Roasted Honey Balsamic Acorn Squash

 We have a new favorite vegetable in our house, roasted honey balsamic acorn squash. I have long struggled to find an acorn squash recipe that is both easy and tastes great.  I’ve combined wonderful richness of roasting, the sweetness of honey and the savory tang of balsamic vinegar you deliver acorn squash that could be served as a main course.

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

1 Acorn Squash

2 TBS Honey
1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 TBS Balsamic Vinegar
¼ tsp Kosher Salt
4 grinds Black Pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

Wash the acorn squash and cut it in half with a large kitchen knife.  Remove the seeds and cut each half into 6 equal wedges.

Place the acorn squash flat on the cookie sheet (see photo).

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Brush the vinaigrette evenly over the slices, flip and repeat.

Roast for 20 minutes, flip then roast for an additional 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Note: I cut off the rind before I eat the squash but some people like the crunchy texture and eat it.

To print a copy of this recipe go to Roasted Honey Balsamic Acorn Squash.

Taschen Trees

Makes 44 cookies

These chewy rolled cookies instantly assault your mouth with the taste of dark chocolate and orange.  They are semisweet, with a firm chew that melts in your mouth. They evolved from an experience in my youth where I first tasted Hamantasch and fell in love with those delicacies.  This recipe is a variation of the dough used for Hamantasch where I added chocolate and orange peel and then drizzled melted semisweet chocolate over the top.

Ingredients

4 C All-Purpose Flour (plus more for dusting)

1½ tsp Baking Powder

¾ tsp Kosher Salt

2 sticks Unsalted Butter (room temperature)

1½ C Sugar

2 tsp Orange Zest (finely grated)

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

3 lg Eggs

8 oz Semisweet Chocolate

- 3 ounces very finely chopped

- 5 ounces melted

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in orange zest and vanilla, then add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down bowl as necessary.

Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture until combined. Add finely chopped chocolate and beat until just combined. Form dough into three 1-inch-thick disks, wrap tightly in plastic, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in center.

On a floured work surface, roll out dough to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out the trees using a cookie cutter or any other shape that you want; place on parchment-lined baking sheets 1 inch apart. Gather scraps, chill, and repeat.

Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until golden on their edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

After the cookies have cooled completely, melt 5 oz. of semisweet chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave.  Pour into a bowl and let it cool 10 minutes. Cut the tip off of a quart zipper bag leaving a VERY SMALL hole.  Put the chocolate into the bag and pipe the chocolate onto the cookies (see photo). Place the cookies back on the wire rack and let it cool until the chocolate is set. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to one month.

To print a copy of this recipe go to Taschen Trees.

Prosciutto Wrapped Salmon with Pesto

As Christmas approaches my thoughts go to what am I going to make for Christmas Eve’s Feast of the Seven Fishes. This easy dish features salmon filet coated with savory basil pesto and wrapped with prosciutto that crisps up in the oven.  They can even be prepared ahead of time and popped in the oven when your guests arrive.

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

2 large Salmon filets (1-1½ lbs.) *
Salt and Pepper
¼ C Basil Pesto
1/8 lb. Prosciutto (sliced very very thin)
Cooking Spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cut each salmon fillet in half. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Cover each piece with 1 tablespoon of pesto. If the salmon is thin roll it up. Wrap the salmon with prosciutto and place in a baking tray coated with cooking spray.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the fish reaches 125°F or becomes flakey. Serve immediately.

To print a copy of this recipe go to Prosciutto Wrapped Salmon with Pesto.