Gouda Pecans Food

GRILLED PLUM SALAD WITH AGED GOUDA AND PECANS

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk the vinegar, honey, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, starting with a few drops and adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick vinaigrette. Set aside.
• For the salad: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the plums with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the plums until slightly soft, about 1 minute per side. To get distinct grill marks, resist the temptation to move the fruit around on the pan as it cooks. Cut the plum wedges in half crosswise and toss with the dressing. Set the plums aside to marinate in the dressing for 15 minutes. (The salad can be prepared up to this point 1 hour before serving.)
• Right before serving, toss the greens with the plums and dressing. Divide the salad among 4 serving plates and scatter the cheese and pecans over the tops.

GOUDA PECAN BITES

Steps:

• Bring cheese to room temperature in a medium mixing bowl (allow 30 minutes). Add sour cream and pecans. Beat with an electric mixer until combined and mixture is creamy. Cover and chill up to 1 hour. If mixture is too firm, let stand for a few minutes to soften before piping.
• To serve, spoon cheese mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a very large star tip (1/2 inch). Pipe cheese mixture onto assorted crackers and/or vegetable slices.

BRUSSELS SPROUT SALAD WITH SMOKED GOUDA, PECANS, AND DRIED CHERR

Steps:

• 1. Whisk lemon juice, mustard, shallot, garlic and ½ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until incorporated. Toss Brussels sprouts with vinaigrette, and let sit for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• 2. Fold in Gouda, pecans, and cherries. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
• HOW TO SLICE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
• You can use the slicing disk of your food processor or slice the sprouts with a chef's knife. Follow these steps to do the latter safely and quickly. 1. TRIM: Trim the stem end of each sprout and then cut each sprout in half through the cut end. 2. SLICE: With the flat surface on the cutting board, thinly slice each half.

STRAWBERRY GOUDA PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Rinse lettuce. Drain well and dry, and tear into bite-sized pieces. Arrange lettuce on a chilled platter.
• 2. Slice and cut the Gouda into bite-sized pieces. Arrange on top of bed of romaine lettuce.
• 3. Slice strawberries with an egg slicer, and arrange in between the pieces of cheese.
• 4. Slice cucumber into VERY thin slices. Slit each cucumber slice from center to outer edge, one time. Make a cucumber twist by giving the slice a twist at the "opening" of the cucumber at the slice, and arrange on top of the lettuce bed with the strawberries and Gouda.
• 5. Toast the pecans in an 8" saute pan, with 2 - 3 tbsp. sugar,for about 5 minutes, until the sugar caramelizes and the pecans have a nice roasted color. Don't add any fluid ... just let the sugar caramelize the pecans. Let pecans cool, then give them a 'rough chop', leaving in rather large, coarse pieces. Use a food chopper or large sharp knife for this. Set aside for the moment.
• 6. For dressing, use a whisk to mix jam, oil, pressed garlic clove, vinegar and salt and pepper in large glass measuring cup. Drizzle over the salad. Sprinkle pecans over the top of all.
• 7. Serve right away, with extra vinaigrette on the side for those who might prefer more.