Recipe Archive

Enjoy these seasonal recipes from Kay & Clay's recipe collection...

Summer Recipes

Cherry Blue Cheese Salad

¾ cups thinly sliced mild red onion
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Quarts bite-size pieces mixed salad greens or mesclun, rinsed and crisped
1 Quart bite-size pieces radicchio, rinsed and crisped
1 lb. dark, sweet cherries such as Bing, pitted
Merlot dressing (recipe follows)
¾ cup (1/4 lb.) packed blue cheese, coarsely crumbled
Salt & pepper

In a small bowl, combine onion with 2 cups water and lemon juice; chill 15-20 minutes. Drain well.

In a large bowl, combine onion, salad greens, radicchio, cherries, and dressing; mix lightly. Sprinkle salad with cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cherry-Marinated Game Hens

Ripe, sweet cherries crushed to make 4 cups volume
4 cups white wine vinegar
4 game hens, skinned
Acid-proof container with snap on lid (glass or plastic)

Pick, wash and mash cherries with hands or a potato masher. (Pitting the cherries is unnecessary). Measure the cherry mash and mix with an equal volume of white wine vinegar. Pour mixture into a non-reactive container with enough room for hens.

Pull skin from game hens. (Note: this is easiest when they are about halfway thawed). Rinse, drain and place hens in the cherry mixture. Cover (snap-on lid is best, as you can invert it to mix while marinating). Place container in refrigerator and marinate overnight. Turn hens at least once during the marinating time.

Grill over hot coals until poultry thermometer shows done. Clay spreads small grapewood prunings over the coals for a little smoke.

This dish is delicious with Chinook’s Merlot or Cabernet Franc Rosé- A great way for non-red-meat eaters to enjoy a rich tasting meal with reds.

Merlot Cherries

2 cups Chinook Merlot
1 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Peel of 1 medium lemon
Juice of ½ medium lemon
2 Tbsp. brandy or cognac
2 lbs. red cherries, pitted

Combine all ingredients except the cherries in a small saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes. Cool.

Macerate cherries for ½ hour to 2 hours in the cooled syrup, turning several times. Serve with a dab of whipped cream or crème fraiche. Also delicious over vanilla ice cream!

Merlot Dressing

Whisk together 3 Tbsp. each Chinook Merlot, fruity extra-virgin olive oil, and raspberry vinegar, and 1 ½ tsp. each honey and Dijon mustard.

Pickled Ginger Meringues

Peter Birk, executive chef at Ray's Boathouse in Seattle made these to pair with our 2007 Semillon He served them topped with a piece of orange; any perfectly ripened summer fruit (nectarine?) would do.

makes about 36 bite-sized cookies

Volume Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

2 each whites from large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 t pickled ginger juice

1/4 cup pickled ginger, minced

2 T granulated sugar

Preheat Oven to 300ºF

Prepare a half-sheet pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone.

Sift together 1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar and flour. Set aside until needed.

In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites, pickled ginger juice and granulated sugar. Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a wide rubber spatula, fold in the sifted flour and confectioner's sugar.

Add the minced pickled ginger and continue folding until the flour and sugar are thoroughly absorbed and the meringue is smooth and glossy. When tilting the bowl, the meringue should move sluggishly.

Place the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a round pastry tip (about 1/4- to 1/2-inch opening). With the pastry tip perpendicular to the sheet pan, pipe 3/4-inch rounds spaced about 1 inch apart.

Bake 300ºF for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn light brown.

Let the cookies cool for at least 15 minutes before removing from the sheet pan. The cookies
will be fragile while warm but will crisp as they cool.

Fall Recipes

Alice’s Gingerbread with Sauteed Apples

Kay’s sister, Alice Gabriel, makes this gingerbread during harvest season up until the winter holidays.

1 ½ cups boiling water
1 cup mild molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick butter (¼ lb.), softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons powdered ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
pinch ground cloves
2 ½ cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder

Butter the bottom and sides of a 9” x 13” pan. (Note: One can make ⅔ of this recipe, using a whole egg, and bake it in an 8" round cake pan. Alice likes wedges rather than squares.)

Boil water in a small pot, remove from heat, stir in molasses and soda. (Note: this will be very foamy). Set aside to cool.

Cream butter and sugar with a paddle attachment (e.g. Kitchenaid mixer) on medium high for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Continuing to mix, add eggs.

Sift salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, flour and baking powder. Alternately fold the dry ingredients and cooled molasses mixture into the butter mixture on low speed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Don't over (or under) bake this! When it is cool, cut it into wedges (if you use a round pan) or 2" by 3" rectangles. Spoon apples over top and around the edges.
(Recipe for warm, sautéed apples follows). Alice likes to garnish the gingerbread with loosely whipped, slightly sweetened cream (add a little vanilla) and minced candied ginger. A light caramel sauce is really good drizzled over or around it, too.

