From the Knife's Edge | Spring 2012
Spring is a time when I typically desire something for on the go quick energy and a little bit of cheese indulgence! Listed below are my favorite quick and simple items. Apple Burgers, Banana Oat Cherry Breakfast Bars and Traditional Cheese Fondue!
Bon appetite to all!
Executive Chef Fredrick Clabaugh CCC
Apple Burgers:
Ingredients
2 tart apples, grated
1 cup onion, minced
2 cups bread crumbs
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 cups brown or white rice, cooked (leftover is fine)
6 tablespoons rolled oats, ground
½ teaspoon salt
black pepper
1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions
1. Squeeze some of the juice out of the apples, then place in bowl with onions, bread crumbs, green pepper, ginger, rice, 3 tablespoons oats, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
2. Heat the oil in the frying pan, over medium heat.
3. Shape mixture into patties, adding more bread crumbs if necessary. Coat with remaining 3 tablespoons of oats.
4. Fry in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side.
Banana Oat Cherry Breakfast Bar More Info
Banana Oat Cherry Breakfast Bar
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
3 big and really ripe bananas, mashed (or 1/2 cup pumpkin)
1/4 cup coconut (melted), walnut or olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup coarse nut meal (I use almond)
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded
1/6 cup dried tart cherries, chopped
1/6 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/6 cup pepitas or sunflower seeds, toasted
1/3 cup carrots, chopped (or beets, grated)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it in parchment paper. In a large bowl, add the banana, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir well.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the oats, almond meal, baking soda and salt. Combine with the banana mash, and add rest of ingredients. Mix.
3. Handshape little "bars" on the cookie sheet. Bake for 17 minutes until the bottoms and tops are golden and the bars are set. These don't really spread, so don't worry about giving them a ton of space on the cookie sheet.
Source of recipe: This recipe is the result of a lot of experimentation! I've been trying to make the perfect breakfast bar for years and this one is super easy, reliable and easy to modify if I get tired of the ingredients.
Makes: about 6- 8 bars, Preparation time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 15- 25 minutes
Traditional Cheese Fondue More Info
Traditional Cheese Fondue
Ingredients
½ lb grated Gruyere cheese (rind removed)
1/2 lb grated Emmentaler cheese (rind removed)
1 clove garlic
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon kirsch (optional)
pepper and nutmeg to taste
Directions
1. Rub the inside of a medium saucepan with the peeled garlic clove. Throw away the garlic. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the Gruyere and Emmentaler cheese with the cornstarch and toss. Stir the cheese mixture into the wine one small handful at a time. Make sure each handful is completely melted before adding another. The fondue can bubble a bit, but don't let it boil. Season with the nutmeg and pepper. Stir in kirsch (optional).
3. Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm with burner. Serve right away.
What to Dip
• Crusty cubes of French or Italian bread (leave a piece of crust on each cube)
• Rye or sourdough bread cubes
• Cooked chicken (bite sized cubes with skin and bone removed)
• Cooked ham (bite sized cubes)
• Sausage (garlic sausage is a great choice)
• Potatoes (roasted or boiled, baby potatoes work best)
• Asparagus spears
• Broccoli florets (boil for two minutes)
• Cauliflower florets (boil for two minutes)
• Peppers
• Granny smith apple slices