Gold Medal Sliders Recipes

GOLD MEDAL SLIDERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Separate the beets from the greens. Set aside the greens. Place the beets on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil, add the rosemary sprigs and season with salt and pepper. Fold the foil up and around the beets to create a closed packet and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tender, 1 hour. Open the packet carefully to release the steam, then refrigerate the packet for 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• Put the reserved beet greens (about 2 cups), basil leaves, walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, honey and lemon juice in a blender. Season with salt and pepper. Turn on the blender and drizzle in the 1 cup oil until smooth. If the pesto becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water. Set aside.
• If using bacon, put the slices in a large cold skillet and cook over medium heat, flipping halfway through, until crispy, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• When the beets are chilled, discard the rosemary from the foil packet. Wearing food prep gloves, peel the skin from the chilled beets with a paring knife. Slice the beets into about twelve 1/2-inch-thick rounds (or gold medals). Any smaller pieces of the beets can also be used to make a slider, so do not discard. Slice the goat cheese into twelve 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Cut the bacon slices in half if using.
• Spread the pesto on the inside of the top and bottom of a slider bun. Place a few arugula leaves on the bottom bun and top with 1 beet round, 1 goat cheese round, half a piece of bacon if using, a drizzle of balsamic glaze and the top bun. Repeat with the remaining buns, pesto, arugula, beets, goat cheese and balsamic. Serve.

CHOCOLATE DESSERT SLIDERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt until blended. Cut in 1/2 cup butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. In small bowl, mix whipping cream and 2 of the eggs until blended. Add to crumb mixture; stir with fork just until soft dough forms.
• On lightly floured surface, knead dough 3 or 4 times. Pat dough to 1-inch thickness. Cut with 1 3/4-inch round cutter. On ungreased cookie sheet, place rounds about 1 inch apart. Beat remaining egg; brush over dough. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove shortcakes from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
• In top of double boiler, mix 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the cornstarch and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Gradually add milk, stirring with wire whisk until blended. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and coats the back of a metal spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon butter and the vanilla; stir until smooth. Pour pudding into bowl; cover surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming. Cool 30 minutes.
• Split shortcakes. Stir pudding with whisk. Spoon about 2 tablespoons pudding onto each shortcake bottom; cover with shortcake tops. Garnish with raspberries and mint.

CUPCAKE SLIDERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place mini paper baking cup in each of 24 mini muffin cups. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about a third at a time, and milk, about half at a time, beating just until blended.
• Fill each cup with about 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon batter or until about two-thirds full. (Cover and refrigerate remaining batter until ready to bake; cool pan 15 minutes before reusing.) Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove cupcakes from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter to make an additional 48 mini cupcakes.
• Leave oven temperature at 350°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, stir brownie mix, 1/4 cup water, the oil and 2 eggs with spoon until blended. Pour into pan. Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool 20 minutes. With 1 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 64 brownie rounds for "burgers."
• In medium bowl, toss coconut, green food color and 4 to 6 drops water with fork until coconut reaches desired color; set aside.
• Remove paper baking cups from 64 cupcakes (reserve remaining cupcakes for another use). Cut each cupcake horizontally in half to make tops and bottoms of "buns." Place brownie rounds (burgers) on bottom halves of cupcakes (buns), using frosting to secure.
• To make "cheese slices," on large microwavable plate, microwave about 8 chewy fruit candies at a time on High 5 to 10 seconds to soften. Use bottom of measuring cup to flatten until each is about 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Secure to "burgers" with frosting. Repeat to make additional "cheese slices."
• To make "ketchup," cut chewy fruit snack with kitchen scissors into about 1 3/4-inch irregular-edged circles. Secure to "cheese" with frosting. Spread dab of frosting on "ketchup"; sprinkle each slider with scant 2 teaspoons tinted coconut for "shredded lettuce."
• In small bowl, mix honey and enough of the 1 to 2 teaspoons water until thin consistency. Brush honey mixture lightly over "bun tops"; sprinkle each with sesame seed. Spread dab of frosting on cut sides of "bun tops"; secure to coconut, frosting side down.