Jan. 6, 2009

Elegant Pot Pies

2 lbs. Sirloin Tip, diced (Shrimp or Seafood)           ½ cup Red Wine (Sherry )

1 cup Onion, diced                                                      1 ½ cups Beef Broth (Seafood Broth)

1 cup Celery, diced

1½ cups Mushrooms, diced

3 TBSP Oil                                               8 ea. Patty Shells

4 TBSP Flour

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté diced sirloin until just cooked. Add onions and celery and continue until tender. Add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes. Add flour and stir in, allowing to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine and stock, and continue cooking to thicken; about 5 minutes. While cooking, bake patty shells per package instructions. This recipe will yield four entrée serving with two shells each or eight appetizers with one shell each.

If substituting seafood, add with onions and celery to cook. Substitute sherry and seafood broth.

Remove center cap from baked patty shell. Place shell on plate and spoon mixture into shell. Garnish with large stem herb or pepper confetti.

Grand Marnier Soufflé

3 TBSP Butter                  5 egg yolks

2 TBSP Flour                 1/3 cup Grand Marnier

1 cup Heavy Cream         6 egg whites

1/3 cup Sugar                  ½ tsp cream of tartar

Grated zest of 1 orange           1/8 tsp Salt

In a stainless steel sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add heavy cream, sugar and zest. Place back on heat and bring to a boil whisking constantly. Then remove from heat. In a large bowl, whip egg yolks until slightly thickened. Very gradually whip in cream mixture. Then stir in Grand Marnier. This then is your base and this can be done ahead of time.

Preheat oven to 375º F. To finish the soufflé, whip the egg whites with a mixer until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat to soft peaks. Increase speed and beat until peaks are firm, but not stiff and dry as these will not fold together well with the base. While egg whites are whipping, prepare dishes with melted butter and sugar. You can either use one 2-quart souffle dish or six 8 oz. ramekins. When egg whites are firm, gently stir ¼ of them into the base. Gently fold in remaining egg whites. Spoon batter into dishes, filling almost to top. Bake until skewer placed in middle of souffle comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes for the 2- quart dish or 20-25 minutes for the 8 oz. ramekins. Timing these just right is important. Serve at once.

December 24, 2008

Prime Rib can be an easy and delicious meal for the Holidays or any special event. We’ve added Yorkshire Pudding for a classic accompaniment. This Walnut Ganache Tort, also easy, gives a decidedly chocolate ending.

Prime Rib

Prime rib         8-12 oz. per person                 Salt                  2-3 Tbsp

Thyme             2 Tbsp                                      Pepper             1-2 Tbsp

Butcher Twine 18”                                          Chopped Garlic                       2 Tbsp

Olive Oil          3 Tbsp

Place rib with bones on a cutting board. Remove excess fat, isolating the eye of the rib. Starting at the tip of the rib bones, follow the bones with your boning knife, cutting the eye of the rib from the bones, but not removing the entire piece. Lift the eye and rub entire rib and eye with the oil, salt, garlic, thyme and pepper. Using the twine, tie eye back to the bones. Place in a roasting pan. Roast about  1 hour for a 3-4 lb. roast. Use a digital thermometer to determine actual internal temperature and doneness, making sure tip of probe is in the center of meat. An internal temperature of 120⁰F for medium-rare is good. A temperature of 130⁰F will yield medium. Let the meat set for 20-30 minutes and slice to serve.  

Yorkshire Pudding

Flour                1 cup                                       salt                  ½ tsp

eggs                 2 ea.                                        milk                 1 cup

Yorkshire Pudding was a traditional accompaniment with meat in Old England because it would soak up the flavor and juices when meat was scarce. Place 2-3 Tbsp. of oil and/or meat drippings in six cups of a muffin pan and pre-heat in a 450⁰F oven. Mix the four ingredients together until smooth. Carefully pour into hot oil and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350⁰F and continue baking until puffy and golden brown, about 15-20 minutes more. Serve with prime rib.

Walnut Ganache Tort

Yellow Cake Mix         1 box                                       semi-sweet chocolate chips    1 lb.

Fine chopped walnuts 1 ½ cups                                  Heavy Cream                          12 fl.oz.

