Sherried Walnuts Recipes

SHERRIED ORANGE WALNUTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Place the brown sugar, white sugar, salt, sherry, orange zest, and orange extract into a heavy saucepan, and stir until well combined. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Stir in the butter. Remove from heat, and stir in the walnut halves to coat with syrup.
• Spread the candied walnut halves out onto the prepared baking sheet, and allow to cool thoroughly, at least 1 hour. Break into bite-size chunks to serve.

SHERRIED WALNUT MUSHROOM PATé

Steps:

• Microwave shallots and butter in 1-quart casserole on high for 2 minutes.
• Add flour; stir to make smooth paste.
• Stir in all remaining ingredients except walnuts and chives.
• Microwave on high, uncovered, 5-6 minutes, until mushrooms become shiny and limp.
• Fold in walnuts and chives.
• Pack into crock or bowl and chill.
• Serve pate with crackers, sliced baguette, or thin slices of raw pear or apple.

SHERRIED WALNUTS AND CASHEWS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250°F. Line 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil. In large skillet, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, sherry, corn syrup and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in walnuts and cashews; cook and stir 4 to 7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Spread nuts in foil-lined pan.
• Bake at 250°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until glazed. Cool completely on foil. Store tightly covered.

SHERRIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. Combine first 5 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Cook without stirring until clip-on candy thermometer registers 240°F., about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add nuts and stir until syrup begins to look cloudy, about 2 minutes. Divide mixture between cookie sheets. Working quickly, separate nuts with fork. Cool. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

DUCK WITH WALNUT SHERRY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Put a 13- by 9-inch shallow flameproof roasting pan (not glass) in middle of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pat duck dry and trim off any excess fat. Score duck skin in a crosshatch pattern at 1/2-inch intervals with a sharp knife, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place duck, skin sides down, in roasting pan and roast until thermometer inserted diagonally into center registers 135°F, 25 to 30 minutes for medium-rare.
• Preheat broiler. Turn duck over and broil (skin sides up) 6 inches from heat until fat is golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to at least 145°F.)
• While duck stands, pour off all but 2 teaspoons fat from pan, then add shallots and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Add vinegar, along with remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl, then whisk in oil until combined. Stir in walnuts.
• Thinly slice duck and serve with vinaigrette drizzled around plates.