Walnut Roulade Food

WALNUT-STUFFED CHICKEN ROULADES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pulse crackers and 3/4 cup walnuts in a food processor until finely ground.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic and shallots until soft, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and thyme, and cook until mushrooms are slightly golden, about 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add spinach and water to skillet. Cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Chop spinach, and add to mushroom mixture. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup walnuts.
• Season each chicken breast with 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Lay 1 chicken breast on a plate. Spread 1/2 cup mushroom-walnut mixture onto chicken, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Roll, and tie with kitchen twine. Cover with crumb mixture, pressing to coat. Repeat with remaining chicken, mushroom-walnut mixture, and crumbs. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Untie, and slice.

PUMPKIN-WALNUT ROULADE WITH SPIKED CREAM

Steps:

• To make the cake, position a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 375° F.
• Lightly butter a 10 X 15-inch jelly roll pan.
• To line the bottom and sides of the pan, cut a 12 X 16-inch piece of parchment or waxed paper.
• At each of the four corners, cut a diagonal slash about 2 inches long.
• Fit the paper into the pan, folding the cut ends over each other at the slashed to form neat corners.
• Lightly butter and flour the paper, tapping out the excess flour.
• In a large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer set at high speed, beat the sugar and eggs until light in color and texture, about 3 minutes.
• (The mixture should form a thick ribbon that falls back on itself when the beaters are lifted about 2 inches from the bowl. It must be stiff enough to support the weight of the dry ingredients.) Stir in the pumpkin and lemon juice.
• Sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves onto a piece of waxed paper.
• With the mixer on low, gradually beat in the flour mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan, being sure to reach into the corners.
• Sprinkle the batter with the walnuts.
• Bake until the center of the cake springs back when lightly pressed with a finger, about 15 minutes.
• Sift confectioners' over the top of the cake.
• Place a clean kitchen towel over the cake, then top with a baking sheet.
• Holding the baking sheet over the cake, turn the cake upside down and invert it onto the towel on the baking sheet.
• Carefully peel off the paper.
• Place the paper back on the cake.
• Using the towel as an aide, roll up the cake and cool completely.
• To make the filling, in a medium bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer at medium speed, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until combined.
• Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• Unroll the cake and discard the paper.
• Spread the filling evenly over the cake and sprinkle with the crystallized ginger.
• Re-roll the cake (you won't need to use the kitchen towel) and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate until the filing is firm, at least 1 hour.
• (The cake can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.) To make the spiked cream, in a chilled medium bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer set at high speed, beat the cream, confectioners' sugar, optional rum, and vanilla until stiff.
• Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large open star tip.
• Transfer the roll to a long serving platter.
• Garnish the cake with swirls of the whipped cream, and sprinkle with the walnuts and crystallized ginger.
• To serve, cut the cake diagonally into thick slices.