Vegetarian

Figs for Syrah

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  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbsp. minced shallot
  • 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • ¼ lb Maytag blue cheese, crumbled
  • 12 figs
  • 24 walnut halves

Melt butter in small frying pan. Add shallot and thyme; sauté until softened, stirring frequently to mix flavors. Remove from heat and stir in honey. Trim figs and halve lengthwise. Preheat broiler. Put ½ tsp Maytag blue on each fig half and top with a walnut piece. Spoon shallot mixture over figs and put under broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching for cheese to melt and topping to crisp golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Syrah

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Cooper-Garrod Cheese Brick

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  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 11 oz. Chevre
  • 12 oz whipped creme cheese
  • 1 Tbs chives, chopped
  • 1 Tbs parsley, chopped
  • 1 Tbs basil, chopped
  • 9 slices Provolone

Line loaf pan with enough plastic wrap to overhang the long sides. Cut 3 slices Provolone in half and place along sides of the pan. Place two slices of Provolone in pan bottom. Mix other cheeses, pine nuts, and herbs until well blended. Spread 1/2 of mix in bottom of pan. Place two slices of Provolone on top of mix. Spread 1/2 of mix in pan. Place 2 slices of Provolone on top. Trim edges extending above cheese loaf and cover with plastic wrap overhand. Refrigerate until firm. To serve, invert molded cheese onto serving tray. Enjoy!

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod wines

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Sauce Framboises

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  • 3 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/ 4 cup crème de framboises (raspberry liqueur)
  • 3/ 4 cup Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Franc
  • 12-16 oz. raspberries (can use frozen in off-season)
  • 1/ 4 teaspoon almond extract
  • toasted sliced almonds and fresh raspberries for garnish

In a 2-quart saucepan, stir sugar and cornstarch together until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in crème de framboises and Cabernet Franc. Add raspberries and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Serve warm over ice cream, cake, even select fruits, sprinkling with toasted sliced almonds and garnishing with fresh raspberries.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Franc

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Reine de Saba

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Serves 8

  • 5 oz. fine quality baking chocolate, semi-sweet
  • 2/3 c. butter
  • 2/3 c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2/ 3 c. ground almonds
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 drop almond extract
  • 1/3 c. flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8″ round cake pan, and line bottom with a piece of parchment, trimmed to fit atop the buttered surface. Melt the chocolate in a water bath. Add butter and sugar; whisk smooth. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and whisk in the eggs, ground almonds, and flavorings. Fold in the flour. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in a water bath for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. To serve, turn out onto a doily and sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar. Lovely accompanied with raspberries and whipped cream, or even Creme Anglaise!

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Test Pilot, F-86 Sabre Jet

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Minted Grapefruit

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Serves 2 per grapefruit

  • 1 pink grapefruit per person
  • 1 T. sugar per grapefruit
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint per grapefruit
  • About 1/4 c. Chardonnay per grapefruit

Carefully remove the peel, membranes, and seeds from the fruit. Leaving the pith and memo branes imparts a bitter flavor, so take the time for this tedious prep work. You can speed it up by using a knife for crisp presentation of the fruit. Place the sections in a non-reactive bowl, sprinkling with the sugar and 1 sprig of mint per grapefruit. Pour Chardonnay onto the top of the fruit. Cover and refrigerate overnight. To serve, remove the marinated mint from the fruit; arrange sections in individual serving bowls, and garnish with a sprig of mint. French vanilla ice cream is a nice accompaniment.

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Herbed Mushrooms

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Serves 2 as a side dish, 4 as garnishment

  • 8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/4 cup Cabernet Sauvignon

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and stir to coat lightly but thoroughly. The skillet may seem quite full, but mushrooms “shrink” as they cook! Add spices and continue to stir frequently as mushrooms brown. Add wine in last 5 minutes of cooking, continuing to stir until liquid is evaporated.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Sauvignon

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Happy Holidays Chocolate Bark

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  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup unsalted pistachio meats, chopped
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate-infused Craisins®, chopped

Use the best quality chocolate chips available and combine in a 4-cup glass bowl. Microwave on half power one minute; stir. Microwave another minute on half power; stir to smooth. (May need another half minute.) Line a sheet-cake pan with parchment and spread melted chocolate mixture evenly. Sprinkle with prepared nuts and fruit. Cover with wax paper and press toppings lightly into chocolate; discard wax paper. Chill about 20 minutes, or until firm enough to break into bark pieces.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Sauvignon

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Pecan-Onion Swirls

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  • 1 sheet prepared puff pastry, thawed (Pepperidge Farms works well)
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. onions, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • ¼ c. finely chopped pecans
  • 3 tsp. dried thyme leaves
  • Flour for dusting

Set out frozen pastry to thaw. In a large, heavy saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, stir to mix with oil, and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently as onions caramelize in color. When golden, remove from heat and drizzle with honey. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured pastry board, unfold puff pastry. Cut the two fold lines, creating 3 sections of dough. Lightly roll each section to about ¼ inch thickness. Spread 1/3 of onion mixture along each strip, leaving ½” on one of the longer sides ungarnished. Sprinkle each strip with 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. chopped pecans, topping with 1 tsp. thyme. Moisten the ½” ungarnished dough and roll up from the opposite side, sealing the edge over the roll. Place on a tray in the freezer for 10 minutes before slicing into 3/8” rounds. Place the rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets; bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temp.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Viognier

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Baked Camembert with Macerated Strawberries

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  • 8 oz. wheel Camembert
  • 1 c. sliced strawberries
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped pistachios

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir together strawberries, sugar, and balsamic vinegar; set aside. Place Camembert in a baking dish with sides and some extra space; bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven; spoon strawberries over hot cheese and drizzle with some of the remaining marinade. Sprinkle pistachios over the top. Serve warm with water crackers.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Test Pilot F-7U Cutlass

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