Warm, sautéed apples to accompany gingerbread:
7 medium firm, juicy Yakima Valley apples, such as Jonagold or Golden Delicious
peeled, cored, sliced ¼ inch thick
2 Tbsp. butter
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp. Calvados
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
pinch salt

Melt butter in a saute pan, add all & cook until soft but not mushy.

Harvest Lamb Stew

Crush in the Yakima Valley stretches well into the cold days of fall. After a long day working in this weather, a hearty warming stew is just the ticket. Quick and easy to serve around a communal table, this stew warms from within and prepares us for another session outside.

1 lb. lamb (preferably loin), cut into ½ to ¾ inch cubes
2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 cups beef broth (preferably homemade; or Pacific Foods makes a nice alternative)
1 cup Chinook Yakima Valley Red
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried marjoram, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp. butter
1 ½ cups sliced carrots
1 ½ cups celery cut into ½ inch slices
½ - ¾ cups onion, chopped finely
2 cups peeled potatoes cut into ½ cubes
½ lb. chanterelle mushrooms, brushed and quartered
½ cup sour cream
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour (you may substitute a GF blend of 1 ½ T Tapioca Starch and 1 ½ T Potato Starch and a pinch of Xanthan Gum)
2 Tbsp. Marsala or Dry Amontillado Sherry

Dried thyme (optional)
Half & half (optional)

In a large saucepan brown meat 1/3-1/2 lb. at a time in the hot oil, so as to brown, but not steam the lamb. Drain fat; return all meat to pan. Add beef broth, wine, garlic, marjoram, bay leaf, pinch of sea salt and a pinch of cracked black pepper.

Bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer. Cover for 20 minutes or until almost tender. Add butter to sauté pan over medium-low heat.* Once melted, add carrots, celery and onion (mirepoix) and stir often. When the mirepoix is ready (about the same time as the initial stew simmer) stir it into the stew base along with the mushrooms and potatoes. Return to a low boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until tender.

Discard bay leaf. Whisk sour cream and flour. Whisk ½ cup of the hot stew base into the sour cream mixture. Return to pan; cook and stir until bubbly. Add salt, crushed thyme and up to 2 T. Marsala or Amontillado Sherry to taste, and half & half to adjust the creaminess. Cook and stir 1 minute.

* The goal of mirepoix is to meld the flavors of the three ingredients, thus your heat is essential. Too cool and you’ll just poach the vegetables; too hot and you’ll caramelize them. A heavier pan can help moderate the temperature.

Makes 4 main dish serving. Pairs well with Chinook’s Cabernet Franc and a loaf of crusty, fresh-baked bread.

Semolina Bread

This loaf was inspired during our 1996 visit to New York City to present our wines at the James Beard House. When the chef's crew was starving, (while preparing an awesome dinner for 90!) we found a perfect semolina loaf at a nearby deli which we have been trying to recreate since. This one is different from the original, but good & easy to make.

Proof for approximately 5 minutes:
2 cups warm water
2 rounded Tablespoons Red Star active dried yeast
1 Tbsp. white sugar
1 heaping Tbsp. molasses

Add:
2 Tbsp. light olive oil
1 tsp. Salt
2 whole eggs
2 heaping cups durum flour
Unbleached white wheat flour until a soft dough is formed; use dough hook attachment

When dough is still slightly sticky, turn out on countertop & knead more flour into the dough until it is smooth & still soft. Put into large bowl with 1 Tbsp. olive oil in bottom & invert dough.

Let rise at room temperature until doubled. Turn out gently onto flat surface. Divide dough into thirds. Gently form dough into balls, by turning under outer edges. Wipe each ball with water & sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut an “X” in the top of the ball & place on a baking sheet liberally sprinkled with 3 circles of semolina ‘pasta’ flour. Place balls of dough as far apart as possible. Let rise briefly – about 5-10 minutes. Place baking sheet into oven with a baking brick on the bottom. Turn oven on to 400°F and bake for 34 minutes. To brown evenly, turn oven off; turn pan around in oven & bake additional 4-5 minutes.

*Bread does its second rising while oven is preheating – do not preheat oven!

Winter Recipes

Cocoa Meringue Cookies

Double recipe for Red Wine & Chocolate weekend, 2013
This recipe makes approximately 50 bite-sized cookies

5 eggwhites
dash of salt
Whisk eggwhites with a dash of salt until stiff (use Kitchenaid mixer with whisk attachment)

1 cup granulated sugar
4 heaping Tablespoons organic cocoa powder
Sift sugar & cocoa together into a bowl. With mixer running, add sugar/cocoa mixture by the spoonful, until all is incorporated.

1 tsp. white or rice vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups of finely chopped walnuts
Slowly fold vinegar, vanilla and chopped walnuts into meringue mixture.

