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Endives meuniere
Just as the country is divided linguistically, it’s also divided food-wise. Flemish cuisine has a strong Dutch influence, while Wallonian cooking is very similar to French foods with lots of rich sauces. Most dishes are based around meat or fish, with seafood playing an important role in Belgian cuisine
Belgian cuisine is mostly made up of different regional dishes with influences from the neighboring cuisines: French, German, and Dutch (Netherlands). There’s even this saying that Belgian food is “served in the quantity of German cuisine (which is a lot!) but with the quality of French food”.
It’s not just about the Belgian fries, waffles, and chocolates: though they are undoubtedly delicious, there’s more to the country’s national cuisine than these famous snacks like:
• 1. Mussels • 2. Fries • 3. Meatballs • 4. Flemish Stew • 5. Grey Shrimp Croquettes • 6. Waffles • 7. Eel in the green • 8. Rabbit with prunes • 9. Sausage and mash • 10. Steak tartare and martino sandwich • 11. Ham and endive in the oven • 12. Vol-au-vent • 13. Speculaas • 14. Jenever • 15. Asparagus Flemish-style

Appetizer
Artichoke pâté  Print Recipe


Serves: 12
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time:1 hour
5 ounces pork fatback
8 ounces boneless veal
8 ounces boneless pork
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups cream
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed seasonings
1 teaspoon chopped basil
12 artichoke hearts
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons Brandy
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
Diced ham
pastry dough
Sherry wine aspic
Dice and freeze fatback. Dice the veal and pork. Heat oil in skillet. Sauté the onions. Combine meat, onion, and seasonings in a bowl. Mix cream and egg whites. Pour over meat. Refrigerate for a few hours.
Marinate artichokes in wine, brandy. Season with salt and pepper. Puree the meat with fatback. Add the pistachios and ham.
Grease a 5 cup mold and line top and bottom with pastry dough. Alternate forcemeat and artichokes ending with forcemeat.
Cover pâté with pastry. Brush with egg yolk.
Cut an opening in the center.
Bake at 350 degree for about an hour. When cold, fill the pate with sherry wine aspic.

Appetizer
Asparagus and tomato salad with feta  Print Recipe

This Asparagus and Tomato Salad is easy to make with steamed asparagus, grape tomatoes, creamy feta, fresh herbs and a light dressing. The tarragon gives it a welcome hint of licorice. It can be eaten cold, warm or hot.
Asparagus is popular in the spring, especially around Easter and in the summer. It's peak season is April. This dish makes a great vegetable side dish and pairs perfectly with Easter.
Serves: 4
Preparation time:10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
1 tsp dried tarragon (use 1 tablespoon if using fresh)
2 lbs asparagus, trimmed - 2 bunches
3 green onions, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved (551 ml)
3/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
Snap off the woody ends of asparagus where they naturally break when you bend them or cut them off with a knife.

Boil water in a large pot or saucepan with steamer then reduce to simmer, add asparagus, cover with lid and steam asparagus until tender (about 8-10 minutes) *This will depend on your preference.

Use tongs to remove asparagus

In a small bowl, whisk balsamic vinegar, oil, red wine, dijon mustard, salt and pepper together.

Cover and set aside until ready to use.

Arrange cooked asparagus tomatoes on a large platter.

Sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.


Drizzle with ½ the dressing and serve the remainder on the side *Can be served warm, room temperature or chilled.



????Variations & Substitutions
Tomatoes- you could use cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes
Asparagus -you could use grilled or oven-roasted asparagus instead of steamed
Tarragon- fresh tarragon is ideal, but you can use dried
Feta cheese - you can use regular, light or fat-free feta or use goat cheese
Add-ins- you could also sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese and/or add red onions or green onion

Appetizer
Chicken liver mousse  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
12 ounces chicken livers
2 ounces butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 cup milk
1 ounce dry sherry wine
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup strong aspic
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream .
Remove connective tissue from the liver. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add onions and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent.
Add all other ingredients except cream. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whip cream to medium stiffness. Remove bay leaves from liver mixture. Puree the liver mixture in a food processor until smooth.
Pour into a large bowl and fold in the whipped cream.
Immediately pour into molds and chill.
Dip molds in hot water and unmold chicken liver mousse. Serve as hors d'oeuvre or appetizers

