Milk Chocolate Palette With Honey Crisp Apples And Chestnuts Food

GAME HENS WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Game hens are even easier to prepare than chicken and help make your celebration more festive. Their buttery flavor complements roasted Brussels sprouts and chestnuts.;
• 1. Preheat oven to 375degreesF. Combine thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. 2. Remove giblets (if included) from game hens and trim any excess skin. Loosen the skin over the breast and thigh meat and rub half the thyme mixture under the skin. Tie legs together with kitchen string. 3. Heat butter and oil in a large roasting pan set over 2 burners on medium heat. Add the game hens and brown on all sides, turning occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. 4. Add onion to the pan, transfer to the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and roast for 20 minutes. Stir chestnuts and the remaining thyme mixture into the pan. Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a thigh registers 165degreesF, 10 to 15 minutes more. 5. Transfer the game hens to a large cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Place the roasting pan over 2 burners on medium heat. Toss the vegetables with vinegar and bring to a simmer, gently stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Remove the string from the game hens, turn breast-side down and slice in half lengthwise using a large heavy knife, cutting straight through to the breast side. Serve the game hens with the vegetables.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 313 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 93 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbohydrate; 24 g protein; 6 g fiber; 656 mg sodium; 875 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (140% daily value), Potassium (25% dv), Folate (23% dv), Vitamin A & Iron (15% dv). 2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat
• TIP: Shopping tip: Cooked peeled chestnuts are available in jars in the baking aisle or with seasonal foods at many supermarkets.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Equipment: Kitchen string
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

BOILED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• In a large pot add enough water to cover the chestnuts and bring to a boil. Add the chestnuts and cook for approximately 45 minutes. Drain the chestnuts and peel off the outer shells.

BRAISED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy saucepan. Add the oil, butter, and chopped onions. When onions turn slightly brown, deglaze with port wine. Add thyme, chestnuts, chicken stock, and a little salt and pepper. Cover and cook until chestnuts are tender and the chestnuts have absorbed most of the liquid.
• Serve as whole braised chestnuts or pass through a ricer and make a wonderful chestnut puree.

20 BEST HONEYCRISP APPLE RECIPE COLLECTION

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a delicious recipe in 30 minutes or less!

BACON STUFFING WITH RADICCHIO AND CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Spread the ciabatta cubes out on baking sheets and leave at room temperature to dry out for 24 hours before making the stuffing.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and set aside.
• Heat the broth in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the bacon to a large skillet and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until almost browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots, celery and red onion and season with the salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are beginning to soften and the bacon is crispy, an additional 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the chestnuts, rosemary and radicchio.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl along with the olive oil and 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Toss well to combine. Add the broth and toss again until the bread mixture is entirely and evenly moistened.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Dot with the butter and cover with foil. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook until browned and crispy on top and warm all the way through, an additional 20 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CRISPS

Steps:

• To set up: Line the bottom of a 10 x 15 inch baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper, leaving a 2inch overhang at each end. Line a second baking sheet or tray with wax paper and place next to your work surface.
• To temper chocolate: Melt 3/4 of the chopped chocolate (24 ounces semisweet) with the shortening in the top of a double boiler over simmering water or a bowl that sits in a pan of very hot (but not simmering) water. Stir the chocolate constantly as it melts, being very careful not allow chocolate to overheat or to allow even one drop of water to enter bowl. When just about smooth (one or two small pieces of chocolate may remain visible), immediately remove the chocolate from the stove and briskly stir in the remaining chopped chocolate. Stir constantly until perfectly smooth.
• To assemble chocolate crisps: When smooth, stir in cereal and, when well combined, use a large rubber spatula to help pour into prepared baking sheet. Use an offset metal spatula to spread chocolate mixture evenly in pan, then lift pan and give it one or two good rap's on the counter to remove any air bubbles and assure an even layer. Place in freezer (uncovered) for no longer than 5 minutes, then remove and, using sturdy cookie cutters (plain or flutted), cut chocolate into shapes. As you cut, gently push chocolates out of the cutter onto second sheet, lined with wax paper.
• Note: Since cutting cooled chocolate into shapes takes a little muscle, place a pot holder or a folded dry kitchen towel over top of cutter to protect your hand.
• To wrap and store: If desired, wrap crisps individually in colored foil wrappers (available in stores that specialize in candy making). Alternatively, store unwrapped crisps in a tin, separated by sheets of wax paper. Tempered chocolate should be stored at a comfortable room temperature.
• Shaping Variation
• To form drop candies: After tempering chocolate, choose any type of addition: i.e. crispy cereal, cocktail peanuts, raisins, walnuts, minimarshmallows, mini m & m's, diced chewy caramels and the list goes on... After stirring in your chosen addition, drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls onto wax paper lined tray, with 1inch in between each mound. When finished, place tray in the freezer for 3 to 5 minutes (no longer). Remove and let sit at room temperature until completely set. Store in an airtight tin, separated by sheets of wax paper.
• Chocolate Variation and Temperature Guide
• Beginners should stick to working with the darker chocolates (semisweet, bittersweet and dark sweet). The lighter chocolates (milk and white chocolate) are more heat sensitive because of the milk solids.
• If you feel more confident using a chocolate thermometer, purchase a mercury thermometer specifically designed for chocolate. When melting the initial bulk of chocolate, don't allow the temperature to rise above 118F. At 115F, it's the right time to remove the bowl from heat and stir in remaining chopped chocolate. After stirring until smooth, check temperature. The darker chocolates should be cooled to 90F to be in proper condition after setting. Lighter chocolates should be cooled to 86F. Keep stirring briskly until desired temperature is reached, then chocolate is ready to work with as directed in your given recipe.

CHOCOLATE APPLES

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of just simmering water, being careful that the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir frequently for 10 mins until completely melted, smooth and shiny. Remove from the heat. Alternatively, heat the chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between each burst, until melted.
• Put the apples in a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water from the kettle. Drain carefully, and wash under hot water to remove any residual wax on the skin. This helps the chocolate stick better. Pat dry with kitchen paper, remove the stalks and push a lolly stick or skewer in its place.
• Line a baking tray or large board with baking parchment. Hold the apples by their sticks and dunk into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to coat the tops of the apples if you like. Once the apples are completely coated, hold over the bowl for a few seconds for excess chocolate to drip back into it, then place, stick pointing up, onto the prepared tray. Leave to set for a minute or two.
• Tip the decorations into separate bowls. When the chocolate on the apples is just starting to set but not fully firm, sprinkle the decorations onto the apples. Hold them on their side and rotate using the stick to completely cover. Place back on the tray and leave until completely set.
• If using the white and dark chocolate to decorate, heat each separately, as you did the milk chocolate in step 1, then leave to cool slightly. Melt the dark chocolate first, then when the chocolate apples are set hard, use a teaspoon to drizzle this over them, again holding the stick so the apple is on its side and rotating the apple. Have a sheet of baking parchment underneath to catch any drips. Place back on the tray and leave to set, then repeat the process using the white chocolate. Will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for two days.