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Sheet-pan Quiche Lorraine

Sheet-pan Quiche Lorraine

Sheet-pan Quiche Lorraine

 

5⅓ C. All-purpose flour

1 pound Cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

1 C. Ice-cold water

1 T. Kosher salt

 

12 Eggs

2 C. Milk

2 C. Heavy cream

2 C. Onions, sliced thinly

1 C. Bacon, cut into squares

1 C. Gruyère cheese, grated

2 T. Chives, sliced thinly

Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

 

For pâte brisée (pie dough): Add flour, butter, and salt to bowl of stand mixer. Using paddle attachment, mix on medium speed until butter forms pea-sized pieces. Start adding ice water and keep mixing until all water is incorporated and dough grabs onto paddle. Be careful not to overmix; you want to see small pieces of butter in the dough as this will ensure a flaky crust. Remove dough from mixer, wrap with plastic wrap, and let rest in refrigerator for 1 hour before rolling out. Remove dough and let sit on counter for about 10 minutes. Then, using a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangular shape, about 3/16-inch thick. Carefully roll dough onto rolling pin and transfer to a half-sheet (13-by-18-inch) pan. Cut off excess dough and place lined pan in refrigerator for another hour to allow dough to relax. Make quiche filling. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Once dough is relaxed and firm, line dough with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or beans, then par-bake pie crust until exposed edges are golden brown. Remove pie weights and prick holes in bottom of crust with a fork to release steam. Place crust back in oven until center is golden brown. Let cool before adding the filling. For quiche filling: Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add cut bacon and cook until bacon is crispy and has rendered most of its fat. Stir in onions, salt, and pepper, and cook until onions are dark brown, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Cool bacon-onion mixture. Using a whisk and in a medium sized bowl, beat eggs, then add milk, cream, and cheese. Add bacon-onion mixture to egg mixture. Stir in chives. To make quiche: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour filling into pre-cooked quiche shell and bake for about 40 minutes, until filling is browned and firm to the touch. Test with a cake tester or small knife in the center. The knife should come out clean when quiche is ready. Allow quiche to cool to room temperature.  For best results when cutting quiche into perfect little squares, chill quiche overnight. Carefully remove quiche from sheet pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut quiche into desired piece sizes and shapes. Reheat individual portions in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes.

Herbed Swiss Rösti (Hashbrowns) with Fried Egg

Herbed Swiss Rösti (Hashbrowns) with Fried Egg

4 large potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
3 garlic cloves (or 1 small Spring garlic), minced
2 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 C. parsley leaves, roughly chopped
pastured ghee (or lard, tallow, duck fat, or coconut oil)
sea salt
black pepper
4 eggs, preferably pastured

A couple of hours, or the night before you would like to serve, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the potatoes and parboil until just tender, but not too soft. Remove them from the pot and allow to cool before refrigerating for a couple hours or overnight. Peel the potatoes and grate them on the large grating side of a box grater. Preheat a large sauté pan on medium heat. Melt about 1 T. ghee, making sure to coat the pan. Add the garlic and onions and stir continuously until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, 3/4 of the parsley, and sea salt and black pepper to taste and mix gently. Pat down the potatoes until they form an even and flat round. Cook until the bottom of the rösti is well browned, and easy to peel off the pan, about 6-8 minutes. Top the pan with a large plate, turn the pan over until the rösti slides out. Add more ghee to the pan, and return the rösti, browned side up, to the pan to brown the other side, another 6-8 minutes. While the second side of the rösti is browning, preheat a large sauté pan on medium. Melt about 2 T. ghee, making sure to coat the entire pan. Crack the eggs into the pan and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, to taste. Fry the eggs until the whites are set and the yolks are cooked to desired doneness, about 2 minutes for a soft egg. Remove the rösti from the oven, top with the rest of the parsley, and serve immediately with the eggs on top and any vegetable side dishes. If the rösti sticks to the bottom of the pan, and is difficult to flip, simply brown the bottom before broiling the top in the oven for a few minutes.

