mandag den 19. marts 2012

Secret Recipe Club March: Pomegranate Molasses, Raspberry/Feta/Pomegranate Salad with Pomegranate Balsamic Vinaigrette & Easy Margarita Ice Cream



Another month, another SRC assignment - yay!
For March, I was assigned to Wendy's blog, The Weekend Gourmet.
Wendy spends most time cooking during the weekends (hence the blog name), and the blog started out as a challenge from her husband, to actually use some of her cookbooks, instead of just reading them. She put together some gourmet dinners using her cookbooks, and a few weekends and several-course-dinners later, she decided to start blogging about her weekend adventure - The Weekend Gourmet was born.

When deciding what to make from Wendy's recipes, I started out using the date archive at the bottom of the page, to see if I could find something that would match the season we are in. But actually I ended up choosing from something she made in May, July, September and November. So much for staying in the season!

Beginning of November 2010, Wendy had a small dinner party, where the theme was Pomegranate. I absolutely LOVE pomegranates, so I quickly decided to make something from her theme dinner.
I already had a pomegranate molasses kind of thing in the pantry (it's a Turkish pomegranate sauce called Nar Eksili), but decided that I wanted to try and make my own like Wendy, using pomegranate nectar (a mix of juice, water, sugar and a few other things - I couldn't find real pomegranate juice).
I used this molasses to make a pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette to serve with a salad - a mix of two of Wendy's recipes: Raspberry-Almond Salad with Pomegranate-Balsamic Vinaigrette and Red Leaf Salad with Israeli Feta, Pistachios, Pomegranate  Arils and Pomegranate Vinaigrette.

I used ingredients from both salads, but had to leave out pistachios as I couldn't find any when I went shopping - instead I used some salted peanuts.
I also looked at both recipes for the vinaigrette when making mine.

Since this salad was quite simple, I thought I would try to find something else I could make as well - something sweet. Wendy is not much of a baker, so when I found the recipe for Nigella Lawson's Easy Margarita Ice Cream, I decided to go with that. Besides, I recently bought the cookbook where this ice cream was in, and had already marked it for later use, so no time as the SRC present.

Therefore, I now give you my Pomegranate Molasses, Pomegranate Balsamic Vinaigrette on Raspberry/Feta/Pomegranate Salad , and Easy Margarita Ice Cream!

Nar Eksili on the left, my molasses in the middle,
and the nectar straight out of the box on the right -
there is a clear colour difference between the last two!
Pomegranate Molasses:
adapted from The Weekend Gourmet
makes about 1/3 cup

2 cups / ½ l pomegranate nectar (with 25% juice - since there is already plenty of sugar in the nectar, I didn't ad any extra)

Boil the nectar in a pan at medium heat until it starts to thicken (may have taken a little over ½ hour) - pour a spoonful on a cold plate and leave it in the fridge for a few minutes. If the consistency is as desired, it is done (be careful not to cook for too long, or you won't be able to get it out of the bottle, when it has cooled down. This happened to me once, when making apple syrup. Trust me when I say, it was not pretty).
Pour molasses in a small bottle and let it cool completely before using it for vinaigrettes or maybe desserts.

Pomegranate Balsamic Vinaigrette:
adapted from The Weekend Gourmet here and here

1/4 cup / 0,6 dl olive oil
2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 tbsp raspberry balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp finely minced shallot
a few fresh basil leaves, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together oil, molasses, vinegar, shallots and basil until everything emulsifies. Ad salt and pepper to taste, and leave it for 30-60 minutes while you make the salad, so the flavours can develop.

Raspberry/Feta/Pomegranate Salad:
adapted from The Weekend Gourmet here and here

1 package of rinsed mixed field greens
1 small container of fresh raspberries
½ cup / 1 1/4 dl crumbled feta
1/3 cup / 3/4 dl peanuts
1/3 cup / 3/4 dl pomegranate kernels

Mix everything in a bowl, or arrange on a nice plate. Let your guests pour the vinaigrette on their own plate.

Conclusion for the salad etc.:

I loved this salad, and the vinaigrette! Using berries and fruit in salads is something I do quite often - the sweet raspberries complimented the salty feta perfectly, together with the tangy vinaigrette. I have a craving for light and fresh meals at the moment, and this did the job perfectly. We were supposed to have some smoked mackerel with it, but I ended up eating the salad by itself.
Even though Hubby is not fond of raspberries (the small kernels get stuck between his teeth), I will be making this again - and have the raspberries all to myself.

Easy Margarita Ice Cream:
adapted from The Weekend Gourmet (and Nigella Lawson)
approx. 4 cups / 1 l

Plenty of lime juice, and zest
½ cup / 1 1/4 dl fresh lime juice (I used 3 small organic and 1 large ordinary lime to get that quantity)
2 tsp grated lime zest (from an organic one) 
3 tbsp tequila
3 tbsp Grand Marnier
approx. 1½ packed cups / 200 g powdered sugar
2 cups / ½ l whipping cream

Mix lime juice, zest, tequila, Grand Marnier and sugar in a bowl, until all the sugar is dissolved. Ad the cream and whisk it for a few minutes - the cream shouldn't be stiff, just light and fluffy. Make sure to taste if it needs more powdered sugar - when it freezes, it will taste less sweet, so it needs to be more sweet than you want it at this point.
Churn it in an ice cream maker if you have one, or just put it in a plastic container and freeze overnight (according to the recipe, it doesn't need stirring, but I used my ice cream machine, so I can't tell what the consistency will be like if you don't).