Mix cake batter per box instructions. You will probably need oil, eggs and water. When batter is mixed, add walnuts and bake in two cake pans. Mix heavy cream and chocolate in a double boiler and heat to 175⁰F. When cake has cooled, place on a wire rack and ladle chocolate ganache over cake. If creating a double layer torte, ganache the top of one cake. Then place second one on top and ganache the rest. The side of the cake can be garnished with more chopped walnuts.

May 5, 2008

Summer Brunch

            Brunch can be an easy and informal way to entertain, especially during the summer months. It is a great way to take advantage of outdoor areas and also involve outdoor cooking.

            A basic brunch structure is as follows:

            Fruit/ Juice                            Meat                           Salads

            Eggs                                       Pastries                      Vegetables

            For my Summer Brunch Menu, I’ve included the following:

            Grilled Fruit Kabobs                        Quiche                       Chicken Apple Sausage

            Scones                                  Juices

Oven Roasted Potatoes with Chipotle Ketchup

            Many of the items for any brunch can be bought and served, though adding specialties you have made will add flair to your menu. The grilled fruit gives us an opportunity to develop some unique flavors. I chose the quiche so I could cook it ahead and enjoy time with my guest. If you want to provide omelets to order, it will be time consuming, but offer a nice variety.  The chicken sausage adds a healthy touch. Though potatoes are generally a staple of brunch, the chipotle ketchup gives them a nice twist. Scones can easily be mixed and are the best warm out of the oven.

Chicken Apple Sausage

3#        Chicken Breast                                1 ea.   Granny Smith Apple

¼ ea   Spanish Onion                                 2 tsp.   Salt

½ tsp   Black Pepper                                                2 tsp    Poultry Seasoning  

1/8 tsp Cinnamon                                        1/8 tsp Ginger

10 ft    Sausage Casing

Place casing in fresh water to soak out salt. Core and peel apple. Peel onion. Cut apple, chicken and onion into 1” chunks. Place chicken in food processor in batches with some apple and onion. Pulse until finely chopped. Place in bowl and add seasoning. *It’s important to work quickly so chicken mixture does not warm. Place in refrigerator between task to keep cool. Slide sausage casing over a plain tip on a pastry bag. Knot end of casing and prick a small hole to let air out as you fill it. Place medium amount of chicken mixture in bag. Twist and squeeze bag to force chicken into casing with right hand while holding casing against tip of bag to fill firmly. When filled, knot casing and prick casing randomly in four places to release steam when baking. Bake at 350˚F for 30 min. or until 160˚F is reached on thermometer.

Dec. 24, 2007

Coconut Shrimp

1# Shrimp, 16-20 count, raw                              2 eggs

1¼ cup Flour                                                    ½ tsp salt

½ cup milk                                                       ¼ tsp cayenne

½ cup Beer                                                      3 cups coconut

1 cups oil                                                         4 oz. Orange marmalade

1 ½ tsp. Cajun seasoning

Peel shrimp, leaving last shell segment and tail. Butterfly cut, opening up meat. Place ¼ cup of flour in a pie plate. Mix remaining flour with eggs, milk, beer, salt and cayenne in a low bowl or pie plate. Place coconut in another pie plate. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Flour shrimp. Batter shrimp in egg mixture. Tap off excess batter. Dredge shrimp in coconut. Save refrigerated for later cooking, or brown lightly in heated oil. Coconut will brown quickly because of sugar content, so watch carefully. Mix marmalade and Cajun seasoning. Serve with shrimp.

Assorted Crostinis

15 slices Baguette                                         ¼ cup Cranberry Chutney

1 oz. Olive Oil                                                ¼ cup Port Wine Sauce

2 TBSP Steak Salt Seasoning                        Sliced Turkey, Sliced Pork Loin,

                                                                    Sliced Beef Tenderloin

This is a great opportunity to use up leftover meats for a great hors d‘ oeuvres. Cranberry chutney recipe can be found below. Port wine sauce can be created with ½ cup of port wine and ¼ cup of fruit preserve such as blueberry or blackberry. Mix and cook lightly in sauce pan, simmering for three minutes.

Crotinis can be prepped by placing baguette slices on sheet tray or cookie sheet. Drizzle slices with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with steak salt. Place in 400° F oven for 3 min. Top with sliced meats and sauce or chutney. Heat again in oven for another 3 min. Serve.