French Cherry Tomato Tart with Dijon Mustard & Chevre

French Cherry Tomato Tart with Dijon Mustard & Chevre

French Cherry Tomato Tart with Dijon Mustard & Chevre

Yields one 9- or 10-inch tart

 

One unbaked tart dough, placed on the tart pan (see recipe, below)

Dijon or whole-grain mustard, to taste

8 ounces goat cheese, sliced into 1-ounce rounds

2 pints of cherry tomatoes (or 2-3 large tomatoes, sliced)

1/4 cup olives, pitted (optional)

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or your favorite herbs

 

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.  Spread an even layer of mustard on the bottom of the tart dough.  Place 4 rounds of goat cheese on top of the mustard.  Arrange tomatoes (and olives, if using) on top of the cheese. Place remaining 4 rounds of cheese on top of the tomatoes.  Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes, season with salt and ground pepper, and sprinkle chopped thyme.*  Bake the tart for 30 to 40 minutes, until the dough is cooked and the cheese is nicely browned.

 

*Note: I usually add chopped herbs after about 20 minutes of baking time so that they don’t burn.  For this recipe, I added some additional chopped thyme to the dough for extra flavor.

 

Tart Dough

Yields dough for one 9- or 10-inch tart

 

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 generous tablespoon chopped thyme (optional)

4 1/2 ounces unsalted butter, chilled, cut into cubes

1 large egg

2-3 tablespoons ice cold water

 

Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and chopped thyme in a medium-sized bowl. Add the butter and using your hands, pastry blender, or two forks, cut the butter into the flour/thyme mixture until it resembles a crumbly, cornmeal-like consistency.  Mix the egg with 2 tablespoons of the water. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the beaten egg, stirring gently until the dough holds together. Add the additional tablespoon of ice water, if needed.  Gather the dough into a ball and roll the dough on a lightly floured surface, adding only the minimum amount of flour to keep the dough from sticking to the counter. Roll the dough around the rolling pin and then unroll it over the tart pan with a removable bottom. “Dock” the dough by pressing the tart dough firmly with your fingertips to make a few indentations. Be careful not to press too hard to tear the dough.

Sheet Pan Supper: Bacon & Asparagus Brunch

Sheet Pan Supper: Bacon & Asparagus Brunch

4-6 rashers of baconbrunch
12-15 asparagus spears (about 350 grams)
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2-3 branches fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 450F. Wash asparagus thoroughly, as they may be gritty, and use a vegetable peeler to remove the bottom two-thirds of peel. In a 9×13 roasting pan or Pyrex, lay the rashers (slices) of bacon. Place in the oven and cook for about 8 minutes or until crispy.
Remove pan from oven and carefully transfer the bacon to a paper towel. Drain off most of the bacon fat, leaving about a tablespoon in the pan. Add the asparagus to the same pan and shake it around gently to coat the vegetables in grease. Arrange asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle it with lemon zest, thyme leaves, and pepper. Roast asparagus for about 8 minutes or until it begins to soften. Remove pan from the oven and gently crack the four eggs on top of the asparagus. Return the dish to the oven and roast another 4-5 minutes or until eggs have reached the desired doneness. Return bacon to the pan. Serve breakfast at once. Accompanying toast optional.

Ham, Leek & Gruyere Baked Egg Cup

Ham, Leek & Gruyere Baked Egg Cup

2057wfd_gruyerefinal_dms2 tablespoons butter
2 leeks, green and white parts cleaned and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
2 sprigs thyme, leaves removed
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray
6 thin slices deli ham or prosciutto
1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
6 eggs

Preheat oven to 375ºF. In a medium-size skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, garlic and thyme to the pan, and sauté 5-6 minutes, until very soft. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and cook about a minute. Whisk in the stock and bring up to a bubble to thicken the mixture up. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and reserve. While the leeks are cooking, spray the insides of a 6-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Line each cup with a slice of ham or prosciutto folded in half. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the cooked leeks into each lined cup and top with a little shredded cheese. Press the leeks and cheese down a little with your finger to make room, then crack an egg into each one, making sure it stays whole (if you’re worried about breaking the egg yolk, crack the egg into a small bowl first, then pour it in the muffin cup). Season the tops of the eggs with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and place the muffin tin on a baking sheet. Transfer sheet to the oven and bake 15 minutes, until the eggs set. Remove tin from the oven and allow the baked eggs to cool in the muffin cups for a couple of minutes before removing them from the pan. Serve a green salad alongside.

