Pear Pecan Napoleon Food

PECAN DUSTED PUFF PASTRY CARAMELIZED PEAR NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat 400 degrees F.
• Chop the pecans to the consistency of rough crumbs. Toss with the butter, sugars and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread the mixture out onto a baking sheet and cook in the oven 7 to 10 minutes, until darkened and lightly caramelized. Set aside to cool.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface to 1/16-inch thickness. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 12 squares, approximately 3 by 3 inches. Lay out on a baking sheet and bake 15 to 20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• Melt the butter with both the sugars in a skillet over medium heat. Add the pears. Cook until pears are just tender and juices thicken to a syrup consistency, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Whip the cream, granulated sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until it forms soft peaks.
• Place a puff pastry square in the center of a serving bowl or plate. Top with a few pears, whipped cream and pecan pieces. Repeat this process 2 more times ending with a sprinkle of nuts.

PEAR-PECAN STUFFING

Steps:

• In a large deep skillet, saute 1 each chopped onion and carrot, 2 chopped celery stalks and 1 tablespoon each sage and thyme in 1 stick butter for 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and add 2 diced Bosc pears, then saute 2 minutes.
• Pour in 1/4 cup bourbon and simmer 2 minutes, then add 2 1/2 to 3 cups chicken broth. Return to a simmer until step 5.
• In a large bowl, mix 2 eggs and 1/4 cup chopped parsley.
• Add to the bowl 16 cups toasted white bread cubes, 1 cup toasted pecans and the hot broth mixture.
• Gently toss the stuffing, then spread in a buttered 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Dot the top with butter or turkey pan drippings, cover and bake 30 minutes at 350. Uncover and bake until golden, 20 more minutes.

CARAMEL PECAN NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Unfold pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Cut into 3 lengthwise strips along fold marks. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 squares; place on baking sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Split each pastry square horizontally into 2 layers, making a total of 18 squares. Set aside the 9 top layers. Spoon 3 Tbsp. of the whipped topping onto each bottom layer. Drizzle evenly with caramel topping; sprinkle with pecans. Cover with pastry tops; sprinkle with powdered sugar. Store leftover desserts in refrigerator.

KAITAFI FRUIT NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the kaitafi with the butter, and 1/3 cup sugar to form patties about 3 inches in diameter. You will need 3 to 4 of these. Place them on a greased sheet pan. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the remaining sugar over the "disks". Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until sugar has caramelized. In a small bowl, combine the fruit with a tablespoon of sugar and reserve. Begin to plate by placing 1 slice of kiwi on the bottom (to prevent it from sliding) and layer the napoleon by putting 1 disk and then fruit. Continue to desired height. Drizzle with dark and white chocolate sauce. Serve.

ROASTED BEET NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the beets in a small roasting pan and pour in enough cold water to reach about 1/4 of the way up the sides of the beets. Cover the pan with foil, and roast the beets until they are tender, 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. To check for doneness, gently insert a bamboo skewer into a beet. The skewer should slide through easily. Remove the beets from the pan, allow to cool, and then peel. Cut each beet into 1/4-inch-thick round slices. Cut each slice with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. (You will need 10 rounds). Cut trimmings into 1/4-inch dice and reserve 1/2 cup for garnish. In a saute pan, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Lower to a simmer and poach beets 1 minute on each side. With a slotted spatula, remove and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate until needed. When ready to assemble, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan. Arrange the slices of Herbed Goat Cheese in the pan and warm slightly, turning them with a small spatula just to warm both sides. This has to be done quickly, or the cheese will melt. To assemble the napoleons, place 1 of the beet rounds on a firm, flat surface and begin to layer. Top with a slice of goat cheese, then another beet round, a second slice of cheese, another beet round, a third slice of cheese, and a beet round. (Continue until you have 5 layers of beets and 4 layers of cheese.) Carefully cut through layers, dividing into 3 wedges. Repeat with the remaining beets and cheese. To serve, arrange 3 of the wedges, pointed ends facing out, in a circle in the center of each plate. Toss the baby lettuces with the Spago House Dressing and mound half of the lettuces on top of each arranged napoleon. Drizzle 1/2 of the Citrus Hazelnut Vinaigrette around each mound. Sprinkle toasted nuts and reserved diced beets on top of drizzled vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
• Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface. Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots and the mustard. Whisk in the vinegars and then the olive and vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until needed.
• In a medium saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil. Lower to a simmer and reduce until only 1/3 cup remains. Cool to room temperature. In a medium bowl, combine orange juice, shallot, thyme, vinegar and orange zest. Slowly whisk in both oils until thick and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the hazelnuts on a medium baking tray and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, turning after 5 minutes. (This can be done in a toaster oven). Remove to a clean towel and rub to remove as much of the skin as possible. Chop coarsely and use when needed.

PORTOBELLO NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Slice the portobellos into 3 pieces each, grill and keep warm. Heat garlic in 1-ounce olive oil. Add beans and season with salt and pepper. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and saute the chard. Season and grill the tomatoes, reserve warm. Set rice in the center of the plate. Top with mushroom, red tomato, chard, portobello, yellow tomato, chard, portobello. Surround with the beans and top with Parmesan.

MAPLE PEAR, PECAN & MASCARPONE ROULADE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Oil a 30 x 24cm swiss roll tin and line with baking parchment. Put the eggs, vanilla and both sugars in a large bowl, and beat with an electric whisk for 5 mins, or until thickened and doubled in volume. The beaters should leave a thick trail when lifted out of the mixture.
• Sift over the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ¼ tsp salt, and very gently fold in using a large metal spoon. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 10-15 mins until golden and springy. Leave to cool in the tin a little, then turn out onto a sheet of baking parchment dusted with icing sugar. Roll up from a longer end, along with the parchment, then leave to cool.
• Toss the pears with the lemon juice in a bowl, then tip into a sieve set over a bowl to drain off any excess liquid. Beat together the mascarpone, double cream and 3 tbsp of the maple syrup until thick and spoonable. Tip the pecans into a food processor and blitz until finely chopped, then spread out on a large sheet of baking parchment.
• When the sponge is completely cool, unroll and drizzle over the remaining maple syrup. Spread with three-quarters of the mascarpone mixture, then scatter over the pears and roll up again tightly. Spread the remaining mascarpone all over the outside of the roulade, then swiftly roll in the chopped pecans. Cut into thick slices and serve with an extra drizzle of maple syrup, if you like.