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Brochettes of lamb
Cuisine is influenced by the cooking of
France

Appetizer
Codfish acras  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1/2 lb (250 g) Salted codfish - flaked
1/2 cup water
1 cup (120 g) flour
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 scallions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Scotch Bonnet chile, minced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon Ground allspice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Corn oil - for frying
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.

Appetizer
Feroce avocat  Print Recipe

A West Indian speciality whose recipe is fairly close to guacamole, avocado féroce gets its "ferocious" aspect from the strength of the spice used in its preparation. So you never know quite how ferocious this dish will be! Whether it's merely fragrant or very spicy, the preparation usually consists of dried cod, local avocado and manioc flour. The cod is first de-salted, crumbled and mixed with the avocado flesh, lime juice, bunching onion, garlic, habanero pepper and manioc flour.
Serves: 6
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
½ lb salt cod , desalted
1 large ripe avocado (about 1 lb/500g or 2 medium avocados)
½ lb tapioca flour (cassava flour)
3 scallions
2 West Indian chili peppers (habañero peppers)
3 cloves garlic , crushed
½ bunch parsley
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
Juice of 1 lime
Pepper
Salt
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

Appetizer
Smoked salmon eggs benedict  Print Recipe


Serves: 2
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
2 English muffins, split and toasted
4 slices smoked salmon
2 poached eggs, see note below
1/2 cup Hollandaise sauce
Make the hollandaise.
To assemble the eggs benedict, place the sliced smoked salmon on each English muffin. Top with poached egg, drizzling the tops with hollandaise sauce. Serve immediately.







The controversy surrounding the "Perfect Poached Egg" is endless. The "add vinegar to water", "add salt to water" or " putting the raw egg in a sieve to strain the liquid part" before poaching are methods that do not compare to the "always perfect poached eggs" when using this egg poacher.





Egg poacher

Appetizer
Gruyere and parsley omelets  Print Recipe


Serves: 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:5 minutes
4 large eggs
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon dried fines herbs or dried salad herbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1/2 cup (packed) grated Gruyère cheese (about 2 ounces)
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.

Appetizer
Savory lollipops for cocktail  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
6 small carrots about 5-inch long
6 baby corn on the cob, (available in cans)
6 green asparagus, trimmed, about 5-inch long
1 beaten egg
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
4 tbsp. chopped cornflakes
2 tbsp. tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
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.

Appetizer
Apple blue cheese and hazelnut salad on endive leaves  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time:20 minutes
1 large Tart-sweet red apple, such as a gala or Braeburn. cored, cut into 1/8" dice.
3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled, to yield about 3/4 cup
3/4 cup (2 large) ribs celery, finely chopped
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher Salt
5 Belgium endives, leaves separated; smaller leaves saved for another use
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and coarsley chopped
In a medium bowl, combine the apple, blue cheese, celery, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Stir gently to combine. Season to taste with salt.
To assemble, mound a small spoonful of the apple mixture onto the core end of each endive leaf. Sprinkle with the hazelnuts and serve.

Appetizer
Hokkaido brioche  Print Recipe

Hokkaido milk bread is quite simply the fluffiest, softest, lightest, most pillowy cloud of deliciousness thanks to a simple technique involving a roux starter known as tangzhong.
Serves: 8
Preparation time:2 hours
Cooking time:30 minutes
Tangzhong
• 20 g (3/4 oz) strong white bread flour
• 75ml (6 tbsp) water
• 1 tbsp whole milk
Dough
• 350 g (scant 3 cups) strong white bread flour
• 7 g (2 tsp) fast action yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 60 g (scant 1/3 cup) sugar
• 1 tbsp milk powder
• 1 egg
• 120 ml (1/2 cup whole milk
• 30 g (2 tbsp) softened butter
• 1 egg beaten with a splash of milk, to glaze
To make the tangzhong:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.
Place the saucepan over low heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer the tangzhong to a small mixing bowl or measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.

