity, marrying the aromatic complexity of tandoori spices with the smoky, woody flavour of cedar plank salmon. Blue Moon Mango Wheat Ale or Gray Monk Rose make great pairings for this Tandoori Cedar Plank Salmon dish.Ingredients
Serves 4
¾ cup (180 ml) plain Greek yogurt
3 tbsp (45 ml) neutral-flavoured oil
3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
1½ tbsp (22.5 ml) finely grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp (15 ml) finely grated garlic
1 tbsp (15 ml) ground coriander
2 tsp (10 ml) Kashmiri chili powder
2 tsp (10 ml) garam masala
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 ml) ground turmeric
¾ tsp (4 ml) salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp (2.5 ml) smoked paprika
4 × 6 oz (170 g) salmon fillets
red onion, thinly sliced, for garnish
fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Cucumber-Mint Raita, to serve, make ahead, recipe follows
optional lime wedges, to serve
Cucumber-Mint Raita
1 cup (250 ml) grated cucumber
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt, plus more to taste
1 cup (250 ml) plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup (60 ml) grated carrot
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp (1 ml) cumin seeds
⅛ tsp (a pinch) freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine yogurt, oil, lemon juice, water, ginger, garlic, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper and paprika. Mix well and adjust seasoning to taste. Mixture should be a thick but pourable consistency.
- Add salmon to marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 to 48 hours.
- Submerge a food-safe cedar plank in water, weighed down with a heavy bowl, and soak for 1½ to 2 hours.
- Preheat barbecue grill to 400 F (200 C). |Remove salmon from marinade, shake off excess marinade and set salmon aside.
- Remove plank from water, pat dry and position in centre of preheated grill until lightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip plank and place salmon skin-side down directly on charred side. Close barbecue lid and maintain grill temperature between 350 and 400 F (175 to 200 C). Cook salmon for 10 to 12 minutes, until it flakes easily when pierced gently with a fork at its thickest point.
- Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with red onions and mint and serve with Cucumber-Mint Raita and lime wedges.