Cheddar and Chile Egg Casserole

Cheddar and Chile Egg Casserole

l_R1796513 T. butter, melted
5 large eggs, beaten
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 4oz can diced green chiles
1/4 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Salt

Preheat the oven to 350.

Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, chiles, flour, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining butter. Pour into the prepared dish and bake until set, about 35 minutes.

Fried Green Tomatoes with Avocados and Poached Eggs

Fried Green Tomatoes with Avocados and Poached Eggs

Fried Green Tomatoes with Avocados and Poached Eggs

 

1 large green tomato

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 large egg

1 tablespoon buttermilk

1 1/2 cups panko Japanese-style breadcrumbs

1/2 – 1 cup olive oil, for frying

For serving

1 medium avocado

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste

4 large eggs

 

Prep tomatoes. Trim 1/2-inch from the stem and blossom ends of the tomato and discard. Slice tomato into 1/4-inch thick slices. Season tomato slices on both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside. Prep coating. In a shallow dish or pie pan, add the flour. In a second shallow dish, whisk together the egg and buttermilk until blended. Spread the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish. Coat tomatoes. Working with one tomato slice at a time, dip the tomato slices into the flour to coat evenly, shaking off the excess. Then, dip into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip back onto the dish. Then coat the tomato slices in the panko breadcrumbs, patting firmly to help the breadcrumbs adhere. Cook tomatoes. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a 10-inch non-stick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Working in batches if necessary, carefully place tomatoes into the heated oil in a single layer. Cook until the undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn the slices and fry until the other sides are browned, about 2 minutes more, adding more oil to the pan as necessary. Drain the fried tomatoes on paper towels. For serving: Prep avocado. Cut the avocado in half lengthwise around the pit. Twist the avocado halves in opposite directions and pull the halves apart. Remove the pit from the avocado and discard. Scoop out the avocado pulp into a medium bowl and mash it with a fork and some fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Plate tomatoes. Place tomato slices on plates and top with even amounts of avocado mixture. Set aside. Cook eggs. For the eggs, crack the eggs into 4 small ramekins or sauce dishes. In a 12-inch straight-sided skillet, bring 3 inches of water to a simmer. Turn down the heat so that no more bubbles form on the surface. Carefully slide the eggs into the water, evenly spreading the eggs around the pan so they don’t touch each other. Cook eggs, undisturbed, until white is just set and yolk is still runny, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to gently release eggs from the bottom of pan, if necessary. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs from water. Blot the bottom of the spoon on a paper towel to remove excess water. Gently place an egg on each tomato slice. Serve immediately.

Fruity French Toast

Fruity French Toast

startoast2 eggs
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon milk
6 slices whole wheat bread
3 teaspoons thinly sliced fruit,
Berries or low-sugar fruit preserves
6 ounces skim milk cheese (queso fresco) or goat cheese, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh fruit, sliced or diced
1 cooking spray

In a bowl large enough to dip the bread, whisk the eggs, cinnamon and milk together. Cut each piece of bread into 4 pieces with a knife or cookie cutter. Dip the bread in the egg mixture, moistening both sides. Heat a non-stick pan and coat with cooking spray. Cook the bread for 2 – 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Spread fruit on one side of each slice of bread. Place cheese on top of the fruit. Cover with a second piece of bread. Repeat with remaining bread, cheese and fruit. Serve with fruit.

Yield: 6 servings
Calories: 147
Fat: 5g
Fiber: 2g

Fava Beans with Serrano Ham & Fried Egg

Fava Beans with Serrano Ham & Fried Egg

Fresh fava beans must be removed from their pods before cooking. Unless the beans are very small and young, the tough skin that covers each bean must also be slipped off. To remove the skins, blanch the shelled beans in rapidly boiling salted water until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Pinch each bean opposite the end where it was attached to the pod and squeeze; the bean should pop free. Use a paring knife to remove any stubborn skins.

img57l4 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion or 3 shallots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 oz. sliced serrano ham or prosciutto, cut into thin strips
1 to 1 1⁄2 lb. young fava beans, shelled and skinned
1⁄2 cup dry sherry
1⁄2 cup chicken or vegetable stock or low-sodium canned broth
1 T. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 egg
1 T. chopped fresh chives

