• preparation

Soak the salted cod fish in cold water for 12 hours.
Cook in simmering water for 5 to 6 minutes. Let cool and clean, debone and flake the fish.

In a mixing bowl , mix the flour and water to from a paste.
add the fish, scallions, Scotch Bonnet chile, garlic, onion and seasoning.
add the egg yolks and vinegar
just before cooking, add baking soda and beaten egg whites.
Meanwhile, heat 2 inches of corn oil to 350 to 375 degrees in a heavy cast-iron pot or deep fryer. Drop the acras into it by the teaspoonful. Fry until they are light brown, turning once. When done, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Serve the accras as soon as they are ready with lemon wedges and curried mayonnaise sauce.

• preparation

In a pot, cover the cod with water and bring to boil.
Remove the cod and drain immediately.
Cut avocado in half, remove the flesh and cut into large pieces.
Drizzle the avocado flesh with lime juice to prevent from blackening.
Place parsley in the bowl of a food processor and chop finely.
Then add the avocado, cod, garlic, a small piece of chili and chives. Mix.
Add cassava flour and oil while mixing until mixture is homogeneous.
Add salt and pepper
Refrigerate for one hour before serving

• preparation

In a large, shallow dish, separate the kataifi dough into individual threads using your fingers. Add the basil and chives and toss to distribute throughout the pastry.
In a shallow bowl, beat the egg with the water. Spread the flour in another shallow bowl. Season the salmon cubes with salt and pepper. Dredge them in the flour and shake off the excess, then dip them in the beaten egg and roll in the kataifi; press to help it adhere.
Set a rack over a baking sheet. In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil to 350°. Fry 4 or 5 salmon pieces at a time until the kataifi is golden brown and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes minutes. Drain the salmon nuggets on the rack. Season with salt. Serve the nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce.

• preparation

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

• preparation

Cook and drain spinach, pressing dry. Mix spinach with cream sauce. Spoon cream spinach over toasted muffins.
Place steamed artichoke bottoms on top of spinach. Top with the hot poached eggs. Spoon the warm hollandaise sauce over eggs.

• preparation

Cut two 16 inch round parchment paper disks to fit under each pogne. Butter each disk. Place on baking sheet. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
Stir in flour to make a soft dough. Let dough rise in covered bowl at room temperature (70-75 F) to double in bulk. On a working surface, form a well with 1 1/2 cups flour. Break 4 eggs in center. Bring the flour and eggs together to form a mass.
Turn dough to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed.
Batter will be smooth and light golden yellow. Add, rum or brandy, sugar and 2 teaspoons water. salt and orange flower water and stir in.
Gradually add butter while mixing. When all the butter has been stirred in, add remaining eggs and blend well at medium speed. Knead the rest of flour, one cup at the time until dough is soft and elastic. Form dough into a ball. Return to the large bowl. Cover with plastic.
When the starter has developed, it is added to the larger ball of yellow dough. Place the yellow dough on the working surface and flatten. Spread the starter dough over it. Fold over the yellow dough to envelop the starter dough.
Work and knead together to form a smooth dough with no streaks of color remaining. Place dough in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature until nearly doubled in volume. Turn dough onto work surface.
Divide into 2 pieces. Form each into a ball. Flatten the ball so the pogne is about 8 inches in diameter.
Press a thumb down in the center. With the fingers, open a hole about 4 inches across. Place pogne on the prepared paper disk on baking sheet. Repeat for second piece. Cover with wax paper and let rise at room temperature free of draft for about 21/2 hours. Brush with glaze. With a razor blade, make 3 connecting cuts on top of each pogne to form a triangle.
Bake at 350 degrees until crust is a deep glistening brown.

• preparation

In a small bowl, whisk together stock, oil and truffles.
In a deep 10 -to 12-inch skillet bring 3 inches salted water to a boil and cook asparagus until crisp tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain asparagus. Pat dry. Transfer to a serving dish and toss with butter.
Spoon truffle broth over asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Serve asparagus warm or at room temperature.

• preparation

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.

