Jewel Salad Food

JEWEL SALAD

Steps:

• Place each variety of chopped fruit and vegetables in a separate bowl. In a small bowl whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, orange juice, salt, pepper, and pinch of sugar to combine. Divide dressing between pomegranates, prunes, clementines, and apples. Toss dressing with each fruit, keeping separate.
• In another small bowl, whisk sherry vinegar, canola oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, pinch sugar, and the Stilton to combine. Divide dressing between fennel, celery and radicchio. Toss dressing with each vegetable, keeping separate.
• Spread a bed of dressed fennel on a large platter. Add additional layers, alternating ingredients as you wish, and gradually build up the salad in a vertical mound. Sprinkle with additional pomegranate seeds, walnuts, and crumbled Stilton, if desired. Serve immediately.

SAFFRON JEWEL RICE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the saffron into 1/4 cup hot water; let sit 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 2 cups water, the sugar and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the orange zest and carrot, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, cinnamon stick, cardamom, allspice, cumin and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the rice and 3/4 teaspoon salt and stir to coat. Add 3 cups water, increase the heat to medium high and simmer until the water has mostly evaporated, about 4 minutes. Cover the pot with foil and the lid, reduce the heat to low and cook until the water is completely absorbed, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pistachios and almonds and cook until just lightly golden, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the dried cranberries and apricots, and 1 tablespoon of the prepared saffron water; stir to combine, then transfer to a bowl and set aside for topping.
• Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork; discard the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Transfer about half of the rice to a serving bowl. Add the remaining saffron water, 1 tablespoon butter and the reserved orange peel and carrot to the rice in the pot and stir gently. Add the yellow rice to the white rice and gently toss; sprinkle with the pistachio mixture and parsley.

JEWELLED RICE

Steps:

• Melt butter and ½ tbsp oil in small saucepan, then fry cardamom, bay and cinnamon for 2 mins. Stir in rice to toast for 1 min, then cover with 200ml water. Bring to the boil, cover, then turn heat down and simmer for 5 mins. Stir in barberries, if using, and cook for 5 mins more. Mix saffron with a small splash of boiling water. Once almost all the water has been absorbed by the rice, scatter saffron on top. Cover again, turn off the heat and sit for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, fry cumin seeds, onions and some salt in the remaining oil until golden and beginning to crisp - this will take around 15 mins. Then spread onions on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
• To serve, remove whole spices if you like, and scatter the onions on top.

CRANBERRY JEWEL SALAD

Steps:

• Place cranberry sauce in refrigerator overnight; it must be cold.
• Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water; put in refrigerator.
• Open cranberries; dice into bite size cubes; put back in refrigerator.
• Mix cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and salt together with a mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Stir in pineapple, banana, and cooled Jell-O.
• Fold in Cool Whip.
• Fold in cranberry chunks.
• Pour into pan and chill overnight.
• Cut into squares and serve on a lettuce leaf, or put into a mold. I have seen nuts put into this, and one recipe froze this.