To make the dough
1. Place the flour in a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook) and add the yeast to one side, the salt, sugar and milk powder to the other (if the salt is added on top of the yeast it can kill it), stir to combine.
2. Whisk together the cooled tangzhong, egg and milk and add it to the dry ingredients. Mix everything together until it forms a soft, shaggy dough. If you are kneading by hand, turn the dough out onto a worktop and knead for 5-10 minutes until it starts to feel smooth and a little less sticky (it will still be very sticky), add no more than a spoonful of flour while you are kneading, the dough is meant to be sticky! The best way to knead a wet dough by hand is to stretch it up away from the worktop (it will stick), then slap it back down, make sure that you pull from a different section each time and keep a dough scraper handy. If you are using a stand mixer, mix for 5 minutes or so until the dough is smooth.
3. Add the butter and mix until it is fully incorporated, continue to knead until the dough is very elastic and begins to come away from the worktop (or sides of the stand mixer bowl) cleanly. It should pass the windowpane test - stretch the dough with your hands, you should be able to stretch it to a very thin, almost transparent membrane without it tearing. This can take up to 20 minutes of kneading, especially by hand.
4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with clingfilm, leave to rise for 1-2 hours until well doubled in size. Alternatively, place it in the fridge to rise overnight. If you refrigerate it, the following day let it come up to room temperature for about half an hour before continuing.
5. Line an 8.5x4.5in (or thereabouts) loaf tin with greaseproof paper. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and fold it in on itself a couple of times. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, divide it in to four equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
6. Roll each ball out into a long oval, fold one third of the oval over the middle (from the side, not the top), then the other third over the top to form a long, narrow packet. Roll over the seam to flatten it, then roll it up from one end to make a fat sausage. Repeat with the other balls of dough then arrange them in the loaf tin, seam side down.
7. Loosely cover with oiled clingfilm and leave to rise until at least doubled in size, this can take 1-2 hours (mine took nearly 2). If you press the dough gently with a finger the indentation should spring back slowly but remain visible. If it springs back quickly it needs to proof for a little longer. Preheat the oven while the dough is rising to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
8. Brush the top of the dough with some of the beaten egg then bake on the lower middle shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes until well risen and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, the internal temperature should reach 94C/200F on a probe thermometer. Cover the bread with foil partway through baking if it starts to get too dark.
9. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before slicing.

Appetizer
Asparagus en croûte   Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1 pound puff pastry sheet, thawed
1/2 pound Swiss cheese
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
12 asparagus spears, cooked crisp
1 egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Roll puff pastry sheet on a floured work surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut into 4-inch squares.
Cut cheese into fingers about the size of asparagus spears.
Spread each pastry dough evenly with mustard.
Lay an asparagus spear and a strip of cheese on each pastry square. Roll them up, seal and place seam side down on a buttered baking sheet. Brush rolls with beaten egg.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until pastry is brown and cheese is melted

Appetizer
Cheese croquettes  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
4 ounces butter
1 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
3 egg yolks
salt, nutmeg, onion powder to taste
1 cup flour
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 cups tomato sauce
2 cups fried parsley
In a medium saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour. Add milk and cream and whisk until sauce is thick and bubbly. Mix in the cheese. Blend well. Stir in egg yolks. Season to taste.
Spread mixture over a greased square dish to a thickness of 1 inch. Cool 1/2 hour.
Cut into 2-inch by 1-inch pieces. Dust in flour, dip in egg white, and roll in fresh bread crumbs.
Deep fry until brown. Serve with tomato sauce and fried parsley.

Appetizer
Cheese beignets  Print Recipe

may also be served as hors d'oeuvres.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 cup water 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups parsley sprigs, cleaned and dried
2 cups tomato basil sauce
oil for deep frying
In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to a simmer. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat.
Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one until mixture is smooth. Mix in the cheese and seasonings.
Transfer cheese mixture to a mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Carefully fry half of the dry parsley sprigs for about 10 to 12 seconds.
Transfer to a plate on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining parsley. Season with salt.
Spoon about 5 or 6 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into the oil. Do not crowd as they double in size and self rotate while cooking. Fry for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.
Keep beignets in a warm oven while frying the remaining. Arrange the warm cheese beignets on a platter with the fried parsley.
Serve with hot tomato basil.
Note: If served as hors d'oeuvres, fry teaspoonfuls of the cheese mixture.

Main
Brochettes of lamb  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon black ground pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boned leg of lamb into 16 cubes
2 medium red peppers
2 medium onions, peeled
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.

Main
Caribbean salmon fillets en papillotte  Print Recipe

This zesty tropical recipe found its roots in St. Barth, the French West Indies. I have used the local fruits, cooked into a chutney. The salmon topped with the sauce is sealed in parchment and when baked develops a refined aroma.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
4 5-ounce salmon fillet, boned, and skinned
4 sheets parchment paper
1/2 cup sweet red pepper, julienned
2 medium fresh tomatoes, julienned
1/2 cup fresh ginger, julienned
1/2 cup papaya, julienned
1/2 cup plantain banana, julienned
1/2 cup fresh pineapple, julienned
1/2 cup fresh mango, julienned
2 tablespoons orange blossom honey
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1/4 teaspoon curry
1 lime
3 tablespoons olive oil
to taste salt and pepper
3 cups rice, cooked
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.

Main
Asparagus with truffle broth   Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:8 minutes
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 1/2 ounces chopped black truffles
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
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.

Main
Carrot soufflé  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon flour

1 cup carrot puree *
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2 cups milk
salt, and freshly ground pepper
6 eggs yolks
1/2 cup finely chopped basil
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
* Peel and cook sliced carrots until soft. Drain, and place carrot slices in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Puree in a mixer. The carrot puree should be thick.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush the interior of a 6-cup soufflé mold with the softened butter.
In a heavy saucepan heat the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic. Cook briefly while stirring, until onions are wilted. Stir in the flour and cornstarch. Add the milk. Cook while whisking until sauce becomes thick.
Tranfer the bubbly sauce to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix in chopped basil.
Mix egg yolks, and carrot puree into the thick cream sauce. This mixture can be prepared 2 hours ahead.
Using an electric beater, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff and glossy. Do not overbeat. Gently fold into cream sauce mixture. Pour and scrape the mixture into the prepared soufflé mold.
Place on a baking sheet. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve at once.

Main
Cheese beignets  Print Recipe

may also be served as hors d'oeuvres.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 cup water 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups parsley sprigs, cleaned and dried
2 cups tomato basil sauce
oil for deep frying
In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to a simmer. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat.
Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one until mixture is smooth. Mix in the cheese and seasonings.
Transfer cheese mixture to a mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Carefully fry half of the dry parsley sprigs for about 10 to 12 seconds.
Transfer to a plate on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining parsley. Season with salt.
Spoon about 5 or 6 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into the oil. Do not crowd as they double in size and self rotate while cooking. Fry for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.
Keep beignets in a warm oven while frying the remaining. Arrange the warm cheese beignets on a platter with the fried parsley.
Serve with hot tomato basil.
Note: If served as hors d'oeuvres, fry teaspoonfuls of the cheese mixture.

Main
Cheese croquettes  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
4 ounces butter
1 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
3 egg yolks
salt, nutmeg, onion powder to taste
1 cup flour
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 cups tomato sauce
2 cups fried parsley
In a medium saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour. Add milk and cream and whisk until sauce is thick and bubbly. Mix in the cheese. Blend well. Stir in egg yolks. Season to taste.
Spread mixture over a greased square dish to a thickness of 1 inch. Cool 1/2 hour.
Cut into 2-inch by 1-inch pieces. Dust in flour, dip in egg white, and roll in fresh bread crumbs.
Deep fry until brown. Serve with tomato sauce and fried parsley.

Main
French toast  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into bits
8 large eggs
4 cups milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 tablespoons dark rum
1 loaf challah (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch-thick slices and ends discarded
4 cups corn flakes
cinnamon sugar made by stirring together 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Accompaniments:
maple syrup of whipped cream pecans and/or berries
Clarify butter: In a small heavy saucepan melt butter over low heat. Remove pan from heat and let butter stand 3 minutes. Skim froth and pour butter through a sieve lined with a double thickness of rinsed and squeezed cheesecloth into a bowl, discarding milk solids in bottom of pan.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and rum. Transfer half of mixture to a large shallow baking dish (about 13 by 9 by 2 inches) and soak half of bread slices 10 minutes.
Turn slices over and soak 10 minutes more. In another large shallow baking dish spread half of corn flakes and coat soaked bread slices on each side, transferring to a tray. Soak and coat remaining slices with remaining egg mixture and corn flakes in same manner.
Preheat oven to 250°F.
In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons clarified butter over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook 2 or 3 slices (or as many as will fit in one layer) 3 minutes on each side, or until puffed and golden brown. Transfer French toast as cooked to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
Cook remaining slices in remaining butter in same manner. Sprinkle French toast with cinnamon sugar and serve with accompaniments.

Main
Smoked salmon roulades  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:12 minutes
1 tablespoon butter, melted
4 tablespoons dill, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated
4 eggs yolks
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
4 ounces smoked salmon, sliced
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.

Main
Breakfast croissants with scrambled eggs  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
4 croissants split in halves lengtwise
8 eggs, scrambled
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
8 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz
Heat oven to 400°F.
Lightly grease or spray cookie sheet.
Place croissant halves 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake 5 minutes.
Divide scrambled eggs among croissants. Crumble bacon on top of eggs.
Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon cheese.
Bake about 5 minutes.

Main
Hokkaido brioche  Print Recipe

Hokkaido milk bread is quite simply the fluffiest, softest, lightest, most pillowy cloud of deliciousness thanks to a simple technique involving a roux starter known as tangzhong.
Serves: 8
Preparation time:2 hours
Cooking time:30 minutes
Tangzhong
• 20 g (3/4 oz) strong white bread flour
• 75ml (6 tbsp) water
• 1 tbsp whole milk
Dough
• 350 g (scant 3 cups) strong white bread flour
• 7 g (2 tsp) fast action yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 60 g (scant 1/3 cup) sugar
• 1 tbsp milk powder
• 1 egg
• 120 ml (1/2 cup whole milk
• 30 g (2 tbsp) softened butter
• 1 egg beaten with a splash of milk, to glaze
To make the tangzhong:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.
Place the saucepan over low heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer the tangzhong to a small mixing bowl or measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.

To make the dough
1. Place the flour in a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook) and add the yeast to one side, the salt, sugar and milk powder to the other (if the salt is added on top of the yeast it can kill it), stir to combine.
2. Whisk together the cooled tangzhong, egg and milk and add it to the dry ingredients. Mix everything together until it forms a soft, shaggy dough. If you are kneading by hand, turn the dough out onto a worktop and knead for 5-10 minutes until it starts to feel smooth and a little less sticky (it will still be very sticky), add no more than a spoonful of flour while you are kneading, the dough is meant to be sticky! The best way to knead a wet dough by hand is to stretch it up away from the worktop (it will stick), then slap it back down, make sure that you pull from a different section each time and keep a dough scraper handy. If you are using a stand mixer, mix for 5 minutes or so until the dough is smooth.
3. Add the butter and mix until it is fully incorporated, continue to knead until the dough is very elastic and begins to come away from the worktop (or sides of the stand mixer bowl) cleanly. It should pass the windowpane test - stretch the dough with your hands, you should be able to stretch it to a very thin, almost transparent membrane without it tearing. This can take up to 20 minutes of kneading, especially by hand.
4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with clingfilm, leave to rise for 1-2 hours until well doubled in size. Alternatively, place it in the fridge to rise overnight. If you refrigerate it, the following day let it come up to room temperature for about half an hour before continuing.
5. Line an 8.5x4.5in (or thereabouts) loaf tin with greaseproof paper. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and fold it in on itself a couple of times. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, divide it in to four equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
6. Roll each ball out into a long oval, fold one third of the oval over the middle (from the side, not the top), then the other third over the top to form a long, narrow packet. Roll over the seam to flatten it, then roll it up from one end to make a fat sausage. Repeat with the other balls of dough then arrange them in the loaf tin, seam side down.
7. Loosely cover with oiled clingfilm and leave to rise until at least doubled in size, this can take 1-2 hours (mine took nearly 2). If you press the dough gently with a finger the indentation should spring back slowly but remain visible. If it springs back quickly it needs to proof for a little longer. Preheat the oven while the dough is rising to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
8. Brush the top of the dough with some of the beaten egg then bake on the lower middle shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes until well risen and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, the internal temperature should reach 94C/200F on a probe thermometer. Cover the bread with foil partway through baking if it starts to get too dark.
9. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before slicing.

Main
Smoked salmon with basil-dressed baby greens  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
for basil dressing:
1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, washed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 pound smoked salmon, thinly sliced
1 pound mixed baby greens, cleaned and spinned
French bread
For the basil dressing: In a blender, combine the basil, olive oil, water, white wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Cover a set aside.
PRESENTATION
Toss the clean salad with the dressing. Divide the salad between the cold plates, and arrange in the center of the plates. Roll slices of smoked salmon.
Divide between the plates and arrange on top of the lettuce. Serve with French bread.

Main
Vegetable ragout with parmesan and balsamic vinegar  Print Recipe

From Le Cabro d'Or, Les Baux-de-Provence, France
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
3 ounces Parmesan cheese
2 lemons, halved
8 artichokes (about 9 to 12 ounces each)
24 baby carrots, greens trimmed
1/4 cup olive oil
24 cherry tomatoes, halved
12 ounces button mushrooms, halved
1 10-ounce package frozen baby peas, thawed
1 10-ounce package frozen baby lima beans, thawed
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Using a vegetable peeler or a medium knife, cut Parmesan into thin shavings. Set aside.
Squeeze juice from lemons into large pot; add lemons.
Fill pot with water. Cut stem and top 1/3 from 1 artichoke. Starting at base, bend leaves back and snap off where they break naturally; continue until all tough outer leaves have been removed. Using small sharp knife, trim outside of base until smooth and no dark green areas remain.
Cut artichoke lengthwise into quarters. Cut out choke from quarters. Cut each quarter in half, making 1/2-inch wedges. Place artichoke pieces in lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes. Cover pot and bring to boil. Boil artichokes until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; set aside. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Cook 24 baby carrots in large pot of boiling water 5 minutes. Drain carrots well. (Carrots can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and mushrooms. Sauté until tomatoes and mushrooms release juices, about 8 minutes. Add artichokes, carrots, baby peas and lima beans.
Cook until lima beans and peas are tender and juices thicken slightly, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add 1/4 cup butter and stir until melted. Season vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer ragout to large bowl. Toss with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with Parmesan shavings.

Side Dish
Croquette potatoes  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
2 pounds potatoes
3 ounces butter, soft
4 egg yolks
to taste salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

for breading:
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup flour
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs g
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.

Side Dish
Crispy leeks  Print Recipe


Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:3 minutes
2 leeks
1/4 cup vegetable oil
coarse salt
Trim leeks of all green parts. Cut them in half lengthwise. Holding each half together.
Wash all grit away under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Lay each half, cut side down, on a cutting board. and slice lengthwise into fine julienne. Again pat dry with paper towel.
Heat oil in non stick pan over medium heat. add the leeks and fry for about 3 minutes or until golden and crisp. Remove to paper towels and allow to drain well. Season to taste with salt.
When reheating, lay in a single layer.

Side Dish
Potatoes fondantes  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
5 pounds potatoes
4 ounces butter
1 quart chicken broth
salt to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel and wash potatoes. Shape into the size of whole walnuts. Wash and put in a roasting pan in one layer.
Cover the potatoes half way with the broth. Bring to a boil on top of the stove. Add 2 ounces butter.
Place in the oven. Cook until potatoes are tender. Brush occasionally some melted butter over potatoes. Season with salt.

Side Dish
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
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.

Side Dish
Berny potatoes  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
8
2 pounds potatoes
3 ounces butter, soft
4 egg yolks
to taste salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon chopped truffles
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Peel and cut potatoes into large cubes. Place in a large saucepan, boil in salted boiling water until tender. Drain well, and put through a ricer.
Transfer to a saucepan, and combine with butter, egg yolks, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mix well over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in chopped truffles, and sliced almonds.
Cool potato mixture until it becomes easy to handle.
Shape into pancakes 3 inch round by 1 inch thick. Arrange on a greased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Side Dish
Ratatouille  Print Recipe

Recipe credited to The French Secret to Ratatouille, a Last Taste of Summer By Bill Buford
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 mnutes
Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes
2 lbs. tomatoes, preferably fleshy plum tomatoes (rather than a juicy heritage breed)
A good olive oil
A pinch of sugar
A pinch of saffron (optional)
4 medium-sized red bell peppers
3 large onions, peeled and roughly diced
3 medium-sized eggplants, peeled and roughly diced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
Sprigs of rosemary and thyme, tied together into a bouquet garni, plus 1 tsp. of thyme leaves
A handful of basil leaves (optional)
3 medium-sized zucchini
1-3 Tbsp. red-wine vinegar, according to taste
A dozen pitted black Kalamata olives (optional)
Salt and pepper
Basil leaves
1. Prepare tomatoes. Heat oven to 225 degrees. Drop the tomatoes into a pot of boiling water, and, if necessary, weigh them down with a heavy slotted spoon, to keep them from floating. After 2–3 minutes, test by pulling off a bit of skin with a paring knife. If it comes off easily, pull tomatoes out, one by one, and drop them into the ice bath. After a minute or two, retrieve them and peel off the skin.

