Maple Walnut Chicken Food

WALNUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the first 7 ingredients into a medium saucepan over low heat. Mix well with a whisk and bring to a simmer.
• In a small cup add the cornstarch and 3 to 4 tablespoons of water. Mix to combine, then add it to the sauce mixture. Slowly add 2 cups of water and continue to cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until it has thickened to a syrup consistency.
• Steam the chicken in a vegetable steamer over the bouillon liquid, in 2 batches. Cook until the chicken is tender. Remove the chicken to a cutting board.
• Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the whole walnuts to a small frying pan over medium heat. Turn regularly until well toasted. Cool, then stir the walnuts into the sauce mixture. Put the sauce mixture over low heat and bring to a simmer.
• Slice the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it to the sauce mixture. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve over hot rice or a mixture of white and wild rice.

MAPLE GLAZED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat a dry skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the walnuts, maple syrup and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until syrup is caramelized and nuts are toasted, about 3 minutes. Let cool.

MAPLE-WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the frosting: Whisk the egg whites and maple sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until the mixture is warm and the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff, shiny peaks form, about 5 minutes. Beat in the butter a few pieces at a time, then continue beating until smooth. (Don't worry if the mixture looks separated at first; keep beating and it will come together.) Beat in the maple extract.
• Assemble the cake: Poke holes all over the tops of the 2 cake layers using a toothpick. Spoon the reserved walnut syrup over the cakes, letting it soak into the holes.
• Coarsely chop the walnuts. Transfer 1 cup frosting to a medium bowl; fold in the chopped nuts. Put 1 cake layer on a platter and spread the walnut frosting on top. Top with the second cake layer. Cover the whole cake with the remaining maple frosting. Decorate with more walnuts.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
• Whisk 3 cups flour, the baking powder and salt in a bowl until combined. Beat 2 sticks butter and the sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium; beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. (The mixture may look separated at this point.)
• Mix 1/2 cup water with the cream in a liquid measuring cup or bowl. Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour, until just smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes are lightly golden on top and the centers spring back when pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

MAPLE-WALNUT CHICKEN THIGHS AND CHEDDAR APPLE RICE (RACHAEL RAY)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and roast until well toasted and fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes.
• In a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the rice and toast for a minute or two. Add 2 cups chicken stock and bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the apple and simmer for 8 minutes.
• While the rice cooks, using a food processor, pulse 1/4 cup chicken stock, the parsley, dill and 1/4 teaspoon salt until finely chopped. Stir into the rice during the last minute of cooking. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 1 to 2 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Transfer to a serving dish and stir in the cheese.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Pat the chicken dry and season liberally with salt and black pepper. Add to the skillet and cook, turning once, until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat in the skillet and add the vinegar. Cook, scraping up the pan drippings, then add the remaining 1/4 cup chicken stock, the maple syrup and black pepper to taste. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Add the chicken and walnuts and spoon with the sauce. Loosely cover the pan with foil and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve the chicken, sauce and nuts with the rice alongside.

MAPLE-WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine pure maple syrup and chopped walnuts. Heat over medium, about 2 minutes.

MAPLE WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the walnuts in the workbowl of a food processor; cover and process until the nuts are ground and begin to form a paste.
• Add the butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon; cover and process until smooth and well blended, stopping the motor and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
• Store the butter in a covered container in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before serving.
• This will keep for at least 1 week.

MAPLE WALNUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1.Combine olive oil, thyme, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• 2.Rub chicken with seasoning and let stand.
• 3.In a 12" nonstick skillet, toast walnuts over medium-low heat 4-6 min or until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly. Note: walnuts may burn quickly if left unattended.
• 4.Transfer walnuts to dish, and turn heat up to medium under the hot skillet.
• 5.Add chicken to same skillet. Cook 12 min or until done, turning frequently.
• 6.Transfer chicken to a clean plate.
• 7.Add vinegar to the chicken drippings in the hot skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• 8.Add maple syrup and water, and simmer 6-7 min until slightly thickened. Stir in walnuts and serve on top of chicken.