In a large fry pan over medium heat, warm 2 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and ham and cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the peeled fava beans and stir for a moment, taking care not to break them up, then add the sherry, stock and parsley. Increase the heat to high and cook until the liquid reduces a bit and the flavors are blended, about 1 minute. Add 1 Tbs. of the oil, season with salt and pepper, and transfer to a serving bowl. Keep warm. In the same pan, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Crack the egg into the pan and fry until the yolk is still runny but the white is firm, about 2 minutes. A little bit of crispy edge to the white is fine and adds good texture. To serve, cut the egg into bite-size pieces and toss with the warm fava mixture. The runny yolk will meld into the sauce. Sprinkle with the chives and serve immediately.

Dungeness Crab & Tillamook Cheddar Strata

Dungeness Crab & Tillamook Cheddar Strata

Dungeness Crab & Tillamook Cheddar Strata

 

The combination of bread, eggs, cream, and overnight soaking results in a soufflé-like dish. Assemble this dish the night before and refrigerate. Add the crab just before baking. Instead of using crab, you can cook 1 pound of breakfast sausages, and then cut each sausage into thirds and mix with the bread and cheese.

 

6 large eggs

2 C. half-and-half

2 C. grated Tillamook cheddar cheese

10 slices French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

8 ounces Dungeness crabmeat

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

Fresh tomato salsa, for serving

 

Generously butter a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Whisk the eggs and half-and-half together in a medium bowl until well blended. In another bowl, mix together the cheese and bread cubes, and then spread evenly in the buttered skillet. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 3 50°F. Spread the crabmeat over the eggs, and then place the skillet in the oven and bake the soufflé until puffed and lightly browned, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley, cut into wedges, and serve with a fresh tomato salsa.

Maple French Toast Casserole

Maple French Toast Casserole

maple7 cups cubed French bread
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup warm whipping cream (70° to 80°)
1/4 cup maple syrup
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
Additional maple syrup

Place bread in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; press down gently. Sprinkle with raisins. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in whipping cream and syrup; mix well. Whisk together the eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt; add to cream cheese mixture.
Pour evenly over the bread; lightly press bread into egg mixture with a spatula. Cover; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until center is set and the top is golden brown. Serve with syrup. Yield: 6 servings.

Tomato & Ricotta Tart

Tomato & Ricotta Tart

tomato tart1 pint Whole Milk Ricotta
2 Lemon Zest
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan
1 Egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 tablespoons Parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Chives, finely chopped
1 sheet Puff Pastry
2-3 various Heirloom Tomatoes, sliced (room temperature)
1/2 cup Basil Leaves, torn
8 ounces Bacon (chopped)
Flakey Sea Salt
Olive Oil
Black Pepper, freshly cracked

Up to a day ahead of time, make the Ricotta mixture. The flavors will continue to blend and enhance the longer it sits. In a mixing bowl combine the Ricotta, Lemon Zest, Parmesan, Egg, Salt, Pepper, Parsley, Chives and 1 tablespoons of Olive Oil. Mix to thoroughly incorporate and refrigerate until ready to use. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place your Puff Pastry on a baking sheet and roll it slightly in to more of a rectangle shape. Next, spread the Ricotta filling out to all four edges in a nice even layer, leaving a 1-inch border of crust. Fold the edges in and using your thumb and forefinger, create fluted edges. Bake until golden brown and bubbly looking on top, 30-35 minutes. Be sure to achieve a nice deep golden crust so the middle and bottom aren’t soggy! Meanwhile, preheat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add Bacon and sauté until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside. Remove from the oven and slide on to a cutting board. Start layering your sliced Tomatoes across the top. Next add the cooked Bacon, torn Basil, a drizzle of Olive Oil, Cracked Pepper, a little more Parmesan and some flaky Salt. Slice in to 9 pieces and serve.

