Hard Cider Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves peeled garlic, minced
• 2 T corn starch
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 16 ounces beer (or upgrade to Springgate Vineyards' Hard Cider)
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon or stone-ground mustard
• 10 ounces white extra sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1/4 t turmeric
• Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add the carrot, onion, and garlic; saute 10 minutes.
3. Cook, stirring frequently, for until onions are clear.
4. Combine the milk and half-and-half. Slowly pour into flour mixture, whisking constantly until combined.
5. Mix 4 oz of Springgate Hard Cider and corn starch in a separate container and add to pot.
6. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the remaining beer and mustard. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently until foam subsides.
7. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until thick. Remove from heat and whisk in the cheese a handful at a time. 
8. Add turmeric and whisk in completely.
9. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Serve immediately.

Serve with Springgate Hard Cider and Toasted Cheese Crostini Topped with Sauteed Apples & Onions in a Balsamic Reduction.

Sausage, Onion, Pepper & Bean Curry

Ingredients
2 c white beans (soaked for 24 hours)
4 c sliced green peppers & onions (3 c peppers to 1 c onions)
3 c chopped cooked sausage (I used smoked sausage)
1 qt chicken stock
5 t curry powder
1 T corn starch in 1/2 c cold water

4 c rice
8 c water

Instructions
1. Put beans, peppers & onions, sausage, chicken stock and curry in a crock pot and mix well. Turn on low and let cook for 4 hours. Stir again. Raise temperature on the crock pot to high and mix in corn starch and water. Allow to cook for 4 more hours.

2. Put rice and water in a large pot, put on stove set to high. When it boils, move the pot askew and reduce heat to low. Set a timer for 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE POT

3. When 15 minutes are up, remove the pan from heat and allow to sit for 20 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE POT.

4. To server, put rice in a bowl and spoon curry mixture over top. Serve with Naan or Pita bread.

Caramel Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

DIRECTIONS

1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, without stirring. If necessary, use a wet pastry brush to wash down any crystals on the side of the pan. Boil until the syrup is a deep amber color (I look for the first hint of smoke and remove the pan from the heat immediately) -- about 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Remove the sugar from the heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir in the unsalted butter, and salt. Transfer the caramel to a dish and cool.

Based on a recipe I found at http://m.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/kelsey-nixon/salted-caramel-sauce.html

Creamy Leek & Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 lb or 1 c)
• 2 leeks (about 1" diameter), sliced lengthwise then into 1/2" pieces. Break up and wash under cold water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 quart chicken broth (I used homemade chicken stock)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 cups heavy cream

Instructions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook leeks in butter with salt (to help sweat out the liquid) and pepper until tender, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. I let mine caramelize lightly.
2. Stir cornstarch into broth and pour broth into pot. Add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the cream, reduce heat and simmer at least 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Based on a recipe found at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/potato-leek-soup-iii/

Blackberry Panna Cotta topped with White Chocolate Cream Mousse

Ingredients:

Blackberry Panna Cotta

2 c blackberries simple syrup
3 c heavy cream
2 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 T vanilla extract
1/2 c white sugar

White Chocolate Mousse

8 oz good white chocolate broken up
1/2 c heavy cream for ganache
3 c heavy cream for whipping

Instructions.
Day 1 - make Panna Cotta.

1. Put blackberry syrup in a large saucepan on low heat.
2. Sprinkle gelatin powder on top and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
3. When gelatin is all wet an wrinkly, begin to whisk.
4. Add sugar and whisk until all is dissolved.
5. Add cream and vanilla and heat gently. DO NOT BOIL or even simmer. When warm and all well combined, remove from heat.
6. Pour into 12-14 - 6 oz cups or ramekins (about 1/3 to 1/2 full.)
7. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Day 2 - make White Chocolate Cream Mousse

1. In a large microwave safe bowl combine chocolate pieces and 1/2 c heavy cream.
2. Microwave in high for 30 seconds at a time, whisking between until chocolate is melted and combined with cream. 
3. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl (or power mixer bowl with a whisk attachment) pour 3 c COLD heavy cream. 
5. Whisk by hand or with mixer at medium speed for several minutes until cream forms soft peaks. (Do not over mix or you will make butter!)
6. Put about 1/2 of whipped cream into the chocolate-cream mixture and whisk gently to combine. 
7. Add chocolate & cream mixture back into whipped cream bowl and whisk gently to combine. Do not over mix.

