Rock Your Palate

Recipe serves 2 – 3 12 Pitted dates 8 oz Mascarpone cheese 12 large pecan halves Spiced Sugar [vanilla sugar, cinnamon, cardamon] Open pitted dates and lay flat on cutting board. Add small dollop of mascarpone cheese and then top with one pecan half. Close date sealing cheese add pecan inside date. Sprinkle with spiced [...]

Native Americans are credited with the planting of three main native crops. These plants were squash, maize (corn) and beans. They were planted together, with the cornstalk providing support for the climbing beans, and shade for the squash. The squash vines provided ground cover to limit weeds. No one likes weeds including squash! The beans provided a nitrogen fix for all three crops.

Winter squashes (such as butternut, Hubbard, buttercup, acorn, spaghetti squash and pumpkin) are harvested at maturity, generally the end of summer.

This year I tried a new recipe from butternut squash harvest. So, I peeled, cubed and boiled until tender and then after cooling separated into 2 cup portions and froze. This is the exact amount needed for two loaves of my new Maple Butternut Squash Bread.
Enjoy!

Recipe Serves 4 Raspberry Vinegarette 4 oz fresh raspberries 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar 1.5 Tbsp sugar 1/2 Cup canola oil 1 tsp coarse kosher salt 1 tsp black pepper Chicken 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut in half 1 Cup pecans, chopped finely 1 Cup panko [Japanese breadcrumbs] 4 tsp coarse kosher salt 2 tsp black pepper [...]

This glaze is really great with any pork, ham or poultry dish! And adding the pecans just before serving keeps the nutty crunchy texture that compliments the tenderness of the meat.