French Toast Sticks

This week we are channeling our inner child with French toast sticks! The extra surface area achieved when preparing French toast sticks brings twice the flavor while enrobing wonderfully custardy insides. Their handy shape means they are destined for easy dipping, serving, and sharing with the whole family. Good Morning!

Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast Sticks
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 large loaf bread (such as a brioche or Italian loaf that’s 3-4 days old)
3 eggs
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons salted butter, divided

For Serving:
Pure Maple syrup
Seasonal berries

Directions:
1. Trim the crust off of the bread and slice it into equally-sized strips, roughly 1" thick.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla, salt, and allspice. Pour the mixture in a shallow bowl. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Spread the mixture out on a medium-sized plate.

3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-large skillet.

4. Separate the bread sticks into two even batches. Starting with the first batch, dredge the bread sticks one at a time in the egg mixture by rolling them for a few seconds to evenly coat the bread all the way around. Shake off any excess egg mixture.

5. Place a few of the sticks of bread into the skillet, spacing them evenly, with about 1" in between (this spacing will make them easy to grab and turn). Cook the French toast sticks over medium-low heat using tongs to turn. Cook evenly until all sides are golden brown (roughly 1-2 minutes on each side).

6. Immediately remove the sticks from the pan and coat with the cinnamon and sugar while the French toast sticks are still hot, repeating until all of the sticks from the first batch are coated.

7. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and repeat Steps 4-6 with the remaining sticks.

8. Once all the French toast sticks have been cooked and coated, serve immediately with warm maple syrup and fresh seasonal berries.

Winter Pear Galette

Warm, spicy pears are our winter season indulgence, and we couldn’t be happier about it! In this recipe, we share our simple go-to pastry crust that comes together quickly for this impressive dessert. The warm cinnamon-y pears and flaky crust topped with cold, vanilla bean ice cream completes any occasion in sweet style.

Winter Pear Galette
Serves 4

Filling Ingredients:
3 Asian pears, cored and cut into thin 1/8" slices using a mandoline
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup honey (for drizzling)

Crust Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), grated and well chilled
4-6 tablespoons ice water

Crust Topping:
1 egg, whisked for egg wash
1 tablespoon coarse sugar

For Serving:
Vanilla Ice cream
Sprinkle of cinnamon
1/4 cup slivered almonds, optional
1/3 cup honey for drizzling, optional

Directions:
(The crust may be mixed by hand or with a food processor. )
1. For the crust, mix the flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl with a whisk until evenly distributed.

2. Prepare the ice water by filling a small bowl with ice cubes and adding water.

3. Place the grated butter in the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter and flour mixture together until a coarse texture is reached with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.

4. Add 2 tablespoons of the ice water by sprinkling on top of the flour/butter mixture. With a fork, gently toss the mixture. Continue adding ice water one tablespoon at a time tossing after each addition until a rough ball of dough forms. (Avoid adding too much water.)

5. Flatten the dough ball into a disk about a one-inch thick, and wrap in plastic wrap.

6. Chill the wrapped dough disk for an hour or overnight.

7. On a pastry slab or a cutting board, divide the dough into two even balls. Place the first half of the dough directly on a sheet of parchment paper and roll into a rough square, about 1/8-inch-thick. Create a straight edge by folding 1” of the dough onto itself around the perimeter. Chill for 15 minutes. While the first half is chilling, prepare the second half of dough into a square, as well, chill.

8. Preheat the oven to 425° F.

9. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a large bowl, mix the pear slices with the brown sugar, vanilla, lemon peel, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Toss until evenly coated.

10. Assemble the galettes. Group pear slices together, and carefully arrange overlapping the slices.

11. Distribute the butter pieces evenly on the pears and use a pastry brush to brush the crust with the lightly beaten egg. Sprinkle the coarse sugar on top of the crust.

12. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the crust lightly browns. Serve with vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon while still slightly warm.

Wine Poached Pears

When we want to embrace the beauty of the season, we turn to wine poached pears. THIS ISSUE features poached pears, served alongside vanilla bourbon mascarpone whipped cream. The subtle sweetness of this dish is exactly what we need to offset any holiday sugar highs, and nothing looks more striking.

Wine Poached Pears with Bourbon Mascarpone Whipped Cream
Makes about 4 poached pears

When we want to embrace the beauty of the season, we turn to wine poached pears. This recipe features poached pears, served alongside vanilla bourbon mascarpone whipped cream. The subtle sweetness of this dish is exactly what we need to offset any holiday sugar highs, and nothing looks more striking.

Ingredients:
4 Bosch pears, peeled with stem in-tact
1 bottle of dry red wine (750ml)
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
3 sticks of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1 vanilla bean pod, halved and seeds scraped

Bourbon Mascarpone Whipped Cream Ingredients:
4 oz Mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon bourbon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Peel the pears, carefully leaving the stems in place.

2. Combine the red wine, water, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla bean seeds in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the peeled pears making sure they are covered in the liquid. Simmer for about 40 minutes, or until the pears are tender and red, then chill the pears. Cook the wine mixture down into a sauce by simmering for an additional 45 minutes - 1 hour, or until your desired sauce consistency is reached.