• preparation

For the sponge:
In an electric mixing bowl, stir the warm water and yeast together. Allow to foam for 5 minutes.
Mix in the flour at low speed. The dough will be sticky. Cover and let rest for 12 hours at room temperature.
For the croissant dough: In a mixing bowl, combine water, milk, and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Stir in the yeast to dissolve and allow to foam for about 3 minutes. Add the remaining sugar, flour, salt, soft butter and the sponge. Knead with the dough hook for about 10 to 12 minutes. (If working by hand, knead for 15 minutes.)
Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to double in bulk in a draft-free area at room temperature, about 1 hour.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle 12 by 14- inches. Place the dough rectangle on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic and freeze for about 30 minutes to get the consistency of chilled butter. Roll the 10 ounces of chilled butter between plastic sheet to form a rectangle 12 by 7 inches.
Square up rectangle with a spatula or dough scraper. Position the butter rectangle on one side of the dough. Fold the rest of dough over butter and seal edges to seal in butter. Roll out the dough into a 10 by 20-inch rectangle. Fold one-third of the dough towards the center. Fold the other third over the two layers. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Repeat the rolling and folding process twice more and chill. Finally, on a floured surface, roll the dough into a 19 by 25-inch rectangle. Cut the dough into 20 even triangles.
Use a template for accurate measurements. To roll the crescents, start at the base and roll towards the tip. Finish the roll so that the tip is underneath the croissant.
Curve the end of each croissant and brush with egg wash. (May be frozen at this time). Arrange croissant on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Let them rise uncovered at room temperature or until doubled in bulk. Bake the croissants at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.

• preparation

Combine in the bowl of a food processor thyme leaves, rosemary, garlic, and parsley. Process until mixture is minced. Transfer to a bowl, and add pepper and olive oil.
Transfer the marinade to a shallow dish, about 10 inches long. Cut the peppers and onions into 1 1/2-inch squares pieces.

Thread the lamb on four 12-inch metal skewers alternately with the peppers and onions.
Put the brochettes in the marinade, turning them so that they are well coated.
Let them marinate at room temperature for 2 hours or longer, turning them every 30 minutes.
Sprinkle the brochettes with salt and pepper.
Broil or grill them over high heat, turning them occasionally, for 12 minutes or until the lamb is well browned.
Serve the lamb brochettes with rice or couscous.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the red pepper in half, remove seeds, and cut across into fine julienne.
Peel the tomatoes by dipping in boiling water for about 30 seconds. Transfer to cold water. Peel the pulp off the tomatoes, leaving the seeds and inside for other use.
Peel the fresh ginger. Slice into fine julienne strips.
Peel the papaya. Cut in half, remove seeds, and cut into julienne.
Peel the plantain banana. Cut across in 2-inch sections. Slice sections into julienne strips.
Remove outer skin of pineapple. Slice lengthwise, and cut into 2-inch long julienne strips.
Peel the mango. Cut into slices, and julienne strips.
In a heavy bottom medium saucepan, combine the honey and vinegar. Add the red pepper, tomatoes, ginger, papaya, banana, pineapple, and mango. Bring to boil over medium heat. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cinnamon, curry, and lime. Simmer for 5 more minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Sauté over high heat for 30 seconds on each side. Transfer to a warm plate.
Cut each parchment sheet into large heart shapes. Place salmon in center of each parchment sheet. Top salmon with 2 heaping tablespoons of the sauce mixture. Seal the paper, and bake for about 8 minutes.
Pack the hot steaming rice in 6-oz individual round molds.
PRESENTATION
Arrange each salmon papillotte on warm plates.
Unmold rice molds on plates.

• preparation

Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and add the milk, cream or water. Whisk until smooth and combined, with no streaks of egg white remaining.
Brush a small nonstick skillet with olive oil, or melt a little butter in a small nonstick skillet. Bring to medium heat.
Pour in the eggs, and let them cook for a few seconds without stirring. Pull a rubber spatula across the bottom of the pan to form large, soft curds of scrambled eggs.
Continue cooking over medium-low heat, folding and stirring the eggs every few seconds. Scrape the spatula along the bottom and sides of the pan often to form more curds and to prevent any part of the eggs from drying out.
Remove the pan from the heat when the eggs are mostly set, but a little liquid egg remains. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped fresh chives, if desired.