Smoked Salmon in Herbed Pancakes

Smoked Salmon in Herbed Pancakes

For the pancakes:

1 cup multigrain pancake mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon oil
1/3 cup finely chopped herbs (any combination of parsley, thyme and basil)

For the filling:

1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 small onion, minced
Pinch salt and pepper
5 ounces sliced smoked salmon, shredded
1/3 cup micro greens

Make pancake batter per box instructions. Stir in herbs. Set aside. In another bowl, whisk yogurt, lemon juice, onion, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until used. Using herbed batter, cook 4 pancakes per instructions on the box. Lay pancakes on a plate. Top with salmon, add yogurt mix and then top with micro greens. Roll pancake. Secure with toothpick or kitchen twine.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 267
Fat: 9g
Fiber: 3g

Caprese Benedict with Basil Hollandaise

Caprese Benedict with Basil Hollandaise

basilholl4 English muffin halves

8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced thinly

1 large heirloom tomato

8 large fresh basil leaves

1 tablespoon white vinegar

4 large eggs

Black pepper and kosher salt

 

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 large basil leaves

¼ cup melted butter

kosher salt

black pepper

 

Put a shallow pot of water over medium heat to simmer and add the vinegar. While the water is simmering, make the Basil Hollandaise Sauce: Combine all of the ingredients in the blender and puree until very smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. Toast the English muffins until crispy and top them with the mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. Poach the eggs by swirling the simmering water hard with a spoon and then gently crack an egg into the center of the swirling water. Cook until the egg is half cooked through, but still runny in the center, about 3 minutes. Drain gently and top the benedict with the egg. Spoon the Basil Hollandaise over the egg. Serve hot.

 

Croque Monsieurs

Croque Monsieurs

mons2 T. of butter
3 T. flour (I used brown rice flour to make it gluten free)
2 cups of hot milk
1 tsp. of salt
1/2 tsp. of pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
12 ounces of Gruyere cheese, grated
1/2 C. freshly grated parmesan
8 croissants or 16 slices of white bread
Dijon mustard
8 ounces of ham, sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt butter in a small sauce pan, add flour and stir for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in hot milk and whisk until sauce is thick. Remove from heat and stir in salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 C. of Gruyere cheese and Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and set aside. Cut the croissants in half and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 4 minutes, flip and bake for an additional 2 minutes. Remove croissants, spread Dijon mustard on one half. Add the ham and Gruyere Cheese, top with croissant. Spoon cheese sauce over each sandwich, top with more Gruyere cheese. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes or until tops are browned.

Deep-Fried Poached Eggs with Creamed Spinach and Serrano Ham

Deep-Fried Poached Eggs with Creamed Spinach and Serrano Ham

2367211 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 (10-oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (from firm white bread)
4 poached large eggs>
3 oz thinly sliced serrano ham or prosciutto
7 to 8 cups vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Whisk together cream and 2 teaspoons flour in a small bowl until just combined. Cook shallot in butter in a 9- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until shallot is softened, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until excess liquid is evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir cream mixture, then add to spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until cream is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir together bread crumbs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl. Spread remaining 1/2 cup flour on a plate and set aside for dredging. Gently blot any water from top of poached eggs with paper towels, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Carefully dredge 1 poached egg in flour, dusting off excess. Transfer to beaten egg, spooning to coat completely, then transfer with a slotted spoon to bread crumbs, letting excess egg drip off. Coat with crumbs and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining poached eggs, 1 at a time. Cut sliced ham crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan (about 1 1/2 inches deep) over high heat until deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. Fry ham in oil, stirring occasionally with a clean slotted spoon to separate strips, until crisp, 15 to 20 seconds. Transfer ham to paper towels to drain. Return frying oil to 375°F. Lower 2 eggs (1 at a time on slotted spoon) into hot oil and fry until golden brown, 15 to 20 seconds. Transfer fried eggs to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining 2 eggs. Reheat spinach over low heat, stirring constantly and adding more cream or water to loosen mixture if necessary, about 1 minute. Divide creamed spinach among 4 plates, then top with poached eggs and ham.

Huckleberry Streusel Muffins

Huckleberry Streusel Muffins

GLAC_Huckleberry_DavidRestivoNPS2 C. All Purpose Flour

1/3 C. Granulated Sugar

1 T. Baking Powder

3/4 tsp. Salt

1 C. Milk

1 Large Egg

3 T. Butter, Melted

2 tsp. Vanilla

1 C. fresh, rinsed Huckleberries

Streusel (recipe follows)

 

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; make a well in the center of the mixture.  In a 2 cup glass measure, beat milk, egg, butter and vanilla; pour into center of well.  Mix gently just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Batter will be lumpy.  Stir in huckleberries.  Spoon batter equally into 12 paper lined muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full.  Sprinkle streusel evenly over batter.  Bake at 425 until streusel is lightly browned.  Remove muffins from pan and remove to wire rack to cool.