3. Attach a chilled mixing bowl to a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Add the mascarpone cheese and sugar and mix together on high until fully combined, about 3 minutes. Add the cream, bourbon, and vanilla extract, and mix ingredients together, starting on low speed, then increasing to a high speed, whipping until soft peaks form, roughly 8 minutes.

4. Serve immediately alongside the chilled pears, drizzle with the reduced wine sauce, and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Apple, Pomegranate, Kale Salad

Did someone say warm, fall salad? Yes, please! In this recipe, we highlight delicious fall produce like crunchy apples, hearty kale, and tart pomegranates. Paired with earthy Gorgonzola, and tangy dried apricots, this beauty is topped with sweet and spicy pecans -- a garnish so good you’ll need to make a double batch!

Apple, Pomegranate, Kale Salad
Serves 6–8

Salad Ingredients:
2 bunches Lacinato kale leaves, torn into pieces
1 bunch green kale, torn into pieces
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup pomegranate arils (or 1 pomegranate)
1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
10 dried apricots, sliced

Sweet and Spicy Pecans:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup unsalted pecan halves

Dressing Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 275°F. Combine the butter, cayenne, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the pecans and toss to coat. Spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are browned. Remove from heat and let cool. (Store any leftover pecans in a dry, airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)

2. Meanwhile, add the kale to a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and olive oil and massage with your hands for 2-3 minutes until the kale pieces start to become tender.

3. Make the dressing by heating the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Remove from heat.

4. Whisk together the remaining dressing ingredients. Pour in the olive oil and shallot into the dressing and stir.

5. Drizzle half of the the dressing on the kale and use tongs to toss. Arrange the pomegranate arils, apples, Gorgonzola cheese, and dried apricots on top of the salad. Drizzle the salad with the remaining dressing and top with the sweet and spicy pecans. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Biting into this cake signifies all of the things we love about the changing seasons. Warm notes of fall spices pleasantly mix with sweet chocolate and rich brown butter frosting. This recipe highlights pumpkin in a cake that can be served both after dinner or alongside your morning coffee.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes 12 pieces

Biting into this cake signifies all of the things we love about the changing seasons. Warm notes of fall spices pleasantly mix with sweet chocolate and rich brown butter frosting. This recipe highlights pumpkin in a cake that can be served both after dinner or alongside your morning coffee.

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1-1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Brown Butter Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. In a stand mixer on medium-low speed, mix the eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, oil and pumpkin puree until incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice, and salt.

3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and continue to mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Pour the batter into a 10” x 10” ungreased baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If the top or edges brown before the rest of the cake has baked, tent aluminum foil over the top. Cool on a cooling rack.

5. Make the frosting: Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring often, until the butter turns a light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the butter! Remove from heat and let the butter cool. In a stand mixer, mix together the cream cheese and the browned butter until fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix. Gradually add the confectioners’, sugar continuing to mix until smooth.

6. Once the cake has completely cooled, generously spread the frosting over the top of the cake in a thick layer. Dust with cinnamon and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Doughnut Holes

Did someone say fresh, warm, doughnut holes? IN THIS ISSUE, we feature doughnut making tips and techniques! We love making these bite-sized treats at home because we can enjoy them by the handful and not feel guilty in front of anyone. Now you can too!

Sweet Potato and Cardamom Doughnut Holes
Makes about 30 doughnut holes

Did someone say fresh, warm, doughnut holes? These lovely morsels feature warm, autumn spices including allspice, cinnamon, and cardamom. And, since they are made with sweet potatoes, they’re almost healthy, right? We love making these bite-sized treats at home because we can enjoy them by the handful and not feel guilty in front of anyone. Now you can too!

Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons chilled butter
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sweet potato, cooked and pureed (roughly 1 small sweet potato)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups canola oil for frying

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar (or powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, cardamom, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together until evenly incorporated. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles a crumb-like mixture.

2. Add the buttermilk, mashed sweet potato, and vanilla, Fold the dough together until all the ingredients are combined. The dough will be sticky to the touch.

3. Scoop out pieces of the dough and roll them into balls roughly 1-1/2" in diameter. Set aside.

4. in a separate, shallow dish, stir together the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

5. Add the oil to a medium-sized saucepan and warm the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Drop the doughnut holes in about 6 at a time.

6. Fry the doughnut holes, very carefully, for about 3-4 minutes, occasionally turning them in the oil to ensure all sides are getting cooked and browning evenly.

7. Use a slotted spoon, skimmer, or spider to transfer the doughnut holes to a paper towel-lined plate. After cooling the doughnuts for about 30 seconds, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mix until they are fully covered. Enjoy immediately!

Make Holiday Gifts from your Kitchen!

We think giving is just as fun as receiving, and tis' the season for giving abundantly!

IN THIS ISSUE, we're sharing a few simple gifts from the kitchen that you can make in one evening and give throughout the holiday season. Enjoy making and gifting these recipes: Gingersnap Cookie Butter, Peppermint Bark, and/or Easy Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fudge.

Baking Better Quick Breads

Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm