Best Fall Salad With Spicy Brittle Recipes

FALL SALAD

Steps:

• To make the candied pecans, set a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the butter and sugar and once it has melted toss in the pecans and continue to toss to coat and cook evenly, about 1 minute. Transfer to a sheet tray lined with waxed paper (use 2 forks to separate pecans) while you prepare the salad.
• Make the dressing by combining the chopped shallot, Dijon and balsamic vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while you whisk to emulsify. Add the maple syrup and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Assemble salad by tossing greens and pear slices in a large mixing bowl with maple-balsamic dressing. Top with shaved Parmesan and candied pecans.

NUT AND SEED BRITTLE

Steps:

• Toast the seeds and almonds in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the pan once during the process.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Heat the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar has melted. Stop stirring and allow the sugar to cook until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer -- swirl the pan occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully, but moving quickly, stir in the toasted seeds and nuts until everything is coated. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet, trying to disperse it as evenly as possible and using the back of a spoon as needed. Sprinkle over the sea salt and allow to cool completely, 1 1/2 hours.
• Break the brittle into shards of desired size and store in an airtight container or pack into clear bags and tie with ribbon.

GRILLED SPINACH SALAD WITH SPICY CREOLE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Fire up the grill to medium-high.
• Cook's Note: The order of food on the grill for the Spinach Salad is - Asparagus and red bell pepper chunks go in the wok first, then the spinach. The shrimp go on the grill about 5 minutes after the asparagus and red pepper.
• For the salad:
• Spray your grill grid wok with olive oil cooking spray (away from the grill). Put the wok on the grill and once it is hot, add the chopped asparagus and red pepper. Drizzle with olive oil (maybe 1 to 2 tablespoons), season with salt and pepper and stir. Cook for about until veggies glisten, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and toss, allowing the grill to do its thing. Once the spinach begins to turn dark, meaning it has begun to cook, which takes about 5 more minutes). Take the salad off the grill and put it in a microwave/oven safe bowl (I do this in case I need to put it in a warm oven for 1 or 2 minutes, while everything else finishes up. This salad is best when hot. Immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the top, add the feta cheese and toss. Steam should rise up from the bowl and you're ready to eat this!
• For the shrimp:
• Add shrimp and marinade to a 1 gallon resealable bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (longer is better). Skewer the shrimp onto flat metal skewers (so you can turn the shrimp without them spinning) and grill until pink), a few minutes on each side, basting with the marinade as they cook. Remove from the grill to a serving platter, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve with the spinach salad.
• A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.