Candy Corn Cheese Tower Recipes

CANDY CORN CHEESE TOWER

Steps:

• Place 2 blocks of the yellow cheese side by side on a cheese board. Press them together so they touch. Stack the remaining 2 blocks of yellow cheese on top of them. Stack the blocks of white cheese on top of the yellow in the same way. If desired, insert 2 skewers down through the top of the blocks to hold them together.
• Using a sharp knife, carve away the sides of the cheese blocks to resemble the bottom two-thirds of a piece of candy corn. (You will add the white tip at the end using the goat cheese.) Reserve the cheese scraps for another use, such as queso sauce or grilled cheese sandwiches. After carving, remove the skewers from the tower if using.
• Using your hands, mold the goat cheese into the tip of the candy corn and add it to the cheese stack. Shape it to a point using a butter knife or offset spatula. Whisk together the red wine and paprika in a small bowl and paint it onto the white Cheddar cheese portion with a pastry brush. Serve with an array of crackers.

CORN CHEESE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
• Heat the canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the corn and cook, stirring, until the corn is softened and browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Toss the corn mixture in a large bowl with the mayonnaise, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper until well coated. Layer the corn mixture evenly back in the skillet. Sprinkle the cheese on top and broil until the mozzarella is bubbly and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with gochugaru and sliced scallions if using.

CANDY CORN SUCKERS

Steps:

• If you have lollipop collar molds, lay them on a silicone baking mat-lined sheet pan, fit them with sticks, and place 1 piece of candy corn in each collar. Or, just lay out the sticks in rows on a silpat mat, leaving 3 inches of space between them and place a piece of candy corn above the stick.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a clean, dry small saucepan (preferably 1 with a pouring spout) fitted with a candy thermometer, and bring to a boil over high heat. Without stirring, cook until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F or "hard crack" stage on the candy thermometer. (While the syrup is cooking, occasionally wash down the sides of the pan with a clean brush dipped in water, to prevent crystallization.)
• When the mixture is done, remove the pot from the heat and dip it into an ice bath for 15 seconds to stop the cooking. Add the extract and food coloring and stir very gently with a wooden skewer so that the color is evenly distributed. (To avoid air bubbles in the finished lollipops, stir the mixture gently in both directions, but be careful not to over mix.)
• Pour or carefully spoon the syrup into the molds or just over the sticks and candy corns, if not using collars, to make a quarter-sized disk. Cool until hard, at least 20 minutes.
• Lift the suckers off the mat and remove from the molds. Slip plastic bags over the lollipops and gather the bag shut with a plastic spider finger ring. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

FLATBREAD WITH FRESH FIGS, MONTEREY JACK, BLUE CHEESE AND RED WINE REDUCED VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Combine the wine, fennel seeds, peppercorns and thyme in a wide shallow saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Strain the mixture into a blender and discard the solids.
• Add the vinegar and salt to taste and blend to combine. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified; add the honey to taste.
• For the dough: Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups flour and the salt, stirring until smooth. Stir in an additional 2 cups flour. Continue adding the flour (up to 1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until the dough comes away from the bowl but is still sticky.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with lightly floured hands. Start by slapping the dough onto the counter, pulling it toward you with one hand and pushing it away from you with the other. Fold the dough back over itself (use a bench scraper or a wide knife to help scrape the dough from the surface). Repeat until it's easier to handle, about 10 times. Finish kneading normally until the dough is smooth, elastic and soft, but a little tacky, about 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, 3 hours. Press it with your finger to see if it's done; an indent should remain.
• Prepare the charcoal in a chimney starter (allowing the charcoal to burn until all the charcoal is covered with a thin layer of gray ash). Add to the grill and create a two-level fire by spreading the coals out over half the grill bottom, piling them up in a mound 3 briquettes high, leaving the other half with no coals.
• Remove the dough from the bowl, divide in half and shape each half into a ball. Brush with oil and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Stretch and shape each ball of dough into a 12 by 10-inch rectangle or round on a flat surface. Brush the tops of each with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let rest for 15 minutes. Place on the grill directly over the coals, oiled side down, and grill until lightly golden brown, about 1 minute. Flip over and grill for 1 minute longer.
• Place the flatbreads on a flat surface and divide the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top. Arrange the cut figs on top and the blue cheese around the figs. Return to the grill on the opposite side of the coals, for indirect heat, close the cover and cook until the cheese has melted and the figs are heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and drizzle with some of the red wine vinaigrette and garnish with parsley leaves. Cut and serve immediately.

PORTOBELLO STEAK AND SCALLION POTATO TOWER

Steps:

• Toss portobello mushrooms in olive oil for grilling and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Apply to heat source gill side down until they sweat, about 2 minutes. Turn over and finish cooking. Remove from grill and toss in 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar to marinate. Do not cover: mushrooms will absorb flavor as they cool.
• Cook potatoes in cold, salted water. Bring up to a boil and simmer until tender. Strain and add to a mixing bowl. Mash by hand with 3 to 4 tablespoons of butter.
• Bring 1 cup heavy cream to a boil and slowly stir into mashed potatoes until smooth . Use as only as much of the heavy cream as you need. Add scallions, garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• In a small saucepan reduce 2 cups balsamic vinegar over low heat until syrupy in consistency. Reserve warm for sauce.
• Brush ears of corn with olive oil and add salt and pepper. Grill approximately 4 to 5 minutes, rotating corn to prevent burning. When cool enough to handle remove kernels with knife and reserve for garnish.
• On a plate lay a small amount of mesclun in center for underliner, place first portobello down and apply small amount of mashed potatoes as second layer. Repeat until third portobello is top layer, with two layers of mashed potatoes in between. Garnish around plate with roasted corn and chive sticks and red onion. Do not overcrowd plates. Using a spoon drizzle balsamic reduction on top of tower and around plate.