-1.5in.jpg)
Below is a recipe for Roasted Beet, Blood Oranges and Goat Cheese Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette. I am not a gourmet cook and I don’t have Champagne vinegar in my kitchen. After checking to find information on Champagne vinegar, I am looking forward to trying it in this recipe and others as well. Have you used Champagne vinegar?
In the news it was reported that Michelle Obama does not like beets, this may be one recipe that might change her mind.
Cheers, Kathy
The recipe below calls for Champagne Vinegar. This is available at gourmet stores, Amazon.com and Williams-Sonoma. (Check the Williams-Sonoma coupon page.)
Roasted Beet, Blood Orange and Goat Cheese Salad
with Champagne Vinaigrette
Salad
Ingredients
1 lb Beets
1 T Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper, to taste
3 Blood Oranges
10 oz Mixed greens
Champagne Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1 1/2 c Goat Cheese, crumbled
1 c Toasted Walnuts, chopped
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut tops off beets and scrub under cold water; pat dry. Rub beets lightly with olive oil and place in a roasting pan. Cover with foil and place in oven. Roast until tender, about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the beets.
3. When beets are done, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Peel skins off with peeler or paring knife. Dice beets into 1/2 inch cubes and season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile peel and segment oranges into a small bowl. Squeeze any remaining juice from the remaining portion into a cup and use to flavor Champagne vinaigrette.
5. When ready to serve, toss the greens with vinaigrette in large salad bowl; divide between 6 individual salad plates. Divide beets, orange segments, and goat cheese between the six salads and garnish with chopped walnuts. Serve promptly.
Champagne Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Reserved juice from oranges in salad
2 oz Champagne Vinegar
1 t Dijon Mustard
1 c Olive Oil
Kosher Salt & Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In small bowl whisk together orange juice, vinegar and mustard.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil while constantly whisking in order to emulsify vinaigrette.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Provided by Chateau Ste Michelle, Washington
The Vintner’s Luck
Is the perfect vintage a fairy tale? It’s close to fantasy in the movie The Vintner’s Luck. The story follows the peasant Sobran Jodeau who dreams of winning the hand of the beautiful Celeste and to create wine with grapes from his own vineyard. Set in the early nineteenth century France, the viewer witnesses Sobran’s loves: Celeste whom he marries, the baroness Aurora de Valday who inherits the estate and Xas, an angel-like creature that seems more human than angelic.
Although grape growing and wine making is above Sorbran’s station, with the help of Xas, Sobran plants vines that Xas gave him. He then made a wine in 1815 that ages well. Soon Sorbran manages the chateau’s vineyards and winemaking. His passionate relationship with Celeste continues even after several children. An intellectual relationship develops with Aurora, whom he teaches how to taste wines and teaches her how he makes wines. Sorbran develops a mystical relationship with Xas that borders on good, evil and love.
Sorbran’s lust for life, love and a perfect vintage are overshadowed by pain. One of his children dies, he discovers that Xas isn’t a frequent traveler to heaven and his relationship with Aurora becomes more passionate.
For those who see the romantic side of wine, you may enjoy this movie even though the character of Xas reminds you that it is fantasy more than reality. So too might be the perfect vintage.
Cheers,
Terry