This Culinary Experience was held at My Cooking Party in Chelsea, NYC. I got there a little late due to NYC traffic and though I was a bit under the weather, there was no way I was missing this experience. I arrived just in time to hear about Knife safety in the kitchen, as well as some cutting/slicing tips!
After that quick lesson, we were sent to different work stations to create what would be our Holiday eats! We had the Spicy Roasted Squash with Wonderful Pistachios cooking station. Three other foodies and I got our hands dirty to create this delicious food item for a total of 24 food lovers (including myself).
Spicy Roasted Squash with Wonderful Pistachios
Delicata and butternut squash are roasted together with warm spices
and a bit of cayenne to heat things up. Crunchy Wonderful Pistachios and maple
syrup are just the right additions for texture and sweetness. Garnished with
pomegranate arils this dish is a celebration of flavors.
Prep: 18 minutes / Time to Table: 38
minutes / Serves: 8 (about 10 pieces of squash/person; about a cup/person)
1 ½ pounds butternut squash (4 ½ cups
prepped)
2 ½ pounds delicata squash
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
¼ cup POM Wonderful pomegranate arils
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line two baking
sheets with aluminum foil.
2. Peel and seed butternut squash. Cut in
half lengthwise and slice into ½ inch thick pieces. Cut in half again for
quarters.
3. Cut delicata in half lengthwise and
seed. Cut into ½ inch thick slices. Combine all the squash in a large mixing
bowl.
4. Sprinkle the cinnamon, allspice,
cayenne and salt over the squash. Mix thoroughly.
5. Melt the butter and stir into the
olive oil. Drizzle over the spiced squash and mix thoroughly.
6. Transfer the squash to the baking
sheets, arranging in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes.
7. Stir and flip squash. Sprinkle with Wonderful
Pistachios and drizzle with maple syrup. Bake another 5 to 7 minutes until
pistachios are just toasted. Remove from the oven.
8. Arrange on a serving platter and
sprinkle pomegranate arils over the squash. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Wonderful Pistachio Holiday Palettes
A chic version of chocolate bark! The french call these little treats
Palettes and they are simply fine chocolate with artfully arranged nuts and
fruit. Stick to Wonderful Pistachios and add some holiday sprinkles to make
them your own.
Prep: 10 minutes / Time to Table: 1 hour /
Makes: 12 palettes (6 semi-sweet, 6 white chocolate)
¾ cup good quality semi-sweet chocolate
chips, or chocolate bar
¾ cup good quality white chocolate chips
¼ cup shelled Wonderful Pistachios
Roasted & Salted
Dried fruit such as apricots, ginger,
blueberries, bananas, plums, peaches, cranberries and cherries
Sprinkles and silver dragees
1. Melt chocolates in separate bowls.
Line a baking sheet with parchment. Spoon 1 tablespoon chocolate onto baking
sheet for each palette. Chocolate will settle into a circle.
2. Decorate each palette with Wonderful
Pistachios, dried fruit and sprinkles, cutting fruit into slivers or pieces as
needed. Chill palettes for 30 minutes. If packaging, package while cold.
Serve.
Which of these two Recipes would You love to try with Wonderful Pistachios?
I think I'd love the chic version of the chocolate bark. Madison and I have been doing a lot of barks this weekend. Seems like it was also a great event!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun experience getting to cook with a professional top chef. I would be so intimidated yet excited
ReplyDeleteWow looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm like you, I like trying new ingredients but I'm also a very picky eater :)
thanks for the recipes! I love pistachios!!