Appetizer
Ham and cheese toast  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk to taste salt, pepper
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 egg yolk
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
6 slices crisp unbuttered toasts, ends trimmed
6 thin slices cooked ham

Preheat broiler to high.
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and add flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk. Whisk until sauce thickens. Season with salt with salt, pepper, wine, cayenne, nutmeg and garlic. Add egg yolk and bring to the boil, stirring. Remove from heat.
Stir in cheese until melted.
Arrange slices of toast in one layer in a baking pan. Top each slice with ham. Spread cheese mixture evenly over ham.
Broil until bubbly and browned on top. Serve hot

Main
Asparagus and tomato salad with feta  Print Recipe

This Asparagus and Tomato Salad is easy to make with steamed asparagus, grape tomatoes, creamy feta, fresh herbs and a light dressing. The tarragon gives it a welcome hint of licorice. It can be eaten cold, warm or hot.
Asparagus is popular in the spring, especially around Easter and in the summer. It's peak season is April. This dish makes a great vegetable side dish and pairs perfectly with Easter.
Serves: 4
Preparation time:10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
1 tsp dried tarragon (use 1 tablespoon if using fresh)
2 lbs asparagus, trimmed - 2 bunches
3 green onions, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved (551 ml)
3/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
Snap off the woody ends of asparagus where they naturally break when you bend them or cut them off with a knife.

Boil water in a large pot or saucepan with steamer then reduce to simmer, add asparagus, cover with lid and steam asparagus until tender (about 8-10 minutes) *This will depend on your preference.

Use tongs to remove asparagus

In a small bowl, whisk balsamic vinegar, oil, red wine, dijon mustard, salt and pepper together.

Cover and set aside until ready to use.

Arrange cooked asparagus tomatoes on a large platter.

Sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.


Drizzle with ½ the dressing and serve the remainder on the side *Can be served warm, room temperature or chilled.



????Variations & Substitutions
Tomatoes- you could use cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes
Asparagus -you could use grilled or oven-roasted asparagus instead of steamed
Tarragon- fresh tarragon is ideal, but you can use dried
Feta cheese - you can use regular, light or fat-free feta or use goat cheese
Add-ins- you could also sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese and/or add red onions or green onion

Main
Braised onions  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour 15 minutes
2 pounds onions, thickly sliced
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon liquid honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
In a saucepan of salted boiling water, cook onions for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to 6-cup casserole.
Mix together ketchup, water, honey, butter, mustard, salt and pepper; pour over onions.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until onions are tender and glazed

Main
Endives meuniere  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
8 Belgian endives
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
Rinse and dry the endives, and remove any leaves that have darkened. Trim the ends slightly and using a small knife.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and the endives, and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.
Drain thoroughly and place in a single layer on a platter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, and pepper, and set aside until cool enough to handle. (The recipe may be prepared to this point several hours in advance. Cover until needed.)
With your hands, gently but firmly squeeze each endive to extract the liquid.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over moderately high heat. Add the endives in a single later and brown evenly on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Remove and drain well.
Transfer the endives to a warmed serving bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Main
Mussels mariniere  Print Recipe

the national dish of Belgium! Mussels or moules are usually cooked or steamed and served with frites-Fench fries.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
5 pounds fresh mussels
2 ounces butter
2 ounces chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Clean and wash mussels under cold running water and debeard.
Heat the butter in a kettle. Add shallots and cook for 5 minutes. Add half of the parsley, pepper, wine, and mussels.
Cover and steam until mussels open.
Serve in soup bowls with the strained cooking liquid. Sprinkle with remaining chopped parsley.

Main
Shrimp salad with belgian endive  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
1 1/2 pounds of shrimp, cleaned and cooked
4 large Belgian Endives, prepared
1 large cucumber, sliced
1 carrot, peeled and sliced

Cucumber Sauce:
Mix in a bowl,
1 cup yogurt or sour cream
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 small cucumber, pared and grated
juice of lemon or lime to taste
2 tablespoons dill, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Trim endives and separate leaves.
Arrange endive leaves, shrimp, cucumber and carrot slices on individual cold plates.
Serve with sauce.

