Farro, Arugula & Apple Salad
Bright with radishes, apple and asparagus, this salad is a real stunner.
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked farro
1 cup sugar snap peas
4 asparagus spears
1 apple, cored and sliced into matchsticks
1 cup packed arugula, microgreens or other summer green of your choice
1 cup thinly sliced radicchio
1 cup thinly sliced radishes
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Edible flowers, for garnish
Herb-Shallot Dressing (see recipe)
Method:
1. Preferably while still warm, transfer the farro to a large bowl and toss with ¾ cup of the Herb-Shallot dressing.
2. Bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil, and fill a medium bowl with ice water. Trim the sugar snap peas and blanch them in the boiling water for 30 seconds, drain, and then immediately plunge them into the ice bath.
3. Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus spears. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the asparagus into long ribbons or, alternatively, cut the spears into smaller pieces on the diagonal. Set aside.
4. Add salad greens and radicchio to the farro in the bowl and toss. Taste for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Transfer the farro mixture to a serving platter or bowl. Top with the snap peas, asparagus, radishes, and apples. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the top of the salad and add more salt and pepper, if desired.
Brown Butter Baked Apples with Hazelnuts
Sweet orchard apples are filled with toasted Northwest hazelnuts, brown sugar, and warm cinnamon, then baked until tender and fragrant for a warm and cozy dessert.
Ingredients:
4 medium baking apples
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
½ cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup apple cider or water
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish or another small baking dish that will hold the apples snugly. Using an apple corer or small paring knife, remove the cores from the apples, leaving the bottoms intact to hold the filling. Widen each opening slightly to create room for the hazelnut mixture. Place the apples upright in the prepared baking dish.
2. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams and the milk solids turn golden brown, about 3–5 minutes. Remove from the heat as soon as it smells nutty and fragrant. Stir in the vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the toasted hazelnuts, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Pour in 3 tablespoons of the browned butter, including the flavorful browned bits, and stir until the mixture is evenly moistened.
4. Fill the apples: Spoon the hazelnut mixture into the hollowed apples, packing it gently and mounding a little filling on top. Drizzle the remaining browned butter over the apples. Dot the tops with the remaining tablespoon of regular butter.
5. Pour the apple cider or water into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15–25 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife but still hold their shape. Let the apples rest for 5 minutes. Spoon some of the warm pan juices over each apple and serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
Fall Green Salad with Apples, Blue Cheese & Dried Cranberries
This beautiful salad is light and fresh, a perfect pairing for fall’s heartier pastas, risottos and soups.
Ingredients:
4 cups salad greens, washed and patted dry
1 cup radicchio, cored and thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and diced
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
¾ cup walnuts
¼ dried cranberries
F&L apple cider-honey vinaigrette
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In large bowl combine the greens, radicchio and apple slices. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to incorporate, then add more as desired. Top salad with crumbled blue cheese, walnuts and dried cranberries. Add fresh ground pepper over if needed.
Beet Salad with Arugula, Apples and Blue Cheese
Tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette, this crisp salad is both bold and beautiful.
Ingredients:
4-6 cups arugula greens
1 bunch Chioggia beets, trimmed of green tops
1 Cameo apple, cored and thinly sliced
½ cup blue cheese, crumbled
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place beets in a large roasting pan and pour in ½ cup water. Cover with parchment and foil. Roast until just tender, they should be easily pierced with a knife, about 40 minutes. Peel beets under cool water. Cut in half lengthwise and again in quarters.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic until well combined. Season to taste with salt and ground pepper.
3. In a large serving bowl, combine arugula greens, warm beet slices and apple slices. Toss with about half of the vinaigrette, adding more to taste as desired. Crumble blue cheese over top and serve.
Seasonal Green Salad with Apples, Blue Cheese & Pecans
This fresh salad combines peppery greens and crisp apples slices and is finished with a light Champagne apple cider vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
½ pound mixed greens
1 apple, cored and thinly-sliced
½ cup crumbled Westward blue cheese
½ cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon minced shallot
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large mixing bowl, toss mixed greens with the apple slices.
2. In a smaller bowl, combine vinegars, honey and shallot, then whisk in olive oil to combine. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad greens, tossing to combine. Top salad with crumbled blue cheese, toasted pecans and a twist or two of fresh ground pepper if desired.
Chioggia Beet & Arugula Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
This crisp salad is both bold and beautiful.
Ingredients:
4-6 cups arugula greens
1 bunch Chioggia beets, trimmed of green tops
1 Jonagold apple, cored and thinly sliced
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup raspberry vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place beets in a large roasting pan and pour in ½ cup water. Cover with parchment and foil. Roast until just tender, they should be easily pierced with a knife, about 40 minutes. Peel beets under cool water. Cut in half lengthwise and again in quarters.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, raspberry vinegar and garlic until well combined. Season to taste with salt and ground pepper.
3. In a large serving bowl, combine arugula greens, warm beet slices and apple slices. Toss with about half of the vinaigrette, adding more to taste as desired. Season with fresh ground pepper as desired.
Summery Orzo & Corona Bean Salad with Arugula
This orzo salad is always a hit; feel free to swap your favorite summer produce in!
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 cup canned Corona beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
¼ cup each orange and red bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cups arugula greens
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
3.tablespoons chives, snipped
¼ cup golden raisins
¼ cup currants, plumped in hot water and drained
Dressing:
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar and garlic, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Toss the cooked orzo and beans with the dressing. Let cool.
2. Add the remaining salad ingredients, tossing lightly to distribute evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (This can be prepped up to a day in advance, though wait to add the arugula until just before serving.)
Apple & Pecan Green Salad with Gorgonzola Dolce
This beautiful salad is light and fresh, a perfect pairing for this week’s brunch fare.
Ingredients:
4 cups of your favorite spring lettuce greens, washed and patted dry
1 apple, cored and diced
½ cup gorgonzola dolce cheese, cut or crumbled into bite-size chunks
¾ cup cocktail pecans
Apple cider vinaigrette (see recipe)
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine the greens and apple slices, tossing to mix well.
2. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to incorporate, then add more as desired. Top salad with the gorgonzola dolce cheese and cocktail pecans. Add more dressing and fresh ground pepper to taste, as needed.
Radicchio, Fennel & Apple Salad
Tart, crunchy and crisp, this cool salad celebrates the classic combination of apple and radicchio.
Ingredients:
1 head radicchio, or ½ each of different varieties mixed together
2 fennel bulbs
1 large sweet-tart apple
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 shallot, minced
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup toasted pecans, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. First prep the radicchio by coring and slicing into thin pieces; also core, peel and thinly-slice the fennel. Cut the apple into slices. Combine the radicchio, fennel and apple in a large bowl.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, shallot, salt and pepper.
3. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, then pour half of dressing over radicchio-fennel mixture and stir to combine.
4. Taste, and gradually add more dressing to your liking. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds and pecans.
Fall Salad with Roasted Squash, Apples & Candied Squash Seeds
Topped with a maple-mustard vinaigrette and candied squash seeds, this salad would pair nicely alongside this week’s antipasti bites.
Ingredients:
8 cups fall salad mix, or a mix of your favorite greens
1 apple, cut into large matchsticks
1½ cups cubed and roasted winter squash of your choice, such as Robin’s Koginut
¼ cup thinly-sliced red onion
â…“ cup crumbled feta cheese
½ cup candied squash seeds (see recipe)
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a large bowl, toss the greens with half of the vinaigrette. Arrange the apple slices, squash, red onions, feta, and candied seeds on top of the greens. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and serve.