Pecans and Red Onions?

Would you ever think of using pecans and red onions together, or red onions with pecans?  No matter how I say it, they just don’t seem to go together, until I tasted Joyce’s bread.

My friend Joyce invited us to dinner and served us the most tender, delicious, sweet-smelling pecan and red onion bread made in her trusty, handsome bread maker.

We enjoyed the meal she lovingly prepared for us; watercress salad topped with a crown of grated beets and carrots and drizzled with balsamic dressing, grilled pork tenderloin with a spicy rub, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli florets, pecan and red onion bread and pumpkin mousse for dessert.

Of the wines served throughout the evening, I most enjoyed the brightness, fruitiness and intense red color of Familia Zuccardi Vineyards 2006 Fuzion Tempranillo-Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.

The menu stands as a testament to Joyce’s culinary skills, the hallmark of a country inn located in Waitsfield, Vermont that she and her husband, Nick owned before moving to Panama.  It was our pleasure to be able to enjoy such a fine dining experience with Joyce and Nick.

After tasting that delicious, tender bread, I’ve decided that I need a bread maker in my “Boquete Gourmet” kitchen.

A quick Google search brought me the top 2 sites, www.bread-maker.net and www.breadinfo.com, both of which give lots of information on the models currently available.

In a “nut shell”, the one rated A+, the one with the most beautiful, streamlined appearance, the one with a sourdough starter cycle and over 100 settings, is the Zojirushi Supreme at the price of $209.95. My quest to find that exact bread maker begins at our local department store, La Reina on the main street of Boquete.  Wish me luck!!!

Pecan & Red Onion
Bread Recipe

Serving Size : 12

• • 1 cup milk — plus 1 tablespoon
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup red onion — chopped
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 cup pecans — chopped
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Place all ingredients in your machines fully assembled pan in the order specified by your machines manufacturer. Select the basic or white cycle and press start.