2. Place a sieve over an empty bowl. Cut the peeled tomatoes into quarters, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon and place them into the sieve. Set aside.
3. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Brush the paper with olive oil and season it lightly with salt and sugar. Place tomatoes on the paper cut-side down and brush them, too, with the oil. Cook for about 40 minutes, until they are cooked but still firm. Cool and set aside.
4. While tomatoes roast, stir the tomato pulp and seeds in the sieve vigorously with a spatula or wooden spoon, to extract the maximum possible liquid. You should have between ½ cup and 1 cup. Pour the liquid into a saucepan, place over low heat, and simmer, gently, until the volume is reduced by half. Set aside.
5. If you are using saffron, hydrate in water and set aside.
6. Prepare peppers. Raise the oven temperature to 425 and insert a medium-sized tray. When hot, remove the tray and splash with olive oil, then add peppers and, with a pair of tongs, roll them in the oil to cover. Return the tray to the oven. Check after ten minutes. If the peppers have begun to brown, flip them with the tongs. Check after another 10 minutes and repeat, until peppers are nearly black on all sides. Remove the tray from the oven and, if needed, wrap peppers in a piece of aluminum foil (the trapped steam helps loosen the skin). When peppers are cool enough to touch, peel off the skin with a paring knife. Remove the stems and seeds and cut peppers into quarters.
7. Prepare onion. Heat a sauté pan over a low flame. Season onion with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and add 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil to the pan. Add onion and cook, tossing occasionally until soft but not browned. Drain in a colander to remove excess oil and set onion aside.
8. Prepare eggplant. Wipe out the sauté pan and place over a low flame. Season eggplant with salt and pepper. Increase the heat and add a little less than 1 Tbsp. of olive oil to the pan. Add eggplant—don’t move or shake until it begins to color slightly. Flip eggplant with a spatula and cook until tender. Drain in a colander and set aside.
9. Begin assembly. Place a medium pot on a low burner. Chop tomatoes into bite-size pieces and add to the pot, then add 2 Tbsp. of tomato water. Chop peppers into bite-size pieces, then add to pot and stir. Add onion, then eggplant. If the mixture seems dry, add more tomato water. Add garlic and bouquet garni. Add saffron, if using. Cover. Check after 5 minutes to insure that the mixture is not boiling. Stir gently. After another 5 minutes, remove lid, stir, and simmer.
10. Prepare zucchini. Cut zucchini into bite-size pieces and toss in a bowl with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, a few twists of black pepper, and reserved thyme leaves. (Do not salt: salt will liquify zucchini and prevent them from crisping up.) Heat a sauté pan over a high flame and add zucchini. Toss occasionally, until zucchini show color but are still crisp: that is, bright green with bite. Remove from the pan and drain in a colander, then salt to taste.
11. Finish assembly. Taste for seasoning and for moisture, and add more salt and pepper and tomato water as needed. Add vinegar, then mix in zucchini and let cook until heated through. Add olives if you’re using them . Remove bouquet garni and garlic. Dress with torn basil leaves. Serve with roasted chicken, French fries, toast, nothing at all, or just about anything.

Side Dish
Vinaigrette for asparagus  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons minced parsley and/or chopped fresh chives
In a mixing bowl, whisk mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in oil until mixture thickens.
Adjust seasoning to taste.
Stir the herbs. Whisk again just before serving.

Dessert
Sorbet doudou maracudja  Print Recipe

A refreshing delicious treat from Guadeloupe made with passion fruit.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 1 hour
12 passion fruit (maracudja)
2 cups water, boiling
6 to 8 ounces sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
raspberry coulis (recipe follows)
sliced bananas


RASPBERRY COULIS

2 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

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.
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.

Dessert
raspberry mousse with apricot sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespon framboise liqueur (raspberry eau de vie)
8 ounces creme fraiche or sour cream
30 ounce can apricots in syrup
1 1/2 pints raspberries
Whish yolks, sugar and water in medium metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water).
Whisk until candy thermometer registers 160. F, about 4 minutes. Remove from water. Beat mixture until cool and thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in framboise.
Add creme fraiche; beat just until blended. Divide mixture among six 3/4-cup souffle dishes.
Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain apricots, reserving 6 tablespoons syrup. Puree apricots with reserved syrup in processor.
Transfer puree to bowl. Cover and chill sauce until ready to use. Dip souffle dishes briefly into hot water. Run small knife around sides of each mousse. Wipe dishes dry.
Turn out each mousse onto chilled plate. Spoon sauce around mousse.
Garnish with raspberries.

