Mixed Organic Santa Barbara Field Greens With Hazelnut Vinaigrette Food

WILD FIELD GREENS AND VINE RIPENED TOMATOES WITH WARM HAZELNUT FOREST DRESSING

Steps:

• Break or chop mushrooms into 1/4-inch pieces and cover with 1/4 cup warm water. Let sit for 30 minutes to rehydrate. Strain mushrooms, reserving soaking liquid in a small bowl. Rinse mushrooms and set aside. Strain soaking liquid through a paper towel into a small pot and reduce by half over medium heat.
• Combine hazelnut oil, walnut oil and olive oil in a small bowl. Combine vinegar, shallot, chives and salt and pepper in a separate medium mixing bowl and whisk in warm soaking liquid. Continue whisking and add oil in a slow thin stream to emulsify.
• Lay out slices of tomato. Top with salad greens and mushrooms. Drizzle with warm dressing and top with 2 small romaine leaves.

CARROTS WITH ORANGE-HAZELNUT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts out on a baking sheet and toast until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and slightly crush (the bottom of a measuring cup works well).
• Add the coriander to a small skillet and swirl over medium heat until toasted, about 2 minutes. Crack the coriander and add to a baking dish along with the hazelnuts, shallots, vinegar, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the cayenne and the juice of 1 orange. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow and steady stream. Set aside.
• Fit a medium, shallow pot with a steamer insert and add about an inch of water. Bring to a simmer, add the carrots, cover and steam until just fork-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to the baking dish, toss gently and allow the carrots to cool in the vinaigrette at room temperature.
• Segment the remaining orange and arrange the carrots on a serving platter, topped with the orange segments. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Serve.

FIELD GREENS WITH PEARS AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Just before serving time, peel, core, and slice the pears. Combine the greens, pears, walnuts, and blue cheese in a large salad bowl. Drizzle half the Port-Shallot Dressing over the top and toss. Drizzle in the remaining dressing, tossing until the greens are well coated-you may not need to add all the dressing. (Leftover dressing can be kept refrigerated for up to 1 week for another use.) Season with salt and pepper, and toss again.
• Place on chilled salad plates and serve.
• Pour the port into a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes, or until the port is reduced to 2/3 cup without the shallots. Set aside to let cool.
• Pour the port and shallots into the conainer of a blender and puree. Add the vinegar and blend well. While the motor is running, drizzle the oil through the hole in the blender top and continue to blend until emulsified and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside; refrigerate if not using immediately.