Savory Corn Butternut Squash Brulee Food

CORN AND COCONUT CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut the kernels from the ears of corn. Cut each corncob into 3 pieces.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Stir in the corn kernels and 1 teaspoon salt. Saute until just tender, about 5 minutes, being careful not to let the corn or butter brown. Add the corncobs, coconut milk, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook at a simmer for 15 minutes.
• While the mixture simmers, combine the sugars in a blender or food processor, blend well, and set aside.
• Remove and discard the corncobs. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a silicone spatula to obtain all the pulp; discard any remaining solids. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture, the milk, eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla until thoroughly mixed. Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt, if needed.
• Divide the mixture among six 8-ounce brulee dishes or flameproof ramekins, filling them to just below the rim. Place the dishes in a roasting pan or large baking dish. Pour water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the dishes. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and carefully transfer it to the center rack of the oven. Bake until just set, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the dishes from the pan. Refrigerate until well chilled.
• Spread a thin layer of the remaining sugar mixture on top of the baked custards (you may not need it all). Caramelize with a torch. Or place the custards on a baking sheet and caramelize under a preheated broiler. Serve immediately.

SAVORY BUTTERNUT SQUASH CROSTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Scatter the squash and onions on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss well to coat evenly.
• Roast until the squash is tender all the way through and the onions are soft and turning golden brown, 28 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Unroll the pie crust onto a nonstick baking sheet. Crumble half of the cheese over the crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Top with the roasted onions and then shingle with the squash in circles. Fold the crust borders up and over the filling, crimping every 2 inches or so. Sprinkle the exposed squash with the pistachios and the remaining cheese.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the arugula and pomegranate seeds.
• Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH MUFFINS WITH A FROSTY TOP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line your muffin tins with paper cups.
• Whiz the squash in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the sugar, and crack in the eggs. Add a pinch of salt, the flour, baking powder, walnuts, cinnamon and olive oil and whiz together until well beaten. You may need to pause the machine at some point to scrape the mix down the sides with a rubber spatula. Try not to overdo it with the mixing - you want to just combine everything and no more.
• Fill the paper cups with the muffin mixture. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Check to see whether they are cooked properly by sticking a wooden skewer or a knife right into one of the muffins - if it comes out clean, they're done. If it's a bit sticky, pop them back into the oven for a little longer. Remove from the oven and leave the muffins to cool on a wire rack.
• As soon as the muffins are in the oven, make your runny frosted topping. Place most of the clementine zest, all the lemon zest and the lemon juice in a bowl. Add the sour cream, icing sugar and vanilla seeds and mix well. Taste and have a think about it - adjust the amount of lemon juice or icing sugar to balance the sweet and sour. Put into the fridge until your muffins have cooled down, then spoon the topping onto the muffins.
• Serve on a lovely plate (on a cake stand if you're feeling elegant, or on a rustic slab if you're more of a hunter-gatherer type!), with the rest of the clementine zest sprinkled over. For an interesting flavor and look, a few dried lavender flowers or rose petals are fantastic.

CORN AND SQUASH SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Place the corn, squash and zucchini in a large bowl.
• To make the dressing, add the olive oil, honey, cumin, salt, chili powder, black pepper, lime zest and juice and garlic to a mixing bowl or small mason jar. Stir or secure the lid and shake to combine. Pour two-thirds of the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat completely.
• Grill the vegetables, turning as needed, until really nice grill marks begin to form, about 5 minutes for the squash and 7 minutes for the corn in total. Remove to a baking sheet and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Arrange the slices of tomatoes around the edge of a large cutting board or platter and season with a pinch or two of salt and pepper. Place the grilled vegetables around the platter thoughtfully, making sure to leave some of the tomato peeking through. Drizzle over the remaining dressing and shower with the queso fresco and cilantro.

CRISPY PARMESAN BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHIPS

Steps:

• Remove the top cylinder portion of the butternut squash and peel with a vegetable peeler. Discard or use the bulb portion for something else. Using a mandoline, finely slice round chips from the peeled cylinder and hold in ice water for 30 minutes to chill. Preheat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a heavy-based pot to 320 degrees F add the fresh herbs and fry until they stop sizzling. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Dry chips between paper towels then fry in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Season with salt and shower with fresh grated Parmesan and crumbled herbs.