Main
Split pea soup  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
6 Tbsp butter or olive oil, divided
2 cups chopped leeks, white and green parts
2 cups (½-inch) diced carrots
1½ cups chopped yellow onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 lb dried green split peas
8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 smoked ham hock
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 fresh thyme sprigs, tied with kitchen twine
2 large bay leaves
12 oz smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced diagonally into ¼-inch-thick pieces
Minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Heat ¼ cup of the butter oroil in a large ot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Add leeks, carrots and onion; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in peas to coat; cook 1 minute. Add stock, 2 cups water, ham hock, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 1¼ hours, stirring occasionally, or until peas are very tender and falling apart. (Stir bottom of the pot to be sure soup doesn’t stick.)
Discard thyme, bay leaves and ham hock. Transfer 2 cups soup to a food processor fitted with a steel blade; puree. Return puree to pot. Stir in more stock or water if soup is too thick.
Heat remaining 2 Tbsp butter or oil in a medium saute pan over medium. Add sausage; cook 5–6 minutes or until browned, tossing occasionally. Serve soup garnished with sausage and parsley.

Main
Ham and cheese toast  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk to taste salt, pepper
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 egg yolk
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
6 slices crisp unbuttered toasts, ends trimmed
6 thin slices cooked ham

Preheat broiler to high.
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and add flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk. Whisk until sauce thickens. Season with salt with salt, pepper, wine, cayenne, nutmeg and garlic. Add egg yolk and bring to the boil, stirring. Remove from heat.
Stir in cheese until melted.
Arrange slices of toast in one layer in a baking pan. Top each slice with ham. Spread cheese mixture evenly over ham.
Broil until bubbly and browned on top. Serve hot

Main
Chicken liver mousse  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
12 ounces chicken livers
2 ounces butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 cup milk
1 ounce dry sherry wine
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup strong aspic
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream .
Remove connective tissue from the liver. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add onions and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent.
Add all other ingredients except cream. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whip cream to medium stiffness. Remove bay leaves from liver mixture. Puree the liver mixture in a food processor until smooth.
Pour into a large bowl and fold in the whipped cream.
Immediately pour into molds and chill.
Dip molds in hot water and unmold chicken liver mousse. Serve as hors d'oeuvre or appetizers

Side Dish count
Asparagus and tomato salad with feta  Print Recipe

This Asparagus and Tomato Salad is easy to make with steamed asparagus, grape tomatoes, creamy feta, fresh herbs and a light dressing. The tarragon gives it a welcome hint of licorice. It can be eaten cold, warm or hot.
Asparagus is popular in the spring, especially around Easter and in the summer. It's peak season is April. This dish makes a great vegetable side dish and pairs perfectly with Easter.
Serves: 4
Preparation time:10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
1 tsp dried tarragon (use 1 tablespoon if using fresh)
2 lbs asparagus, trimmed - 2 bunches
3 green onions, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved (551 ml)
3/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
Snap off the woody ends of asparagus where they naturally break when you bend them or cut them off with a knife.

Boil water in a large pot or saucepan with steamer then reduce to simmer, add asparagus, cover with lid and steam asparagus until tender (about 8-10 minutes) *This will depend on your preference.

Use tongs to remove asparagus

In a small bowl, whisk balsamic vinegar, oil, red wine, dijon mustard, salt and pepper together.

Cover and set aside until ready to use.

Arrange cooked asparagus tomatoes on a large platter.

Sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.


Drizzle with ½ the dressing and serve the remainder on the side *Can be served warm, room temperature or chilled.



????Variations & Substitutions
Tomatoes- you could use cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes
Asparagus -you could use grilled or oven-roasted asparagus instead of steamed
Tarragon- fresh tarragon is ideal, but you can use dried
Feta cheese - you can use regular, light or fat-free feta or use goat cheese
Add-ins- you could also sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese and/or add red onions or green onion

Side Dish count
Asparagus sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
12 asparagus spears
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 small scallions (green onions), chopped
to taste, salt and ground white pepper
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Cut asparagus in halves. Discard the woody parts. Cut spears into 1-inch pieces. Cook in salted boiling water until tender, about 6 minutes. Melt butter in a skillet. Add asparagus, scallions, salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Puree mixture in a blender. Put through a strainer. Heat in a saucepan with the cream, and keep warm until needed.