• preparation

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, lemon rind, lemon juice, capers, dill, mustard, and pepper until smooth. On a large sheet of wax paper, spread out the slices of salmon to form a rectangle. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the surface of the salmon.
Roll up the salmon tightly from one end, jelly roll style. Enclose in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Wash cucumber, dry and slice across into 1/4-inch slices.
Just before serving, slice the smoked salmon roll into -inch slices. Top each cucumber slice with a slice of salmon roll. Serve at once.

PRESENTATION
Serve this hors d'oeuvre on a tray. Arrange the cucumber and salmon rolls on the tray into two circles. Garnish center of tray with parsley or dill sprigs.

• preparation

Cook and drain spinach, pressing dry. Mix spinach with cream sauce. Spoon cream spinach over toasted muffins.
Place steamed artichoke bottoms on top of spinach. Top with the hot poached eggs. Spoon the warm hollandaise sauce over eggs.

• preparation

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

• preparation

Cook potatoes in salted water for 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain well and mash with 1 tablespoon cream.
Transfer potato to a large bowl. Whisk in flour, eggs and remaining cream. Season to taste.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan on medium spray with oil.
Add batter to the pan in 1/4 - cup measures. Cook pancakes, in batches, for 3-4 minutes, then flip over and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking tray and keep warm in the oven. Top pancakes with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and snipped chives. Serve with lemon wedges.

• preparation

Cut two 16 inch round parchment paper disks to fit under each pogne. Butter each disk. Place on baking sheet. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
Stir in flour to make a soft dough. Let dough rise in covered bowl at room temperature (70-75 F) to double in bulk. On a working surface, form a well with 1 1/2 cups flour. Break 4 eggs in center. Bring the flour and eggs together to form a mass.
Turn dough to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed.
Batter will be smooth and light golden yellow. Add, rum or brandy, sugar and 2 teaspoons water. salt and orange flower water and stir in.
Gradually add butter while mixing. When all the butter has been stirred in, add remaining eggs and blend well at medium speed. Knead the rest of flour, one cup at the time until dough is soft and elastic. Form dough into a ball. Return to the large bowl. Cover with plastic.
When the starter has developed, it is added to the larger ball of yellow dough. Place the yellow dough on the working surface and flatten. Spread the starter dough over it. Fold over the yellow dough to envelop the starter dough.
Work and knead together to form a smooth dough with no streaks of color remaining. Place dough in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature until nearly doubled in volume. Turn dough onto work surface.
Divide into 2 pieces. Form each into a ball. Flatten the ball so the pogne is about 8 inches in diameter.
Press a thumb down in the center. With the fingers, open a hole about 4 inches across. Place pogne on the prepared paper disk on baking sheet. Repeat for second piece. Cover with wax paper and let rise at room temperature free of draft for about 21/2 hours. Brush with glaze. With a razor blade, make 3 connecting cuts on top of each pogne to form a triangle.
Bake at 350 degrees until crust is a deep glistening brown.