Assembly

Portion cream onto tops of cups or ramekins of Panna Cotta.

Chill for two hours before serving.

Blackberry Simple Syrup

Ingredients:
4c fresh blackberries
4c white sugar
4c water

Instructions.
Put all ingredients in a large sauce pan over medium high heat. 

Stir continuously mashing the fruit as you stir. Use a potato masher to help breakdown the fruit. (The idea here is to extract the juice from the pulp and seeds.)
Heat until mixture begins to just boil and remove from heat.
Set aside and allow to cool.
Pour through a fine strainer to separate pulp and seeds from syrup.
Put the syrup in a quart (or two pints) and refrigerate for up to three weeks or freeze in a muffin tin for longer storage.

Ready for the freezer.

Cheese, Onion & Sweet Pepper Cornbread

Ingredients:

Topping
1 c onion - diced into 1/4" pieces
1 c sweet green pepper - diced into 1/4" pieces
olive oil for sautéing

Cornbread - see recipe here. Replace black beans with onion & pepper topping.

Instructions. Topping instructions
1. heat a skillet on high heat. When hot add a coating of olive oil.
2. Immediately add onions & peppers
3. Saute on high until onions begin to brown and peppers are softened.
4. Remove from heat.

Follow corn bread recipe instructions using onions & peppers in place of black beans.

Serve with pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, or fajita filling.

Cranberry barbeque chicken dip

Ingredients:
1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 bottle chili sauce
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T coarse brown mustard
1 t red pepper flakes
1 T cider vinegar
4 c cooked chicken, shredded
2 pkg Neufchatel cheese, softened
1 lb Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Small bunch of green onions cut up for garnish.

2 - 8" diameter oven safe serving bowls or a single 9x13 glass casserole dish

Instructions.

Preheat oven to 350° F

Lightly oil dishes with olive oil. Evenly divide Neufchatel cheese between the dishes and press out evenly on the bottom (put some oil on your fingers to make this easy.) Cover with a light layer of shredded Monterey jack. Set aside.

Put cranberry sauce, chili sauce, worschesher sauce, mustard, red pepper, and vinegar in a food processor. Pulse to combine. You want the cranberries to still have some texture, so don't puree.

Put chicken in a large bowl. Spoon about 1/2 cup of barbeque sauce over it and stir well. Keep adding a few spoonfuls until all of the chicken is coated and the mixture holds together. Add a bit more sauce along with about 1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack and mix just until combined.

Spoon an even layer of chicken mixture into the casserole dishes. Level with the back of a spoon.

Coat with the remaining shredded Monterey jack cheese.

Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove and top with green onions.

Serve immediately with snack crackers.

Savory corn pancakes with refried beans & salsa

Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 c corn flour
1 c corn meal
1/2 c rice flour
2 t baking powder
2 t cumin
2 t chili powder
1 t sugar
1 1/2 c skim milk
2 eggs

Refried Beans
Ingredients:
1/2 lb black beans
1/2 lb navy beans
1 lg yellow onion sliced thinly
1 green pepper chopped into 1/4" dice
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1/2 c red wine
4 beef bullion cubes
1 1/2 c boiling water

Instructions.
Preparing beans:
Soak beans in water for 24 hours rinsing every 8 hours. Keep covered with water.

Cook beans in a crock pot with water for 4-6 hours. Drain excess water and put beans in a food processor and process into a coarse paste (do this in batches).