Liberally grease cookie sheets with canola oil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Transfer meringue mixture in small mounds onto cookie sheet. Two spoons work well for this.
Bake meringues for 9 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies in oven for 9 more minutes.
Transfer to rack to cool completely. If not serving the same day, store cookies in a closed tin.
(Best the same day baked).

JC's Mediterranean Fish Stew

Our friend, Jim Cross pays homage to the year’s shortest day… and more importantly a return to the light! His Solstice Party is legendary, including the recitation of poetry and a convivial gathering over bowls of this delicious stew.

Prepare in a large pot (10-14 quart size) over medium to low heat. Ingredients are listed in order of cooking sequence. Following this order will ensure all ingredients are cooked to perfection!

Sauté:

Bacon- 12 oz. chopped & browned, pour off excess fat

Butter & Olive Oil- ¾ cup total heated with drained bacon

Onion- 2 cups chopped fine, sautéed

Garlic- 1 head chopped fine, sautéed

Simmer: Adjust heat to keep mixture at a simmer & add:
Leeks- 2 stalks chopped

Green Pepper- 1 chopped

Green Onions- 4 stalks chopped

Carrots- 2 medium chopped

Celery- 3 stalks chopped

Parsley (flat leaf) - ½ cup chopped

Potatoes- 3 cups diced (½ inch)

Tomatoes- 3 14 oz. cans crushed

Tomato Paste- 1 small can

Clam Juice- 3 cups (fish stock can be substituted)

Spices- salt, pepper, fresh thyme, pinch saffron, & Tabasco or red pepper flakes (all to taste)

White Wine- 2 cups

Simmer all of the above ingredients for 40-60 minutes; May thin as required with water, fish stock or clam juice.

Add Seafood:

Fish- 2-3 pounds mixed white fish (Cod, Halibut, Haddock, Hake), chopped in 2 inch squares, quick steamed and added

Clams- 2 dozen, de-sanded, scrubbed, quick steamed and added (or 24 oz canned)

Calamari- ½ pound cut or sliced

Scallops- ¾ to 1 pound

Raw Shrimp- shelled, de-veined with tails on

(Optional seafood choices- Oysters, Lobsters, Crab and Langostinos)

After all of the fish & shellfish are added wait just a few minutes and serve. At this point the stew does not have to boil. If you have added fresh oysters without pre-steaming, they will take about five minutes but everything else should be done.

Serves 12- Garnish with fresh minced parsley.

Marinated Brussels Sprouts

Not everyone is fond of these “little cabbages” but this recipe, served as a salad at room temperature can make anyone a fan. We like it for Thanksgiving, Christmas or a winter picnic (indoors!)

1¼ pounds Brussels sprouts

¼ cup olive oil

2 teaspoons chervil, minced

1 or 2 garlic cloves, chopped

pinch of sugar

1 tsp. tarragon, minced

salt & pepper to taste

1-2 tsp. grated lemon zest

3 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

Wash and trim Brussels sprouts, cut an “X” in the stem end. Cook in a large quantity of boiling water until just tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain and refill pan with cold water. When cooled, drain well. Cut each in half lengthwise.

In a bowl, combine oil, chervil, garlic, sugar, salt, tarragon, pepper & lemon zest. Put sprouts in bowl and toss all until well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight; stir several times. To serve, drizzle the lemon juice & vinegar over them and mix well.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Walnut & Tangerine Biscotti

Nothing smells better than baked goods around the holiday season. We grow our own fresh walnuts at Chinook, and we share them with our friends as delicious Biscotti.

¾ cup walnuts, toasted & chopped*

8 Tbsp. Tillamook butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Tbsp. Cognac, your favorite brand

Zest from the rind of one tangerine or satsuma

2 cups plus 2-4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

*Toast the walnuts in a baking pan for 10 minutes, till fragrant. Let cool and chop coarsely.

Cream the butter w/ sugar in a large bowl. Beat eggs and mix at high speed until fluffy. Turn off mixer and add vanilla, cognac, baking powder, salt & zest to egg-butter mixture. Stir in 1 cup of flour, then add chopped nuts & then the remainder of the flour. Stir just until combined. (We use a Kitchenaid mixer with paddle attachment; use a large spatula to transfer dough to a flat bowl; cover with saran & refrigerate 4 hrs. or overnight).

On a lightly floured surface (or with floured hands) roll dough into cylinders ca. 1 ½ inches wide and 12 inches long. Flatten cylinders slightly, place on a baking sheet about 2 ½ inches apart and bake for about 25 minutes until lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes on a baking rack. Meanwhile increase oven temp. to 380 degrees F.

Carefully remove the cylinders to a cutting board. Slice the cookies about ½ inch wide on the diagonal. Return them to the baking sheet, the cut surfaces down. Bake for an additional 8 minutes, until tops are lightly browned. Turn over cookies and bake reverse side(s). Let cool and store in an airtight container. Serve & dip in in your favorite CHINOOK wine (or caffe latte).

Makes approximately 2 dozen biscotti.