DUCK EGG SALAD WITH BACON AND ROASTED BEETS

My husband picked up a dozen duck eggs for a dinner party, for the duck egg creme brûlée I planned to make for dessert, and two duck balut while he was at the Asian Market.
We had become intrigued by duck balut since talking with a friend who remembers her father eating the snack, and reading a book that introduced us to the popular Philippino street food. Although we still haven't been able to bring ourselves to cook and eat the fertilized and developing embryo, the man at the store where my husband purchased the balut, said he sells at least a dozen of them a week.
However, it took no act of bravery at all to use some of the duck eggs in this delicious, quick salad. I loved how all the components came together to form a delectable, absolutely wonderful meal.

DUCK EGG SALAD WITH BACON AND ROASTED BEETS

MAPLE DIJON DRESSING
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoon olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
SALAD
2 beets, tops removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 strips bacon
salad greens
1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces
4 duck eggs

MAKE DRESSING
Whisk together mustard, maple syrup and apple cider vinegar. Continue whisking while drizzling in 4 tablespoons olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
ROAST BEETS
Heat oven to 350F.
Wash beets and place on a sheet of aluminum foil. Drizzle beets with olive oil and fold foil up and around beets to make a sealed package. Roast for 45 minutes, or until beets are completely tender all the way through when pierced with a skewer.
Let beets sit until cool enough to handle, then peel. Cut beets into wedges.
PREPARE BACON
Stack bacon and cut cross-wise into strips about 1/2 inch wide. Gently separate the pieces and place in a heavy pan set over medium heat. Cook the bacon until brown and crispy, stirring frequently. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and allow to drain.
ASSEMBLE SALAD
Just before serving, toss together diced beets, bacon, salad greens and walnut pieces. Add enough dressing to lightly coat all the salad ingredients and divide salads equally between four plates. Divide the beets, bacon and walnuts evenly as well.
FRY THE DUCK EGGS
Heat pan over high heat, add enough cooking spray, butter or olive oil, to coat the bottom of the pan. Fry the duck eggs until the whites are very crispy and the bottom of the yolk is just starting to firm up. Flip the eggs and cook briefly on the other side.
Top each salad with a fried duck egg, sprinkle each duck egg lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from PCC Natural Markets
www.pccnaturalmarkets.com › Cook › Recipes‎

ROASTED ONIONS AND BUTTERED BEETS WITH BLUE CHEESE

I was putting together a basket for a fundraiser, and on a whim, contacted a local liquor store for a wine to complement the pizza theme. I was given several to choose from, and unable to choose just one, I decided to take them all home to try.
We had pizza delivered for dinner that very night, and I roasted onions and buttered beets to accompany the pies, and one of the exciting red wines.

ROASTED ONIONS AND BUTTERED BEETS WITH BLUE CHEESE

1 onion, unpeeled, root and top trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
1 beet
2 ounces of blue cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
balsamic glaze

Heat oven to 400F.
Coat the onion with 1 teaspoon olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Wrap the beet in foil. Place on the baking sheet with the onion and roast until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes. Let the beet cool in the foil. Let the onion cool slightly, then halve lengthwise and discard the dried outer layers. Peel the beet and chop into 1/4 inch pieces.
Heat the broiler. Spread open the onion layers slightly and return to the baking sheet. Drizzle each onion half with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, season and broil until the edges darken, about 3 minutes. Divide between 2 plates. Sprinkle with the blue cheese.
In a saucepan, bring the beet and 1/4 cup water to a simmer, season with salt and pepper. Add the butter, cook, swirling, until the sauce is thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Spoon the beet over the onion. Top with the walnuts, green onions and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine, January/February 2013
www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/‎

ROASTED BEETS WITH HAZELNUT VINAIGRETTE AND BURRATA and SPINACH SALAD WITH BEETS, QUINOA AND GOAT CHEESE and ROASTED BEETS AND CELERY ROOT WITH GOAT BUTTER

I LOVE beets! They are one of those ingredients that draws me in, and influences me to try a recipe.
I grew up only knowing pickled beetroot, which we would put on a burger or sandwich, so my discovery of fresh beets during the past few years has been a delicious and beautiful revelation.

ROASTED BEETS WITH HAZELNUT VINAIGRETTE AND BURRATA

VINAIGRETTE
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced shallot
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
6 tablespoons hazelnut oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
SALAD
2 pounds beets, tops trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 8-ounce rounds of burrata, sliced
5 to 6 basil leaves, cut into ribbons
1/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts

VINAIGRETTE
Combine vinegar, lemon juice and shallot in a small bowl. Stir in mustard. Gradually whisk in oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
SALAD
Heat oven to 375F.
Toss beets with oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking dish, cover tightly with foil and roast beets until tender, about 40 minutes. Uncover, let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Peel beets, then quarter them.
Toss beets with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in a medium bowl. Arrange burrata on a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper.
Top burrata with beets, drizzle remaining vinaigrette from bowl over the top. Garnish with basil and hazelnuts.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from bon appetit
www.bonappetit.com/.../roasted-beets-with-hazelnut-vinaigrette-and-burr...‎

SPINACH SALAD WITH BEETS, QUINOA AND GOAT CHEESE

1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 shallot, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
5 ounces of spinach
3/4 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
2 cooked beets, peeled and cut into wedges
3 ounces goat cheese
1/2 cup walnuts

In a bowl, whisk the lemon zest and juice, shallot and olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss the remaining ingredients with the dressing.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine, January/February 2014
www.rachaelray.com/‎

ROASTED BEETS AND CELERY ROOT WITH GOAT BUTTER

1 1/4 pounds golden beets, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons goat butter
1 pound celery root, peeled and cut into batons
2 thyme sprigs
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup chicken stock

Heat oven to 350F.
In a baking dish, toss the beets with the oil. Cover with foil and roast for about 1 hour, until the beets are tender when pierced. Let cool slightly, then peel the beets and cut them into small wedges.
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the goat butter. Add the celery root and thyme sprigs and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of the stock and simmer over moderate heat until nearly evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining stock, 1/4 cup at a time, and cook until the celery root is tender, 8 to 10 minutes total.
Stir in the beets and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs. Swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon of goat butter and season with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Food and Wine Magazine, January 2011
www.foodandwine.com/‎