Side Dish count
Barley supper salad  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup pearl barley
1 bay leaf
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 green onions
1/2 green pepper
1-19 ounce can red kidney beans

Dressing:
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Combine stock, barley and bay leaf. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Stir in carrots and celery; cook for 5 minutes or until stock is absorbed and barley is tender.
Discard bay leaf; transfer to large bowl. Fluff with fork. Meanwhile, chop onions and green pepper; drain and rinse beans. Add to barley mixture.
Dressing:
Whisk together stock, vinegar, mustard, basil and thyme; whisk in oil. Toss with barley mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or for up to 8 hours. Stir in parsley. Serve on lettuce leaves.

Side Dish count
Celery root and fennel slaw with green apple and manchego  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:5 minutes
1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
4 cups very thinly sliced fennel
1 1/2 cups matchsticks Granny Smith apple (from about 1/2 large)
1 1/2 cups matchsticks peeled celery root (from about 1/4 small) or celery
1 1/2 cups matchsticks peeled daikon (from about 1/2 medium)
3 ounces Manchego cheese, shaved, divided
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss pumpkin seeds and 1 tsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes; let cool. Finely chop 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds. 

Whisk chopped pumpkin seeds, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar and remaining oil in a medium bowl; season dressing with salt and pepper.


Combine fennel, Asian pear, celery root, Granny Smith apple, most of the Manchego, and remaining pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining Manchego.

Side Dish count
Leeks au gratin  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
16 small leeks, white and light green parts only washed well
1 teaspoon salt
ground pepper to taste
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the leeks and blanch until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
Place leeks in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and dot with butter.
Pour the cream over top. Bake for 25 minutes (can be made ahead up to this point and reheated.) Just before serving, preheat broiler and brown the leeks under the broiler. Serve.

Side Dish
Herb roasted potatoes  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
6 medium red skin potatoes, cut into chunks
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all ingredients, except potatoes. Place potatoes in lightly greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan, toss with mustard mixture.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender, stirring occasionally.

Side Dish
Potato cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
5 pounds potatoes
5 slices bacon
4 ounces butter
2 ounces chopped onion
to taste salt
Boil the potatoes in their skin in salted boiling water.
Peel potatoes when cool then grate coarsely.
Cut bacon slices across into small pieces. Fry until crisp. Saute onions with butter.
Add the potatoes and bacon bits. Season with salt. Mix well while turning the potatoes. Brown both sides of the potato cake and serve hot.

Side Dish
Braised red cabbage  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
1 tablespoon oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 1/2 pounds head red cabbage
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
2 cups water
to taste, salt and pepper
Quarter, core and shred cabbage. Rinse under cold water. Heat oil in a dutch oven.
Add onions and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cabbage. Add vinegar, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a bubble; lower heat to simmering. Cover.
Cook 15 minutes for crisp tender cabbage, or 1 hour for well done. Add water if necessary.
I cook the cabbage for over an hour. Use with pork and ham, roast goose, or as is.
Note: Sliced apples can be added to cabbage while cooking.

Side Dish
Leeks au gratin  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
16 small leeks, white and light green parts only washed well
1 teaspoon salt
ground pepper to taste
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the leeks and blanch until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
Place leeks in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and dot with butter.
Pour the cream over top. Bake for 25 minutes (can be made ahead up to this point and reheated.) Just before serving, preheat broiler and brown the leeks under the broiler. Serve.

Side Dish
Broccoli cauliflower gratin  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:25 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
1 (3-pound) head cauliflower, cut into large florets
1 to 1 1/2 pounds broccoli, cut into medium florets
Kosher salt
8 tablespoons plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup bleached all-purpose flour
4 cups hot milk
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 cup freshly grated Gruyere or Comte cheese, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain well.
Add the broccoli to the boiling water. Cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the broccoli in a colander. Rinse under cold running water to cool. Drain well.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a whisk for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower and broccoli on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot.

