Apple, Pomegranate, Kale Salad

Did someone say warm, fall salad? Yes, please! In this recipe, we highlight delicious fall produce like crunchy apples, hearty kale, and tart pomegranates. Paired with earthy Gorgonzola, and tangy dried apricots, this beauty is topped with sweet and spicy pecans -- a garnish so good you’ll need to make a double batch!

Apple, Pomegranate, Kale Salad
Serves 6–8

Salad Ingredients:
2 bunches Lacinato kale leaves, torn into pieces
1 bunch green kale, torn into pieces
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup pomegranate arils (or 1 pomegranate)
1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
10 dried apricots, sliced

Sweet and Spicy Pecans:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup unsalted pecan halves

Dressing Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil 1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 275°F. Combine the butter, cayenne, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the pecans and toss to coat. Spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are browned. Remove from heat and let cool. (Store any leftover pecans in a dry, airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)

2. Meanwhile, add the kale to a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and olive oil and massage with your hands for 2-3 minutes until the kale pieces start to become tender.

3. Make the dressing by heating the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Remove from heat.

4. Whisk together the remaining dressing ingredients. Pour in the olive oil and shallot into the dressing and stir.

5. Drizzle half of the the dressing on the kale and use tongs to toss. Arrange the pomegranate arils, apples, Gorgonzola cheese, and dried apricots on top of the salad. Drizzle the salad with the remaining dressing and top with the sweet and spicy pecans. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Biting into this cake signifies all of the things we love about the changing seasons. Warm notes of fall spices pleasantly mix with sweet chocolate and rich brown butter frosting. In this recipe, we highlight pumpkin in a cake that can be served both after dinner or alongside your morning coffee.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes 12 pieces

Biting into this cake signifies all of the things we love about the changing seasons. Warm notes of fall spices pleasantly mix with sweet chocolate and rich brown butter frosting. This recipe highlights pumpkin in a cake that can be served both after dinner or alongside your morning coffee.

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1-1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Brown Butter Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. In a stand mixer on medium-low speed, mix the eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, oil and pumpkin puree until incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice, and salt.

3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and continue to mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Pour the batter into a 10” x 10” ungreased baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If the top or edges brown before the rest of the cake has baked, tent aluminum foil over the top. Cool on a cooling rack.

5. Make the frosting: Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring often, until the butter turns a light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the butter! Remove from heat and let the butter cool. In a stand mixer, mix together the cream cheese and the browned butter until fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix. Gradually add the confectioners’, sugar continuing to mix until smooth.

6. Once the cake has completely cooled, generously spread the frosting over the top of the cake in a thick layer. Dust with cinnamon and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Doughnut Holes

Did someone say fresh, warm, doughnut holes? IN THIS ISSUE, we feature doughnut making tips and techniques! We love making these bite-sized treats at home because we can enjoy them by the handful and not feel guilty in front of anyone. Now you can too!

Sweet Potato and Cardamom Doughnut HolesMakes about 30 doughnut holes

Did someone say fresh, warm, doughnut holes? These lovely morsels feature warm, autumn spices including allspice, cinnamon, and cardamom. And, since they are made with sweet potatoes, they’re almost healthy, right? We love making these bite-sized treats at home because we can enjoy them by the handful and not feel guilty in front of anyone. Now you can too!

Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons chilled butter
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sweet potato, cooked and pureed (roughly 1 small sweet potato)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups canola oil for frying

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar (or powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, cardamom, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together until evenly incorporated. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles a crumb-like mixture.

2. Add the buttermilk, mashed sweet potato, and vanilla, Fold the dough together until all the ingredients are combined. The dough will be sticky to the touch.

3. Scoop out pieces of the dough and roll them into balls roughly 1-1/2" in diameter. Set aside.

4. in a separate, shallow dish, stir together the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

5. Add the oil to a medium-sized saucepan and warm the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Drop the doughnut holes in about 6 at a time.

6. Fry the doughnut holes, very carefully, for about 3-4 minutes, occasionally turning them in the oil to ensure all sides are getting cooked and browning evenly.