• preparation

Beat eggs, 2 tablespoons parsley, 2 teaspoons water, dried herbs, salt and pepper in small bowl to blend.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of egg mixture (about 1/2 cup) to skillet. Cook until eggs are just set in center, tilting pan and lifting edge of omelet with spatula to let uncooked portion flow underneath, about 2 minutes.
Top half of omelet with 1/4 cup cheese.
Using spatula, fold other half of omelet over cheese; slide out onto plate. Repeat with remaining butter, egg mixture and cheese. Sprinkle omelets with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Peel the carrots. Blanch for 5 minutes and drain. Plant a bamboo spike at the base of each carrot, asparagus, and corn on the cob.
Roll carrots, asparagus and corn in flour. Dip them in the beaten eggs. Finally, roll the corn in the chopped cornflakes, then the carrots and asparagus in the breadcrumbs.
Place the vegetables on a baking sheet lined with lightly oiled baking paper. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake 20 to 30 mins. Sprinkle the carrots and asparagus with the parmesan then place everything on a serving platter before serving.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking pan, 8-inch by 12 inch with parchment paper. Brush with butter.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine dill, parsley, parmesan cheese, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Whisk egg whites with the cream of tartar until medium stiff. Fold into the herb mixture.
Spread evenly over the surface of pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and turn the pan over a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper. Peel away the paper lining. allow to cool.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, capers, salt, pepper, and seasoned salt. Spread over the surface of the baked roulade. Arrange the slices of smoked salmon over the cream cheese mixture.
Roll up tightly from one end, jelly roll style.
Enclose in the wax paper or parchment paper and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
PRESENTATION
Unwrap the salmon roulade, and slice into 1/4 inch circles. Arrange on a serving tray, and serve cold.

• preparation

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.

• preparation

Steam or boil cauliflower and garlic until soft. Drain, add buttermilk, light butter, salt, pepper and purée with a hand blender or regular blender.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut potatoes into large cubes. Boil in salted boiling water until tender. Drain well, and put through a ricer. Mix well and combine with butter, egg yolks, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mixture should be thick.
Cool the prepared mixture and shape into small logs, (1 inch round by 3 inches long).

Coat the logs in flour, dip and cover in beaten egg mixed with oil and roll in breadcrumbs.
Deep fry at 350 degrees F. until golden brown.

• preparation

Wash tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise, discarding the cores.
Put them in a buttered baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and oil, blending well to form a crumbly mixture.
Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over the tomatoes. Bake at 350 degrees until the tomatoes are tender.

• preparation

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

• preparation

Slice potatoes very thin. Wash under cold running water. Place in a saucepan. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander. Add potatoes to a mixing bowl. Mix in the garlic, 1 cup Swiss cheese, cream, salt and pepper. Spoon in an oven proof baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until top is brown and potatoes are fully cooked.

• preparation

Peel and wash potatoes. Slice into 1/4-inch thick slices, then into 1/4-inch sticks. Wash thoroughly in cold water. Drain well.
Deep fry in batches at 350 degrees until potatoes are cooked, but not brown.
At serving time, increase oil temperature to 375 degrees. Fry potatoes in batches, until golden brown.Sprinkle with salt. Serve hot.

• preparation

Cut the passion fruit in halves. Remove pulp. In a large bowl, combine pulp with the boiling water. Set aside for 10 minutes. Strain the juice through a fine strainer. Add the sugar to the juice. Stir to dissolve. Add cinnamon and vanilla.
Chill the mixture before freezing in the ice cream maker. When the sorbet is thick and smooth, spoon in a decorative mold or individual molds.Freeze.
Unmold on plates.
Spoon raspberry coulis on the platter. Decorate with sliced bananas

RASPBERRY COULIS
Puree raspberries with sugar and lemon juice in a blender. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl.
Coulis keeps 2 to 3 days, covered and chilled.