Dessert
Chocolate bavaroise  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:8 minutes
8 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 envelop unflavored gelatin ( or 3 large sheets)
1/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
8 egg yolks
2 cups scalded milk
2 cups heavy cream

For chocolate sauce:
4 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. If using gelatin sheets, immerse in cold water.
Cream sugar and egg yolks. Slowly pour the boiling milk over egg mixture. Pour in saucepan.
Stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon.
Do not boil. Stir in the gelatin and melted chocolate. Strain into a bowl. Cool mixture.
Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold in the cool chocolate custard. Pour in a decorative mold. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Unmold and serve with chocolate sauce around bavaroise.
Chocolate sauce:
combine cream and chocolate. Stir over low heat to melt. Cool

Dessert
Apple Beignets bretons  Print Recipe

These little treats are fluffy and airy, super tender and delicious to the very last bite. The recipe is a specialty from Brittany, France. The Reinette apples variety is used for the recipe
Serves: 4
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
3 apples (Honeycrisp, Stayman, Jonathan, Reinette)
2 tablespoons of rum or Calvados
3 heaped tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of fine sugar
3 eggs
1/4 l (1 cup) milk
salted butter
Peel, core and grate the apples.
Sprinkle them with the rum or Calvados and mix everything well.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and beaten eggs. Add the milk and whisk everything together to remove any lumps.
Fold the apples into the batter.
Melt a teaspoon of butter in a small pan (blini pan style). Place 2 tablespoons of the beignet mix in the frying pan, distributing the grated apples over the surface.
When the beignet is set and browned on one side, flip it. Add another teaspoon of butter to the pan and brown the other side.
Repeat the operation with the apple-batter mixture.
Reserve the beignets pancakes in a dish.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Enjoy still warm.

Dessert
Prunes poached in red wine  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 2 hours
Cooking time:15 minutes
1/2 pound pitted prunes
Boiling water to cover
2 cups red wine, not too tannic (something light and fruity like a Beaujolais or a pinot noir)
1/4 cup mild honey, such as clover
1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise
1 cinnamon stick
2 strips orange or lemon zest
1.Place prunes in a bowl and pour on boiling water to cover. Let sit for 5 minutes, and drain.
2.Combine wine and honey in a medium saucepan. Using the tip of a paring knife, scrape seeds from the vanilla bean halves into wine and add pods. Add cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
3.Add prunes to simmering wine and bring back to a simmer. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add orange or lemon zest. Cover and let sit for at least 2 hours before serving.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Dessert
Saint-honoré  Print Recipe

Add and mix a tablespoon of instant vanilla powder to the cream before whipping. The cream will hold firm for some time. Refrigerate extra salted caramel for later use, and a few extra pastry puffs.
Serves: 10
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time:40 minutes
For the Pastry base
1 sheet of puff pastry or a recipe of Pâte Sucrée

For the Pate a Choux
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs

For the Creme Patissiere (pastry cream)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste, or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk

For the Creme
Chantilly (whipped cream)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