Cheers!
 Conclusion for the ice cream:

Did I say I was craving something fresh?
Then I'll tell you that I got what I asked for. But as I am typing this, I realize it is my own fault, because I made a mistake and only used half the cream that I was supposed to - 1 cup instead of 2!!
So it turned out extremely fresh - and I have to say that I think I could feel the alcohol after eating the serving in the picture. (Luckily I wasn't driving when we went out that evening).
I hope it is due to the missing cream that it won't freeze properly - after a day in the freezer it still had the consistency of a soft serve.
Which makes it easier to drink, if you're out of any other alcohol.

I would like to make it again, this time the right way - or maybe I will consider whipping in some extra cream and see if that helps.
I did enjoy it, though.
And got all the freshness I was craving.

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33 kommentarer:

  1. Wow! You outdid yourself. I can see why you had trouble deciding because Wendy has tons of great recipes! You picked some really good ones!!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Danielle - I was really happy with the results (apart from the "fresh" ice cream) :-)

      Slet
  2. Hmmm...what to choose to eat first??!!! Beautiful pictures and LOVE the choices, I can't wait to make either of these!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Lynne - it was easy, as I made the salad one day, and the ice cream the next :-)
      Just be sure to remember all the cream in the ice cream!

      Slet
  3. If you put a salad and ice cream next to each other, I'm always going to pick the ice cream! I love your picks though!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thank you Jamie - in this case, I think you would have gone for the salad :-)

      Slet
  4. I love Wendy's site too. You made a lot of great dishes and I am sitting here thinking, "Do I have lemons and limes in the kitchen?" If so, I am making that ice cream soon!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Eliotseats - remember to use all the cream mentioned, and don't use too much alcohol - unless you want to drink it.

      Slet
  5. Yum, yum, yum Heidi! This looks amazing - I can see why you ate this for a whole meal!

    And never complain that your husband doesn't like raspberries - everyone in my family LOVES them and we fight over them ...... no it's not a bad thing at all! :)

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thank you Chris! I will stop complaining about the raspberries, and just have them all next time :-)

      Slet
  6. I love everything about these recipes! They look delicious! What great selections for SRC!

    SvarSlet
  7. What the what? Two recipes? I love it! OMG a gorgeous, healthy salad, and an indulging margarita ice cream? Yes, please. I love the balance!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Chelsy - I guess the healthy salad is a good starter for the not-so-healthy ice cream. Which wasn't so unhealthy after all, since I forgot half the cream!

      Slet
  8. Heidi -
    Just now making it home from work to comment! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the pomegranate salad...I too adore pomegrantate, and the molasses is so easy to make yourself, yes? That ice cream is so good, and very simple...I make it several times each summer when we have company for dinner. Even with the entire amount of cream, it is still on the soft side...I think the booze keeps it from getting too solid :lol:. Everyone who's ever eaten it goes nuts for it!! So glad you had my blog this month...great job!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Wendy - it was a pleasure! I think you are right about the alcohol - I even added a bit more than in your (and Nigella's) recipe, and forgetting half the cream didn't exactly help *LOL*'
      I will be making the salad again, that's for sure :-)

      Slet
  9. Heidi...what an absolutely gorgeous salad and a fabulous ice cream for dessert! : )

    SvarSlet
  10. Oh, I love Wendy's blog...and I know you've done her proud with these two marvelous recipes! I really need to make that salad...mmmmmm. Great SRC post :)

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thank you Lizzy - you are right, you NEED to make that salad :-)

      Slet
  11. Wow! you were busy! Great choices...so fresh and delicious!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Amy - it was indeed fresh (especially the ice cream *cough*)

      Slet
  12. Heidi, I think you must be an overachiever. Thanks for the tip on not letting the pomegranate juice reduce to far, I surely would have made that mistake! I see that Wendy already mentioned that the alcohol doesn't freeze well. I guess you ended up with more of a margarita shake! Sounds good to me ;)

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Rhonda - overachiever, I think not - just didn't want to make only one of the easiest recipes on Wendy's blog and leave it at that. I think we owe that much to each other :-)

      Slet
  13. Mmmmmm Awesomely fantastic!

    SvarSlet
  14. 2 great recipes! I am going to get busy and make both! They look fantastic!!

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thank you Teri - I hope you will be a little more lucky with the ice cream :-)

      Slet
  15. Stumbled onto your blog via the blog hop and just wanted to show you some blog luv! def enjoyed this post :) new follower!

    http://infinitelifefitness.com
    http://mscomposure.blogspot.com

    SvarSlet
  16. Such a perfect salad and dessert too!

    If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my Group 'A' SRC entry: Broiled Sushi.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thanks Lisa - it was delicious :-)

      Slet
  17. Awesome choice for SRC. I LOVE margaritas so I seriously can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing. :)

    SvarSlet
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    1. Thank you E.K.R. - I bet that you will have more than enough of the margarita taste in this ice cream :-)

      Slet