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No bitter taste here…
In the Cook-Off Mystery series, cooking competitor Sherry Oliveri has attained local celebrity status in her home state of Connecticut after winning the America’s Good Taste Recipe Contest. Based off author Devon Delaney’s personal experience as a cooking contester, these recipes are designed with winning flavor in mind!
Warm Ruby Roots Forbidden Rice Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1⁄2 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons prepared grated horseradish
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 2 beets, cooked to tender, peeled cut in 1⁄2 inch cubes
- 2 scallions, diced
- 2 radishes, sliced thin
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 cups packed baby lettuce greens
- 2 cups cooked black rice (also known as Forbidden rice), kept warm
- 1⁄4 cup fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 1⁄4 cup pistachios, toasted
Prepare dressing in a small bowl by whisking together the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, horseradish, and sea salt.
In a medium bowl, gently combine the beets, scallions, radishes, cranberries, and 2 tablespoons prepared dressing.
Assemble salad by placing lettuce greens in a salad bowl. Toss lettuce leaves with 2 tablespoons dressing. Spoon warm rice across greens. Add the beet blend, sprinkle the goat cheese and pistachios on top. Drizzle with dressing and serve with extra dressing on the side.
Nutmeg State Cheddar Apple Baked French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup plus
- 1 tablespoon, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup McIntosh apples, peeled, diced
- 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
- 1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, 3 tablespoons syrup, vanilla extract, and salt.
In a medium bowl, combine apples, cheddar cheese, and ginger.
Use 2 tablespoons butter to grease a 9×9 inch baking dish. Soak 4 slices bread in egg mixture. Fit soaked bread slices across bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle apple-cheddar mixture across baking dish. Soak remaining bread slices in egg mixture and fit on top of apple blend. Pour any remaining egg blend into baking dish.
Bake covered for 40 minutes or until puffed and browned. Sprinkle nuts and remaining maple syrup across baking dish. Turn off oven and let dish sit in oven for 3 more minutes. Remove from the oven, slice, and serve.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Devon Delaney is a wife, mother of three, accomplished cooking contester, recent empty nester, and lifelong resident of the Northeast. She has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years, including a full kitchen of major appliances, top cash prizes, and four trips to Disney World. She has also won the Grand Prize in a national writing contest for her “foodie” poem “Ode to Pork Passion.” Visit her at her website.