Side Dish
Marinated onions  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:8 minutes
For Marinade:
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup white vinegar
4 cups water
3 tablespoons oil
2 cloves garlic
4 small stems of parsley
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chopped basil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 pound pearl onions, peeled
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
Combine all ingredients except the pearl onions and chopped parsley. Bring marinade ingredients to a boil.
Remove from heat and pour over onions. Cool. Refrigerate for 48 hours.
When ready to serve, sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Side Dish
German spaetzle  Print Recipe

From the Swabia region of Southern Germany comes the traditional German Spaetzle.
Serves: 6
Preparation time:25 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg , optional
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk or water + more as needed (milk produces a richer Spaetzle)
butter for serving
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. whisk the eggs into a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the eggs in it. Add the milk (start with using slightly less and add more as needed). Attach a dough hook to the stand mixer and "knead" the dough for 16-20 minutes, or until bubbles appear. A thick batter yields results.
Bring 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Using a Spätzle maker of your choice (such as the Spätzle press), press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a colander, and then transfer the noodles in a large bowl of ice water. Drain the noodles again, toss with some melted butter and serve warm.
Make Ahead: The Spaetzle can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.

Side Dish
Creamy cauliflower purée  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1 medium head cauliflower, cut up into florets
4 cloves crushed garlic
1/3 cup 1% buttermilk or low fat sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
Steam or boil cauliflower and garlic until soft. Drain, add buttermilk, light butter, salt, pepper and purée with a hand blender or regular blender.

Dessert
Chocolate banana cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:60 minutes
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and bananas.
Mix well. Sift cocoa, flour, soda and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk while whisking.
Mix in boiling water. Bake in a 13 by 9-inch ungreased pan 50 to 60 minutes.

Cool and cover with frosting.

Frosting:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until sauce comes to a boil.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla, and frost cake while icing is hot.

Dessert
Chocolate orange torte with raspberry coulis  Print Recipe


Serves: 14
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time:50 minutes
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 eggs
sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Raspberry coulis:
1 package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line bottom on 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
Over simmering water, melt together butter, chocolate, sugar and orange juice, stirring to blend.
Remove from heat; stir in liqueur and vanilla. Let cool; whisk in eggs, one at a time.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are slightly crusty and middle is just set. Let cool on rack.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
Raspberry coulis:
Purée raspberries in food processor; press through sieve to remove seeds. Stir in sugar, and liqueur.
Invert cake onto serving plate.
Sift cocoa powder over cake and garnish with raspberries. Slice and serve with raspberry coulis.

Dessert
Chocolate pie with raspberries  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
200 grams (7 oz) of dark chocolate
150 ml (6 oz) cream
PATE SABLEE, baked (see recipe)
150 grams (5 oz) fresh raspberries
Icing sugar
Prepare the PATE SABLEE crust, baked (see recipe)

Melt the dark chocolate in a water bath, then add the liquid cream while mixing vigorously to obtain a smooth and unctuous ganache.

Pour this preparation onto the precooked pie bottom, then allow to cool.

Arrange the fresh raspberries on top and sprinkle with a icing sugar.

Dessert
Chocolate sauce  Print Recipe

Store the chocolate sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Rewarm before serving.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1 cup (250 ml) water
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
1/2 cup (160 g) light corn syrup or agave nectar
3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
2 ounces (55 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, corn syrup (or agave), and cocoa powder.

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it’s just begun to simmer and boil, remove from heat and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted.

Let the Chocolate Sauce stand for a few hours before serving.

Dessert
Liége belgian waffles - gaufres de liége  Print Recipe

7 grams instant yeast = 1/4 ounce instant yeast = 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast = 21 grams fresh yeast
Pearl sugar (or sugar grains) makes all the charm of Liège waffles, because it brings crispness and gives an exceptional flavor to this waffle.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cooking time:5 minutes
375 g of flour
180 g warm milk
30 g fresh baker's yeast or 1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon of fine salt
30g brown sugar
200 g softened sweet butter
250 g of pearled sugar
 In the bowl of the robot,mix the milk and the yeast.
    Add the flour, eggs, sugar brown sugar, a pinch of salt and knead to obtain an elastic paste.
    Add the butter and knead gently to incorporate the butter and have a homogeneous mixture.
    Cover the dough with film wrap and let the dough rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
    When the dough has at least doubled in volume, deflate and incoporate the pearled sugar.
    Using a pastry brush, grease the hot waffle plates.
  Spoon a large spoonful of dough into the waffle maker.
    Close the waffle iron and cook +/- 3 minutes until golden brown.

