Orange and Honey

The perfect combination of locally made honey and citrus is what inspired today's post playing off the color orange; and seen on an episode of GH Living it UP!. Enjoy a slice of my Orange Honey Cake with a hot cup of orange pekoe tea. BTW - the orange in the orange pekoe denotes the quality of the tea leaves in the blend and not orange flavor. Orange Pekoe is a good grade tea using full and bigger tea leaves.

Also, this recipe is a really easy one to whip up for a impromptu gathering since you can make, bake and eat this cake, in under one hour! Orange you glad about that? Enjoy!

For today's - Honey Orange Cake Recipe

image: Hirsch Media

Yellow Food

I am continuing with this week's theme of color and food. Today's color is yellow, which brings a few of my favorite ingredients to mind. And what better way to prepare your yellow dish than with a pot that is versatile from stovetop-to-oven and even to-the-grill - like this cast iron yellow pot from Le Creuset. 

Yellow is the color of sunshine and symbolizes energy. It is as inviting as a warm, sunny day. Yellow can also be perceived as cheerful, mellow, and soft to the touch. It is the color of ideas and dreams and stimulates creativity and confidence. It is an attention getter and the most visible color of all the colors. Use it in small amount. Yellow is like sunlight: you want it to be there to feel good, but you don’t want it to be “in your eye”. Le Creuset on Dijon.

For today's yellow food recipe.

British Blue

Flying for some can be challenging; dealing with airline delays, seasonal crowds and adjusting to time changes. So let's look at it with the upside of travel perspective. I Focus on the local foods that will greet me upon my arrival. Specialty foods are always at their best where they are locally produced. Here is one great example of a local cheese that pairs well with the upside of traveling to the U.K - Stilton cheese.

The Skinny on Stilton:

- Stilton Cheese is produced only in the three Counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

- Must be made from locally produced milk that has been pasteurized before use

- Can only be made in a cylindrical shape

- Must be allowed to form its own coat or crust; must never be pressed  

- Must have the magical blue veins radiating from the centre of the cheese

- It takes 136 pints milk to make one 17 lb Stilton cheese

Tip: Best to take Stilton out of the fridge up to 2 hours before serving, to reach room temperature of at least 68 degrees F.

Think of Stilton beyond appetizers, salads and main courses. Stilton makes a perfect finish to spring and summer menus for dessert.

Serve crumbled Stilton with ladyfingers on top of sweet strawberries or figs. Add a few spiced nuts and drizzle a few drops of well-aged balsamic vinegar on top for a unique dessert finale. 

Sweet dessert wines go especially well with Stilton; such as Port or a full-bodied robust red.

Home Opener Snack

Tuesday night is the Yanks home opener. So while the fans in the stands are enjoying Bazzini's nuts, you can bake a batch of my spiced nuts for the family. This recipe is easy to prepare and great to do ahead; it just requires about an hour to slowly roast. This is one of those treats that can be dressed up or down; and always receives a raised eyebrow of pleasant surprise. I've been told, "George I need to make double batches because my guests ate them all!"

Serve as elegant munchies, pre-dinner snacks or toss a few in a salad. Be creative; and go Yanks! Enjoy.

Spiced Nuts

recipe by Chef George Hirsch | Makes about 5 cups

from George Hirsch Living it UP! Cookbook, ©2000

 

1 pound unsalted pecan halves, almonds, cashews or walnuts

1 egg white

1 teaspoon water

2 teaspoons hot sauce or chipotle sauce

3/4 cup pure cane sugar

2 Tablespoons curry powder

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

 

Mix sugar, curry powder, and salt.  Heat oven to 250 degrees F. Arrange the pecans on a cookie sheet and toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the egg white and water until frothy. Stir in the pecans/ nuts and sprinkle with the sugar, hot sauce, chipotle sauce, curry powder, and salt. Mix well. Lightly coat the cookie sheet with vegetable cooking spray. Spread the pecans in a single layer on the sheet.

 

Bake 45 minutes- 1 hour or until the pecans are dry, stirring once or twice.

 

Cool, store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

chefgeorgehirsch.com

Gone Bananas

After a few days of holiday entertaining, guests and any over indulgences - get through the midweek hurdle with my Banana Smoothy Recipe. 

Banana Smoothie 
recipe by George Hirsch | From George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series companion cookbook

Makes 2 servings, so share

1 cup frozen sliced bananas
1 Tablespoon low fat peanut butter
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt
1/2 cup crushed ice

Place the bananas in a blender and puree. And the peanut butter, fat free milk, yogurt, and ice. Blend until smooth. 

enjoy!

image, firOOO2