Miso Maple Walnuts Food

MISO-MAPLE LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2-inch loaf pan and dust with flour, or use baker's spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Put the sugar, salt and zest in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl that you can use with a hand mixer. Reach in and rub the ingredients together until the sugar is moist and fragrant; it may even turn orange. Add the butter, miso and maple syrup to the sugar. If using a stand mixer, attach the bowl and fit it with the paddle attachment.
• Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and beater(s) as needed, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. One by one, add the eggs, beating for a minute after each goes in. Beat in the vanilla. The mixture might curdle, but this is a temporary condition. Turn off the mixer, add the dry ingredients all at once and pulse to begin the blending, turning the mixer on and off in very short spurts on the lowest speed. Then, beat on low speed until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated. With the mixer still on low, pour in the buttermilk and blend well. Scrape the batter into the pan, working it into the corners and smoothing the top.
• Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, checking the loaf after 40 minutes and covering the top loosely with a foil or tented parchmentif it's browning too fast. The loaf is properly baked when it pulls away from the sides of the pan and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the bread rest for 5 minutes, then run a table knife around the edges of the loaf and unmold onto the rack; turn it right side up.
• If you'd like to glaze the loaf, stir the marmalade or jam with 1 tablespoon water and heat the mixture in the microwave or over low heat until it comes just to a boil. Using a pastry brush or a spoon, cover the top of the loaf with the glaze. Allow the loaf to cool to room temperature before slicing. Wrapped well, the cake will keep for about 4 days at room temperature. If it becomes stale - and maybe even if it doesn't - toast it lightly before serving. If you haven't glazed the cake, you can wrap it airtight and freeze it for up to 2 months; defrost, still wrapped, at room temperature.

MISO SOUP

Steps:

• Wrap the block of tofu in 2 layers of paper towels and lay on a plate. Invert a second plate on top of the tofu and weigh down with a 28-ounce can. Leave for 20 minutes then cut the tofu into 1/4 to 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat the dashi in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When the dashi reaches 100 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, ladle 1 cup into a small bowl. Add the miso, and whisk until smooth.
• Bring the remaining dashi to a bare simmer, approximately 10 minutes. Add the miso mixture and whisk to combine. Return to a slight simmer, being careful not to boil the mixture. Add the tofu and scallions and cook for another minute or until heated through. Remove from the heat, ladle into soup bowls and serve immediately.

MISO MAPLE BRUSSEL SPROUTS AND SWEET POTATOES WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup and miso paste in a large bowl. Add the Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, season with pepper and transfer onto a large, rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sprouts are golden and a little crisp and the sweet potatoes are caramelized and tender, stirring once halfway through.
• Meanwhile, rinse the lentils in a fine mesh sieve. Add the lentils into a saucepan and cover with about 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil then cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle the lentils with extra-virgin olive oil. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley and baby spinach. Season with salt and stir well to combine.
• To serve, spoon the lentils onto a serving dish and top with the roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes and a scattering of walnuts.

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 WITH BROWN-SUGAR FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans (2 inches deep) with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper; lightly coat parchment with cooking spray. Flour parchment and sides (tapping out excess); set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on high until light and fluffy, 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on medium-high, add maple syrup in a slow, steady stream. Add flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with milk, beating well after each addition and scraping down bowl as needed. Fold in walnuts.
• Divide batter between pans; firmly tap pans on a flat surface several times to remove air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks, 15 minutes, then invert onto racks; peel off parchment. Invert cakes again and let cool completely on racks. With a serrated knife, trim domed top from each cake to make a flat surface.
• Make frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar on high until light and fluffy, 5 minutes. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Assemble cake: Place one layer, top side up, on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread top evenly with 1 1/2 cups frosting. Top with second layer, top side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and around sides of cake.

MAPLE-SUGARED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine maple sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside. In a large, deep skillet, combine brandy, vanilla, maple syrup, and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in nuts, and continue cooking, stirring, until skillet is almost dry, about 3 minutes more.
• Remove from heat, and immediately add reserved sugar mixture to hot nut mixture; toss until well coated. Spread out coated nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and let cool completely, 6 hours or overnight.