The Recipe Burglar Strikes: Autumn Nachos

As I was searching for a recipe for this week's post I do as I always do, flip through my three-ring binders of recipes, think about what I feel like cooking, eating, and writing about, and then imagine ways to re-work the recipe. On the blog, I note where the inspiration for the recipe came from and then move on, with pictures and text on how to make the recipe and any suggestions that I think might help you, dear reader, in your kitchen.

Last month Food and Wine magazine printed a rather alarming article on the idea that recipes might, in the future, be copyrighted. You can read the article here. Not long after, a well-trod blog, http://www.megnut.com/, hosted a discussion about the issue which you can read here. OK. So enough with the links. I'll stop. But the discussion can be summed up with this quote, "If a recipe is good it should be used by as many people as possible regardless because eating is all about enjoying food."

On that note, I'll proceed. This week's inspiration came from my friend Sharon and her fabulous salad and dressing. It made its debut on my thanksgiving table, and, as with most thanksgiving dishes, leftovers from the salad could be found in my fridge the week after. Leftovers too good to toss out: prosciutto, Gorgonzola, candied walnuts, pear. The food deserved a replay. Besides re-issuing the same salad, what could I do? Why not crostini? So the the thanksgiving leftovers appeared on my plate with the help of French bread turned crostini, pears caramelized with a decent roasting, and prosciutto made crisp with a turn through the oven. With a leap of the imagination, when I plated it up it looked like nachos. So, as a stand against recipe copyrights and legal formalities, I present:

Autumn Nachos
Inspired by Sharon

Ingredients
--French bread, about half of a loaf
--walnut oil
--1 Cup spinach
--2 Tbs. Gorgonzola cheese
--1 apple, such as Fuji
--1 pear
--2 slices of prosciutto
--2 Tbs. candied nut, such as walnut*
--Oil dressing to taste**

To make the crostini
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2)Slice French bread on the bias, 1/2" thick.
3)Spread out in one layer on a baking sheet.
4)Lightly drizzle both sides of bread with walnut oil.
5)Salt and pepper to taste.
6)Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 8 minutes. If you want both sides crunchy, flip the crostini over and pop back into the oven, toasting the second side until golden brown, about 8 minutes.





To crisp the prosciutto
1)Place prosciutto on parchment-lined baking sheets.
2) Bake in 350 degree F oven for about 8 minutes, or until crisp.

To roast the pear
1) Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2) Thinly slice the pears and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
3) Bake about 16 minutes, flipping the pears halfway through to brown both sides.

*To candy the walnuts
Ingredients
--I Tbs. butter
--1 Cup walnuts
--1 Cup sugar

Directions

1) Butter a baking sheet and set aside.

2) Place walnuts in skillet and place over medium high heat. Stir frequently. Toast until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Remove nuts from heat.
3) Melt 1 Cup sugar in a skillet over low heat. Stir constantly.
4) When the sugar becomes a light brown, when it has caramelized (310 degrees F on a candy thermometer), stir in 1 Cup walnuts and mix until well coated.
5) Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Let it cool.
6) Crush the brittle into small pieces.

**Oil Dressing

Ingredients

--1/2 Cup walnut oil

--1/4 Cup cider vinegar

--1 shallot, minced or pressed through garlic press

--2 Tbs. lemon juice, fresh

--1 Tbs. maple syrup, use the real stuff

--1/4 tsp. salt

--1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions
1) Combine all ingredients in a screw top jar and shake (or combine in a bowl and whisk).
2) Drizzle over Autumn Nachos to taste.

Plating the Nachos

(Click to enlarge)

Tips and Notes from the Kitchen:

* Roasting pears in the oven brings out flavor that might otherwise not be there if your pears aren't very ripe.

* Brittle becomes praline when it is crushed or ground into small pieces.

* This is a perfect lunch for one or an appetizer for a crowd, just increase or decrease the ingredients depending on your needs.

Last words for this post are from George Bernard Shaw:

"If I find in a book anything I can make use of, I take it gratefully.

My plays are full of pillage of this kind."

So pillage from my table and enjoy good food.