Dessert
Rhubarb-strawberry custard tart  Print Recipe

For this recipe, you need a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
Tart Dough:
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups unbleached flour
pinch of salt

Filling:
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, about 2 cups
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
Glaze:
1/2 cup apricot preserves
For dough:
Using a heavy- duty mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and beat until pale. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Turn speed to low, add flour salt and mix until just blended.
Flatten dough to a 1/2-inch-thick disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into 1/8-inch-thick round.
Fit dough into a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom. Ease dough into bottom and up sides of pan, then run rolling pin over top to cut off excess.
Press dough to sides of pan. Freeze tart shell for 20 minutes.
To assemble and bake tart, strew strawberries and rhubarb in tart shell. Whisk cream, sugar and eggs together.
Pour over fruit, leaving a 1/8-inch margin at the top so it wont overflow in oven.
Bake until firm and well browned, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely.
Transfer to a serving platter.
For glaze:
In a small saucepan, mix preserves with 2 tablespoons water. Heat over low heat. Push through a sieve with back of a spoon.
Brush tart with glaze and let set, 1 hour. (Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Taste)

Dessert
Country apple cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 teaspoons milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon dark rum
1 pinch salt
3 large baking apples
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream in an electric mixer soft butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Mix in milk, flour, cornstarch. Beat in eggs one by one.
Stir in baking powder, rum, and salt.
Spoon in an 8-inch buttered round mold. Peel and slice 3 apples.
Stick slices in batter.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

Dessert
Cider apples  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
3 tablespoons butter
2 large golden delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 Cortland apples, peeled, cored, sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup apple cider
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Melt butter in heavy skillet. add apple slices. sprinkle with sugar. Stir.
Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring from time to time, for 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir in apple cider and cinnamon.
Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
Remove cover and boil until syrup begins to thicken.
To serve:
Spoon warm apples into compote dishes.
Top each serving with a small scoop of frozen yogurt.
Delicious served over Brown sugar Pound cake.

Dessert
Blueberry basic pie filling   Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
4 cups blueberries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan.
Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Mix cornstarch with enough water to make a paste. Pour into the berry mixture, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.
The mixture can be cooled and stored orpPour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes or until crust is golden.

Dessert
Flamed apples  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
4 large apples
1 ounce butter
4 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons apricot preserves
4 teaspoons Calvados or brandy
Vanilla ice cream
Peel, core, and cut apples into small wedges.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add apples with the sugar.
Sauté until sugar starts to caramelize.
Mix in the apricot preserves.
Continue cooking for a minute, then add the Calvados or brandy.
Ignite and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Dessert
Prune soufflés  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
6-6 ounce soufflé molds
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon soft butter
1 cup pitted prunes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Brandy (optional)
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or pecans
4 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees . Butter the inside of the small soufflé molds. Coat with sugar. Do not touch the inside. In a medium pot, stew the prunes in water, Brandy (optional), and lemon rind until the moisture is evaporated by half. Purée the prunes in a food processor. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Mix in the chopped nuts. Set aside to cool at room temperature. (can be prepared 2 hours in advance up to this point.)
In an electric mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar. When they reach a soft peaks, gradually add the sugar, and continue beating until the whites are firm and fluffy.
Fold the egg whites into the prune mixture . Fill the mold with the soufflé mixture. Level the soufflé mixture with a spatula. Bake on a baking sheet for 12 to 15 minutes.
Note:
You may also us 1/2 prunes 1/2 dried apricots.
Also, soak prune in tea. Then Armagnac.

