Spiced Apple Cider Soup With Sweet Potato Dumplings Quince And Dates Recipes

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat add the butter and olive oil. Add the celery, onion, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, then stir while cooking until the onions and celery are tender. Add the garlic, cinnamon, allspice, and cumin. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and apples stirring to coat them with the contents of the pot. Add the vegetable stock and apple cider and then cover. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender.
• In batches, carefully puree the contents of the pot in a blender or use an immersion blender. Taste and season with salt. Serve warm or chilled.
• When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, lemon zest and nutmeg. Insert a clove into each apple slice; add to cider., Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 minute. Discard lemon zest strip. Ladle into mugs.

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion in the melted butter until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add butternut squash, potatoes, apple, carrot, and celery to onion; pour in chicken broth and enough apple cider to cover vegetables. Bring mixture to a boil and cover pot. Reduce heat and simmer, adding more apple cider as needed, until vegetables are tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Blend vegetable mixture with an immersion blender until smooth; stir in cream, cinnamon, and cloves. Simmer until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon soup into serving bowls; top each with about 1 tablespoon sour cream and a pinch of nutmeg.

Steps:

• Prepare the Spiced Apple Cider: In a large pot, combine apple cider, apples, ginger, peppercorns, mace, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise. Bring to a simmer; cook until apples break down, about 2 hours. Allow to cool overnight; pour through a strainer lined with cheesecloth.
• Prepare the Sweet Potato Puree: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Wrap sweet potatoes in parchment-lined aluminum foil, and place over a bed of salt on a baking sheet; bake until soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Allow to cool.
• Using a spoon, remove flesh into a bowl, and stir in 2 teaspoons of salt. Pass through a food mill, fitted with a fine disc, into a medium bowl. You'll need 1 cup of puree for the dumplings.
• Form a well in center of puree. Add flour, egg, and sugar; mix until incorporated. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip; set aside.
• Prepare the Poached Quince: In a medium saucepan, combine 6 cups water, sugar, star anise, and vanilla bean. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to a simmer. Add quince, and cover with a parchment paper round; weight with a small heatproof plate to keep the quince submerged. Poach until tender, testing with a knife, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
• When completely cooled, remove quince, and cut in half lengthwise. Discard poaching liquid. Remove core, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
• Prepare the Fried Pine Nuts: Heat grapeseed oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat; add pine nuts, and toss continuously until browned. Add sugar and salt, tossing to coat. Drain on a paper towel. Allow to cool.
• Just before serving, reheat Spiced Apple Cider. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; squeeze 1/2-inch long tubes of sweet potato mixture into water. Poach for 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, divide quince and dates among six warmed serving bowls. Place a dollop of whipped cream on one side of each bowl. Using a slotted spoon, remove poached dumplings and place over fruit; ladle warm cider into bowl opposite the cream. Serve immediately.