For the Salted Caramel
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste
CREAM PUFF DOUGH known as pâte á choux
For cream puff dough:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Stir in flour all at once. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat. Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one. Beat mixture until smooth.
The pastry base and pastry puffs
1. Cut out a 7" round from the puff pastry or Pâte Sucrée. Use a pan, plate pot lid - whatever you have that will help you cut out a 7" circle. Place this pastry circle on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Spoon cream puff mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tube and pipe a circle of cream puff dough around the edge of pastry.
Pipe a second circle inside and touching the first. Then pipe a 1-inch mound of the cream puff in the center of the base. Bake about 20 minutes until puffed, golden brown and dry. Let cool on rack.
On a second sheet pan, pipe the remaining cream puff dough into 1-inch mounds about 2 inches apart. Brush with egg glaze. Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F, then bake the pastry puffs for another 18 minutes at 375°F, until they're a deep golden color.
Create the Creme Patissiere
1. Meanwhile, heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, flour, egg, and egg yolk together.
2. Once the milk is hot and steam is beginning to rise from it, stir in the vanilla bean paste (if using extract, hold off for now). Then, pour half of the milk into the egg mixture, whisking the egg mixture vigorously as you do. Pour the rest of the milk in, and continue to whisk vigorously.
3. Transfer the entire batter back into the saucepan and whisk over medium heat. It will take about 5 minutes for the cream to thicken up into a pudding-like consistency. Just keep whisking the whole time.
4. Once the cream is starting to look like pudding, quickly remove the cream from the heat. If you're using vanilla extract, stir the extract in now. If there are any lumps in your cream, just whisk the cream really vigorously to smooth them out.
5. Transfer the cream to a clean bowl and cover the cream with a sheet of plastic wrap placed directly onto the cream (this will prevent a filmy layer from forming). Chill the pastry cream in the refrigerator.
Create the Creme Chantilly
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the heavy cream on high speed until indentations begin to appear. Pour in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar, then whisk on high speed until a frosting-like consistency is formed.
Create the caramel
1. In a medium saucepan, add the sugar + 1/4 cup of water. Do NOT stir the two together. Simply place the saucepan over medium-high heat, and allow the mixture to come to a simmer. Watch the sugar-water bubble for approximately 7 to 8 minutes, watching it go from white-ish/clear to a dark amber color. Do NOT step away from the caramel as it can burn in a matter of seconds.
2. Once the caramel has reached a dark amber color and is JUST beginning to smoke, quickly remove the caramel from the heat. Carefully pour the heavy cream into the caramel (it will bubble), then stir to combine. Add the salt, and again stir to combine.
To assemble
1. Fit a pastry bag with a long, narrow filling tip. Fill the pastry bag with the creme patisserie and then pipe this into the pastry puffs. Flip the pastry puff upside down so that the flat side is facing you, then dip the top in the salted caramel. Gently give it a shake to pour off excess caramel, then carefully dip the bottom of the pastry puff in caramel too.
2. Place the pastry puff onto the pate a choux wall that you created on top of the puff pastry circle. The caramel will act like a glue. Continue until you've got a ring of pastry puffs.
3. Scoop the remaining creme patisserie onto the center of the puff pastry. Fill a new pastry bag fitted with whatever tip you like (plain, star, st. honore) with the creme chantilly, and pipe the creme on top of the pastry cream.
4. Stick one final pastry puff in the center of the dessert, then drizzle caramel all over. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Refrigerate extra salted caramel for later use, and a few extra pastry puffs.

Dessert
Warm chocolate torte  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, such as Caillebaut, or Valrhona, coarsely chopped
10 ounces sweet butter, soft
9 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
confectioners' sugar for dusting
Preheat oven at 300 degrees.
Butter the inside of 10 3 1/4 -or 4-by 1-inch rings.
Use empty 6-oz pineapple cans, with tops, bottoms, and labels removed or use circles of same diameter. Set rings on a buttered baking sheet.
Melt chocolate on low heat or in double boiler. Set aside to cool. Cream the butter in an electric mixer. Beat in the cooled chocolate.
In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with 6 teaspoons sugar until lemony colored. Beat in the chocolate mixture.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to form soft peaks. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and beat at high speed to hold soft peaks. Fold in the chocolate mixture.
Fill rings 1/2 full. Recipe can be made 3 hours ahead to this point.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Set baking sheet on a rack to cool. After 10 minutes.
Twist rings and remove from the tortes.
Transfer to dessert plates. Dust with sugar. Serve with ice cream. Drizzle with bittersweet chocolate sauce.
Bittersweet chocolate sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine 5 oz bittersweet chocolate with 1 1/4 cups warm water. Melt chocolate on low heat.
Away from heat, whisk in 2 teaspoons sweet butter. Cool and refrigerate.

Dessert
Palmiers  Print Recipe

Also known as Pig's ears or elephant ears (over-sized palmiers).
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 pound puff pastry dough (2 rectangle sheets)
1 tablespoon soft butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
Thaw the puff pastry if frozen. Roll one sheet of dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick. Spread butter over surface of pastry.
Sprinkle with one half of the sugar. Roll second pastry sheet to the same size as first. Place on top of first. Sprinkle remaining sugar over whole surface.
Fold as sketched bringing the ends to within 3/4 inch of each other. Repeat this folding as shown.
Slice into 1/4-inch- thick "palm leaves". Put leaves on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes. Turn cookies over with a spatula.
Continue baking until golden brown. Transfer palmiers on a rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Dessert
Clafoutis with cherries  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
6 eggs
4 1/2 ounces flour
7 ounces sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups milk
1 pound prunes, cherries, plums, pears (peeled and sliced)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix the eggs, flour, sugar, and baking powder until smooth. Mix in the milk. Pour into a well buttered baking dish. Add fruit. Bake until center is firm. Serve warm or cold.
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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

MARTINIQUE

"May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace."

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

10 Appetizers

12 Main dishes

8 Side dishes

9 Desserts

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ecookbook 39 Recipes