7. Use a slotted spoon, skimmer, or spider to transfer the doughnut holes to a paper towel-lined plate. After cooling the doughnuts for about 30 seconds, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mix until they are fully covered. Enjoy immediately!

Easy Tikka Masala & Basmati Rice

In this recipe, we bring the wonderful flavors of chicken tikka masala to the table on any day of the week, thanks to the amazingly fast electric pressure cooker! Serve with fragrant basmati rice and generous sprinkles of chopped cilantro. YUM!

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
Serves 4 - 6

Bring the wonderful flavors of this delicious dish home any day of the week thanks to the amazingly fast electric pressure cooker! This recipe calls for a lighter approach using slightly less butter than other recipes. A combination of Greek yogurt and coconut milk (instead of heavy whipping cream) adds a bit of extra tanginess to the global flavors. Savory spices mingle with fresh garlic, ginger, and tomatoes. The coconut milk creates a dreamy, silky sauce. Serve with fragrant basmati rice and generous sprinkles of chopped cilantro.

Ingredients:
4 large boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1” chunks
5 cloves garlic, finely minced
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely grated
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
2-1/2 teaspoons Garam Masala, divided
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
4 tablespoons butter, sliced into tablespoons
1 tablespoon cilantro, minced, plus additional for garnish

Electric Pressure Cooker Directions:
1. Prepare the garlic and ginger. Mince the garlic finely and grate the ginger into a fine paste.

2. Place the cut chicken in the bottom of an electric pressure cooker and then toss with the garlic and ginger.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes until well combined.

4. Add the spices to the tomato mixture: 2 teaspoons Garam Masala, cumin, paprika, cayenne, coriander, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.

5. Pour the spiced tomato mixture over the chicken. Toss until coated.

6. Cover, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.

7. Carefully release the pressure according to your appliance’s instructions. Check that the chicken is fully cooked and is at 165 degrees F. If the chicken needs more time, continue to cook on the simmer function until the chicken reaches 165 degrees in the center.

8. Once the chicken is fully cooked, add the coconut milk, yogurt, butter, 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala and minced cilantro. Stir until combined and a sauce begins to form. If the sauce needs additional time to thicken, switch to the simmer function, and stir and simmer until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.

9. Serve warm over basmati rice. Garnish with additional minced cilantro.

Basmati Rice:
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons shallot, minced
2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
3-1/2 cups water

Rice Directions:
1. Rinse rice with cold water until the water runs clear. 

2. Using a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, sauté the shallot in the butter until the the shallot becomes translucent. Add the rice, and stir it until coated and every grain has a sheen.

3. Add the water and salt, and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally to make sure that the rice doesn't stick to the bottom. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Simmer the rice on low for 18-20 minutes or until the rice becomes tender.

4. Remove from heat, and let set for 10 minutes with the lid still on. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Make Your Own Summer Blueberry Hand Pies

SUMMER BLUEBERRIES burst with a flavor that only happens when truly in season. One of our favorite ways to celebrate these little nutritional powerhouses is to place them in hand pies. The berries’ diminutive size fit neatly into petite packets, which highlight the rich cream cheese-based crust — a truly mouth-watering match!

Tips for Grilling Kebabs! PLUS, Three Delicious Recipes

The warm summer nights are a constant invitation to light up the grill. The grill anchors the outdoor kitchen, and becomes the center for al fresco dining and leisurely time spent with the family.

IN THIS ISSUE, we're grilling colorful kebabs made extra-delicious thanks to mouth-watering marinades. Try skewering up one of these three kebab recipes for a tasty summer supper on the grill.

Fresh Cream Puffs with Berry Filling

Expanding your repertoire of kitchen skills these days? Add cream puffs to your list of culinary mastery while celebrating the return of fresh berries. The light, delicate, cream puffs with sweet berry filling are perfect for Mother’s Day, too! This recipe starts with a classic French pâte à choux and finishes things off with bright, jammy berries, and homemade whipped cream.