• preparation

Butter a 10-cup fluted tube pan or a 10-cup soufflé molds.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine the egg whites with cream of tartar and vinegar and beat at high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Continue beating, and gradually add the sugar, vanilla and cornstarch. Beat until very stiff, about 2 minutes. Spoon the meringue mixture into the prepared mold. Smooth the top of mold with a spatula. Place the mold in a baking pan containing hot water. Place the pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
The meringue will rise like a souffle above the top of the mold.
Remove pan from the oven. Allow the meringue to cool in the mold for 5 minutes. Unmold meringue on a deep platter surrounded by custard cream. Sprinkle floating island with toasted almonds, and decorate with sliced strawberries.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Roll dough out into one 12-inch circle, and drape over tart pan that has removable bottoms.
In a medium bowl, toss apricots together with sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon juice, zest and cream. Spoon apricot mixture in tart pans. Spread out evenly. sprinkle with sugar.
Place tart on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes; lower oven temperature to 375°.
Continue to bake until tart is evenly browned and apricots are bubbling, about 25 minutes more. Transfer tart from baking sheet to a cooling rack, and cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Lightly oil a 9-inch springform pan. Dust pan with flour, tilting to coat evenly and tapping out the excess. Line bottom with parchment or wax paper. Lightly oil paper.
Spread almonds in a shallow pan and bake for 4 to 8 minutes, until light golden. Let cool.
In a food processor or blender, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and toasted almonds. Process until almonds are ground. Set aside.
In a measuring cup, combine buttermilk, oil and vanilla and almond extracts. Set aside
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, egg whites and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until mixture is thick and pale, about 5 minutes. The beaters should leave a ribbon trail when lifted.
With a rubber spatula, alternately fold reserved dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture into egg mixture, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of liquid.
Gently spread batter in prepared pan and tap the pan once on the counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 45 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched and cake shrinks away slightly from sides of pan.
Place on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Loosen edges of cake from pan, remove pan rim and invert cake onto rack. Remove pan bottom, peel off paper and let cool completely.
To prepare berries: In a large bowl, toss strawberries with sugar. Set aside.
To make vanilla cream: Chill a mixing bowl. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand for 1 minute.
In a large saucepan, bring about 1 inch of water to a simmer. Adjust heat so water barely simmers. In a heatproof mixing bowl large enough to fit over the saucepan, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and softened gelatin. Set the bowl over the simmering water and beat with an electric mixer at low speed until an instant-read thermometer registers 140 degrees F. Increase mixer speed to high and continue beating over the heat for 3½ minutes. Remove bowl from heat and beat meringue until completely cooled, about 4 minutes more.
In the chilled bowl, combine cream and vanilla and beat with electric mixer at medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold one-fourth of the meringue into the cream. Gently fold in remaining meringue.
To assemble cake:
No more than 2 hours before serving, place the cake on a serving plate. Using a serrated knife, slice cake horizontally into 2 layers.
Carefully lift off top layer. Spoon half the berries and all the juices onto the bottom layer. Spread with half the vanilla cream. Cover with the top layer. Spoon remaining vanilla cream on top and arrange remaining strawberries over cream. Refrigerate until serving time.

• preparation

1. In a food processor, add in icing sugar, ground almond powder and pulse for 30 secs into fine powder.
2. Put the mixture through a sieve and remove any lumps. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, add in egg whites, cream of tartar. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk until foamy.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add in the sugar slowly and whisk until soft peaks.
5. Drizzle in rose water essence and turn up the mixer to high speed. Continue to whisk the meringue until stiff peaks.
6. Add in pink color gel by using a stick or skewer.
7. Turn on the mixer and mix until the color is well combined.
8. In 3 batches, fold the meringue with a spatula into the icing sugar and almond powder.
9. It should resemble a lava-like texture. When you raise the spatula, the batter should flow down slowly and perfectly okay if it breaks in between.
10. Pipe the meringue onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking sheet.
11. Rap the tray a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles. Use a skewer to break up large air bubbles.
12. Set it to dry at room temperature for 45 – 60 mins or in an oven preheated at 40C for 15 mins.
13. While waiting, prepare the buttercream filling by creaming the butter and icing sugar together till light and fluffy.
14. Add in melted chocolate and rose water essence. Continue to whisk for another 1 min.
15. Fill the buttercream in a piping bag.
16. Check the meringue by gently touching the skin of the meringue. It should be dry to the touch.
17. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 305F (150C) for 15 minutes.
18. Cool them on a wire rack completely before piping the buttercream filling.
19. If making ahead, store the cooled macaron shells in an air-tight container.
20. Macarons always taste better the next day so you could make them a day in advance and store them in air-tight containers before serving.
21. If you are staying in humid environment, store them in the fridge.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, core, and slice apples. Cook in saucepan to make a purée. Add sugar.
Cook till dry and thick. Cool mixture.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in an electric mixer.
When firm, add sugar and continue beating for 1 more minute at medium speed.
Fold in apple mixture. Add Grand Marnier.
Make a caramel with sugar, a little water and lemon juice.
Pour in a soufflé mold. Pour apple mix in mold.
Bake in waterbath for 30 minutes. Unmold mousse on a serving plate.
Serve with custard cream.
Custard:
Mix sugar and egg yolks till creamy. Gradually whisk in boiling milk.
Add vanilla. Heat in a saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over low heat till thick.
Do not allow to boil. Strain and cool.