Nov. 14, 2007

Basic Stuffing

½ cup Onion, diced 1 cup Chicken Stock (see recipe April

½ cup Celery, diced ‘07)

1 TBSP Oil 2 cup Fresh bread, diced

1 TBSP Poultry Seasoning

Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté onions and celery until tender. Add poultry seasoning and allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock and continue cooking to combine flavors; about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and combine with bread.

The basic stuffing can be multiplied to accommodate the size of the meat stuffed.

Garnishes can be added to this stuffing such as dried fruits, apples, sautéed mushrooms, oysters, nuts or other meats to alter or compliment the flavor profile to be achieved.

By adjusting the amount of stock, the texture of the stuffing can be softened as to “pipe” stuffing with a pastry bag into a pocketed steak, chicken breast or chop. A softened cheese such as goat, cream or bleu could be added for a unique flavor.

Oct. 12, 2007

Cranberry Chutney

1 cup Onion, julienne 1 cup Red Pepper, julienne

¼ cup Fresh Ginger, minced ½ cup Rice Wine Vinegar

1 cup Brown Sugar 2 cups Dried Cranberry

2 TBSP Oil

Heat oil in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Sauté onions and peppers allowing them to caramelize. Add ginger and allow to become tender. Add rice wine vinegar and sugar. Reduce heat to medium, add cranberries and allow to cook down for five minutes or until syrup thickens.

Turkey Panini Sandwich

2 slices Panini Bread 2 TBSP Cranberry Chutney

4 oz. Sliced Turkey 2 TBSP Grated Asiago

2 tsp Oil

Heat panini pan over medium high heat. Brush outside of bread with oil. Place turkey, chutney and cheese between bread and press. Cook three to five minutes on each side until golden brown.

Fall Apple Salad

12 oz. Baby Greens 4 oz. Walnuts

4 oz. Bleu Cheese 8 fl. oz. Grape Vinaigrette

2 Granny Smith Apples, cored & sliced thin

Divide greens onto four plates. Garnish with apples, walnuts and bleu cheese. Top with vinaigrette.

Grape Vinaigrette

½ cup Grape Juice ½ cup Rice Wine Vinegar

¾ cup Honey to taste Salt & Pepper

Mix all ingredients together with whisk.

Butternut Squash Soup

4 lbs. Butternut Squash, large dice ½ lbs. Carrots, large dice

½ lbs. Onions, large dice ¼ cup Garlic, minced

¼ cup Fresh Rosemary, minced ¼ cup Olive Oil

to taste Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 400° F. Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Place in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Place roasted veg into a small stock pot. Cover with water and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes over medium high heat. Remove from heat and process with an immersable blender. Serve and garnish with chopped parsley.

April '07

Stock

1 whole chicken

½ bunch celery, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

4 bay leaves

8 black peppercorns

1 tsp thyme, dry

Breakdown chicken, removing legs, thighs and wings. Remove breast from carcass. Place in stock pot with chopped onion, celery, bay leaves, peppercorns and thyme. Fill stock pot with 1½ gal. water. Place on stove and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 1 hr. Remove legs, thighs and breast; making sure internal temperature is 165° F. Chill meat and remove from bone. Dice and save for further use. Allow carcass and wings to continue cooking for 20 minutes more. Strain, chill and hold for further use.

Onion Soup

3 TBSP olive oil

6 large onion, sliced thin

1½ tsp thyme, dry

1 cup cream sherry

3 qt chicken stock

1 tsp salt

2 cups croutons

8 slices Swiss cheese

In a six quart pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat on stove. Add onions and stir occasionally. Allow onions to continue to cook at medium high heat for about thirty minutes. Though moisture will render from the onions, the high heat will allow onions to caramelize (338° F). This will give them color and complex flavor. As the onions become dark and rich, add thyme and then deglaze the pan with the sherry. This will release the brown bits from the bottom of the pan which will add to the flavor. After the sherry reduces some, about ½, add the stock. Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the soup to cook for fifteen minutes to marry flavors. Add salt to taste. Ladle soup into ovenware croaks(8), garnish with ½ cup of croutons each and a slice of Swiss cheese. Bake in 400° F oven until cheese is melted and enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Soup

2 TBSP olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

4 stalks celery, diced

2 medium carrots, diced

3 qt chicken stock

3 cups cooked chicken, diced

1 tsp salt

2 cups egg noodles, cooked