Dessert
Jelly-filled pears in puff pastry with caramel sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
For the sauce:
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon Calvados
Pears:
4 small bartlet pears, peeled (About 5 oz each)
4 teaspoons red currant jelly
1 pound puff pastry sheets
1 egg yolk, beaten for glaze
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
For the sauce:
Stir sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat and boil until syrup turns deep-amber color. Remove from heat.
Carefully stir in cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Cool. Stir in calvados. (can be made 1 or 2 days ahead.) Cover and chill.
For pears:
Cut off top of 1½ inches from stem end of the pears and reserve.
Core each pear through top, leaving bottom intact. Spoon 1 teaspoon jelly into hole of each pear. Replace stem end.
Roll out puff pastry about ¼ inch thick. Cut out 4 8-inch rounds and 4 2-inch rounds.
Place pear in center of each 8-inch pastry round. Gather pastry around each pear and pinch pastry to hold in place. Brush pastry with egg glaze.
Make hole in center of each 2-inch pastry round. Fit 1 round over stem of each pear to form top.
Press firmly against pastry bottom to seal.
Brush pastry top with egg glaze. Cut out 4 small leaves from pastry scraps. Brush with egg and place 1 leaf just below stem of each pear.
Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter baking sheet.
Place pears on sheet and bake until pastry is golden brown, about 25 min.
Rewarm caramel sauce, stirring frequently. Spoon sauce over 4 plates.
Place hot pear in center of each plate. Serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream if desired.

Dessert
Banana cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 16
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:50 minutes
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup yogurt
2 1/4 cups flour, all purpose
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups banana, mashed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream shortening and sugar.
Beat in the eggs vanilla and yogurt.
Crush the bananas. Sift the remaining dry ingredients. Add to batter. Mix in the bananas.
Grease and flour 2 (9-inch by 3-inch) loaf pans.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
A cake tester inserted in center of cake should come out clean.

Dessert
Rhubarb tart with orange-ginger glaze  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 pound red rhubarb stalks, unpeeled and thinly sliced diagonally (1/8 inch)
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17 1/4-ounces package), thawed
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
Stir together orange juice, grated ginger, lime juice, and sugar in a bowl. Add rhubarb and let stand, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut pastry in half lengthwise, then roll out each piece into an 11-by 7-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Arrange pastry rectangles side by side on an ungreased large baking sheet.
Make a 1/2-inch border around each pastry rectangle by lightly scoring a line parallel to each edge. Prick pastry inside border all over with a fork.
Strain rhubarb mixture through a sieve set over a bowl, reserving liquid. Top 1 pastry rectangle (within border) with half of rhubarb, overlapping slices slightly. Repeat with remaining pastry and rhubarb.
Bake until pastry is puffed and golden (underside of pastry should also be golden), about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil reserved rhubarb liquid in a small saucepan, skimming foam if necessary, until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 15 to 18 minutes. The glaze will become medium thick
Transfer tarts to a rack. Brush rhubarb and pastry with glaze and sprinkle with zest.
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Measures of non liquid ingredients



Non-liquid ingredients in volume converted
into weight using the table below.
For products not included, use a metric scale
Weight of specific 'ingredients in grams

Ingredient

1 cup

3/4 cup

2/3 cup

1/2 cup

1/3 cup

1/4 cup

2 tablespoons

All-purpose wheat flour 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
All-purpose sifted wheat flour 110 g 80 g 70 g 55 g 35 g 27 g 13 g
White sugar 200 g 150 g 130 g 100 g 65 g 50 g 25 g
Powdered sugar/Icing sugar 100 g 75 g 70 g 50 g 35 g 25 g 13 g
Brown sugar normally packed 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 23 g
Corn flour 160 g 120 g 100 g 80 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Cornstarch 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Rice (not-cooked) 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Macaroni (uncooked) 140 g 100 g 90 g 70 g 45 g 35 g 17 g
Couscous (uncooked) 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 22 g
Quick oatmeal (uncooked) 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Table salt 300 g 230 g 200 g 150 g 100 g 75 g 40 g
Butter / Margarine 240 g 180 g 160 g 120 g 80 g 60 g 30 g
Shortening 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Fruits and légumes chopped 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
chopped walnuts 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Nuts /ground almonds 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Fresh bread crumbs (not packed) 60 g 45 g 40 g 30 g 20 g 15 g 8 g
Dry bread crumbs 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Parmesan grated 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Chocolate chips 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 38 g  19 g
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As the sun rises or sets in

BELGIUM

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The {Page Turner} E-Cookbooks Library on a world cooking journey
39 Recipes

4 Appetizers

8 Main dishes

13 Side dishes

14 Desserts