• preparation

Ganache:
Place the chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan and pour over the chocolate. Stir to melt.
Add 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy, and combine until smooth. Set the chocolate ganache to cool.
Syrup:
Combine 1/3 cup of water in a small pot; add confectioners' sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy. Remove the syrup from heat.

Cut the cocoa sponge cake or commercial pound cake into 12 disks 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick with a cookie cutter.
To assemble:
spread 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface, brush with a tin coating of the melted butter, dust with sifted confectioners' sugar, and cover with a second sheet.
Brush with melted butter again and dust with sugar. Cut the rectangular phyllo dough into 3 equal strips, about 6 1/2 inches wide by 10 inches long.
Place a disk of chocolate cake in the center of each strip and moisten each disk with a little of the raspberry syrup. Cover each disk with a generous spoonful of the ganache and place 8 to 10 raspberries on top.
First, fold one end of the phyllo dough over the raspberries and then the other, tucking under to form a small closed purse fully encasing the chocolate and the raspberries.
Repeat this process until you have made 12 packages.
Brush each one with butter and refrigerate (or freeze) until ready to bake.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the packages on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with more sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Keep warm.
Top each fontaine with the remaining raspberries and serve hot

• preparation

1. Make the meringue Preheat the oven to 400°. Grease a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with baking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving 1 inch of overhang on the short sides. Grease the parchment with baking spray and dust with the confectioners’ sugar.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar at medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. With the machine on, slowly beat in the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the meringue is shiny and tripled in volume and stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon with the cornstarch, nutmeg and salt. Sift the cinnamon mixture over the meringue, then add the orange zest. Fold until well combined. Spread the meringue evenly in the prepared baking pan.
3. Make the cocoa swirl In a small bowl, combine the espresso powder, cocoa and vanilla with 2 teaspoons of water and mix well. Spoon small dots of the cocoa mixture all over the top of the meringue. Using a skewer or a bread knife, swirl the dots decoratively. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° and bake the meringue for about 25 minutes, until puffed and cooked through. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
4.Meanwhile, make the walnut praline. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast in the oven for about 10 minutes, until golden. Let cool, then chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
5. In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup and 2 tablespoons of water and bring to a simmer, brushing down the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush. Cook over moderately low heat, swirling the pan, until an amber caramel forms, about 10 minutes. Stir in the walnuts, then scrape the praline onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Let cool completely, then chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
6. Make the whipped cream In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the cream with the vanilla at medium speed until medium peaks form.
7. Assemble the roulade Gently invert the meringue onto a parchment paper–lined work surface with the long side facing you and peel the parchment off the meringue. Spread the whipped cream all over the meringue, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle the walnut praline over the whipped cream, then scatter the grated chocolate on top. Starting at the long side, roll up the meringue to form a log. Transfer to a platter and refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours or up to 1 day. Serve garnished with blackberries and pomegranate seeds, if desired.
Make Ahead
The baked meringue and walnut praline can be stored separately at room temperature overnight.

• preparation

Peel and core the pears.
Cut them into quarters. Place the pears in a saucepan and add the wine and sugar.
Peel the lemon and cut the peel into very fine julienne strips. Reserve the lemon for another use. Add the peel to the saucepan.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, or until pears are tender.
Transfer the pears and the lemon peel to a serving dish. Bring the liquid in the saucepan to the boil and add the remaining ingredients.
Bring to the boil and cook for about 10 minutes or until liquid is reduced to half.
Pour the sauce over the pears. Let cool and chill.