Heat a large skillet add olive oil and saute onions until translucent. Add peppers and continue cooking. Add cumin and chili powder. Deglaze with red wine a reduce heat. Add beans and fold in onions & peppers.

Dissolve bullion in water. Add to bean mixture as needed to smooth it out. Set aside.

To serve put beans in a dish, coat top with grated cheese and microwave for a couple minutes to melt cheese.

Preparing pancakes:
Put dry ingredients in a large bowl and blend thoroughly.

In a separate bowl whisk milk and eggs. Add milk and eggs to dry ingredients and whisk.

Heat a griddle or skillet. Spray with oil. Pour 1/8-1/4 c of pancake mixture onto skillet. Allow to cook. Check edges and flip when brown. When cooked remove and repeat for the rest of the batter.

How to serve:
Place pancake on a plate. Top with several tablespoons of bean mixture. Top with salsa.

Cremini with Hummus and Feta

24 oz Cremini mushrooms, cleaned and stemmed (save stems)
4 oz Feta
1 lg Yellow onion Caramelized
1 c  red pepper or onion Hummus
Olive oil

Preheat oven on broil. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Chop mushroom stems, saute and cool then blend into hummus.

Coat each mushroom lightly with Olive oil and place on baking sheet.

Spoon 1 t of hummus mixture into each mushroom. Place a small amount of caramelized onion on top. Place a few pieces of Feta cheese on top.

Place baking sheet in the oven to broil for about 5 minutes until cheese browns. Reduce heat and to 375 and bakecfor another 10 minutes until mushrooms are heated through.

Remove and serve.

Bacon Bleu Cheeseburger Potato Skins

10 lb medium Russet potatoes
1 lb ground beef
1 lb bacon slices
1 c chopped onion
1 c chopped green pepper
1 c Chambourcin or other rich red wine
8 oz bleu cheese
8 oz gouda or other melting cheese

Wash and pierce the potatoes.  Place on a cooking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

While the potatoes bake,  saute onions and peppers in olive oil until soft deglaze with Merlot and cook until the wine is reduced.  Set aside mixture in a bowl and add ground beef to the pan.  Brown beef. When done, add onion & peppers to the mixture.  Set aside to cool.

Crumble bleu cheese into small pieces.  Dice Gouda into small pieces.

Bake or fry bacon until done.  Cool & crumble or chop into pieces.

When potatoes are cool, slice each into thirds lengthwise.  Set aside the middle third - it will not be used for this recipe.  Scoop out all but 1/4" of the potato center from each of the other thirds making a cavity for filling.

Place parchment paper on two baking sheets.  Brush surface with olive oil.  Place potato sections open side down on the paper.  Brush or spray the back sides with olive oil.  Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes until edges begin to brown.  Cool.

To assemble, place a tablespoon of ground meat in the potato cavity.  Sprinkle some of the bleu cheese and gouda pieces on top. Then add some of the bacon pieces.  Repeat for all of the potato skins.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-30 minutes until cheese melts and potatoes heated through.

Baked Chicken Enchilada Dip

1 pound shredded, cooked chicken

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (8 ounce) jar mayonnaise

1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers

1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl.

2. Place mixture in a medium baking dish.

3. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until edges are brown.

Black Bean and Cheddar Cornbread (Gluten Free)

4 c corn flour

3 T + 1 t baking powder

1 t salt

3 c milk

2 T molasses

3 T olive oil

1 T cilantro

2 t cumin

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c + 1 c grated cheddar cheese

1 c cooked black beans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Grease one low rimmed jelly roll pan with shortening.

1. Sift together dry ingredients in mixing bowl

2. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, molasses and oil.

3. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients all at once.

4. Beat thoroughly.

5. Hand fold in 1 c grated cheese and beans.

6. Pour batter onto pan, spreading evenly.

7. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 c grated cheese over the top of the batter evenly.

8. Bake 15-20 minutes until surface begins to get golden.

Serve with Salsa, Sour Cream and Re-fried Black Beans.

Alternate serving ideas - see this link.