Chef David's Christmas Wreath Salad

Part One: Candied Pecans

Ingredients

1 lb. of Pecans or Pecan pieces

1 cup of White Sugar

1 tbsp of Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/3 tsp. of Cayenne pepper

Directions

Soak Pecan pieces in warm water for five minutes. Then strain. Mix white sugar, cayenne pepper, and pumpkin spice until consistent. Toss the strained pecans liberally with the flavored sugar mix Place on a parchment lined sheet tray and bake at 275-300° for 10-15 minutes. Check every 10 minutes, stirring the pecans and spreading them evenly to make consistent. Once all the sugar has turned from a syrup like consistency to more crystalized, remove out of the oven to cool

Part Two: Roasted Delicata Squash

Ingredients

1 Delicata Squash

1 tsp. Candied Pecan Sugar

2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Cube Delicata Squash into 1/2" Cubes Season with Sugar, Salt, Pepper, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Place on a parchment lined sheet tray Bake for 20-30 minutes at 375-400°.

Part Three: Citrus Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 Orange (zest & juice)

1 Lemon (zest & juice)

1 Lime (zest & juice)

2 tbsp. of Dijon Mustard

4 tbsps. of Honey

2 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions

Blend the first 5 ingredients in a blender and then slowly drizzle the oil until emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Part Four: Christmas Wreath Salad

Ingredients

Baby Kale Greens 3oz

Citrus Vinaigrette 1.5oz

Candied Pecans 2 Tbs

Pomegranate Seeds 1 Tbs.

Roasted Delicata Squash 3 Tbs (already roasted) (could sub butternut)

Shaved Radish 7 Pieces

Microplane Pecorino Romano (to finish, with a micro plane) (could sub parmesan)

Salt & Pepper to Taste

Directions

Toss Baby Kale Greens with Citrus Vinaigrette and Salt + Pepper.

Arrange the Baby Kale Greens on the plate to look like a wreath, with hole in the middle.

Evenly spread the roasted Delicata Squash and Pecans around the wreath.

Evenly spread Pomegranate Seeds and Radish pieces around the wreath to mimic Christmas lights and Candy Canes.

Finish with a dusting of Pecorino Romano for a snowy look.