Streusel:  In food processor, whir 1 C. flour and 1/2 cup brown sugar until blended.  Add 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into chunks and whirl until mixture forms coarse crumbs.

Serving Size: 1 Muffin

Yield: 12 servings

Calories: 291

Fat: 12g

Fiber: 1.1g

Roasted Heirloom Tomato Tart

Roasted Heirloom Tomato Tart

1/2 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry, thawed

3 lb. heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

3 heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges

1/2 C. olive oil, divided

1 T. chopped fresh thyme

1 T. kosher salt

2 tsp. cracked black pepper

1/2 C. soft goat cheese

2 C. mâche or baby greens

1 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 T. chopped fresh chives

1 T. chopped fresh tarragon

2 T. light balsamic vinaigrette

1/4 C. balsamic vinegar

1/3 C. pitted and chopped brined olives

 

Lay puff pastry out on a work surface. Cut 8, 2 1/2-inch-round disks out of the pastry. Place disks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place a second sheet of parchment on pastry, and top with another baking sheet to weigh down pastry. Bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside and cool. Brush tomato slices and wedges with 1/4 C. olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with thyme, salt, and pepper, and place tomatoes on baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until tomatoes are soft; cool slightly. Spread pastry rounds evenly with goat cheese. Using a spatula, carefully stack tomato slices evenly on pastry rounds, and top with tomato wedges. Toss greens and next 3 ingredients with vinaigrette in a small bowl. Top each tomato tart evenly with salad. Place tarts on individual serving plates, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and remaining 1/4 C. olive oil. Sprinkle plates with olives.

 

Purslane Panzanella

Purslane Panzanella

Purslane11 lb. ripe Tomatoes

Salt

2 ½ C. Purslane, succulent leaves removed from the stems

1 Red Onion, halved and finely slived

4 T. Red Wine Vinegar, divided

1 lb. stale White Bread Loaf

4 T. flat leaf Parsley, chopped

1 handful Sweet Basil Leaves, torn

½ C + 1 T. EVOO

 

Cut tomatoes into small chunks and place in a colander set in the sink. Toss with a little salt and allow to rest at least 10 minutes for the juices to be drawn out. Wash and dry the purslane; set aside. Place onion slivers in a bowl of cold water with a splash of vinegar and a pinch of salt. Break the bread into large chunks and place in a large bowl just *just* enough water to cover; set aside for 10 minutes. Drain bread and using your hands, squeeze all excess water from the bread. It needs to be well squeezed, or you will have a very soggy salad! Crumble bread into a large serving bowl. Drain the onions well. Mix the purslane, tomatoes, parsley and basil into the onions. In a small bowl whisk together the remaining vinegar and the oil; season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the vegetables and toss well; add to bread in serving bowl and toss again until well mixed.

Braised Pork Shanks with Mushroom Dumplings

Braised Pork Shanks with Mushroom Dumplings

Pork Shanks
1/2 pound lard
1 C. all-purpose flour
2 T. kosher salt
2 T. cracked black pepper
1 tsp. smoked paprika
4 pork shanks, 1-1/2 pounds each
1 C. diced onion
1/2 C. diced celery
1/2 C. diced carrots
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 sprig fresh rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 C. sherry wine
1/4 C. Marsala wine
2 C. chicken broth
2 C. beef stock
Corn starch slurry, if necessary

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat lard in large, heavy casserole dish or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. In large bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika; dredge pork shanks, shaking off excess flour. Sear shanks on all sides until evenly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes; remove to platter. Add onions, celery, carrots, garlic, rosemary and thyme to the cooking pot; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add wines; reduce volume by 1/2. Stir in broth and stock; bring to boil and add shanks back to pan. Cover; put in oven; braise until meat is fork-tender and pulling away from bones, about 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Remove shanks and keep warm. Skim excess fat; strain liquid into large mixing bowl, discarding solids. Put strained liquid back into braising pot; bring to simmer over low heat. After cooking dumplings (recipe follows), adjust seasonings. Thicken sauce with cornstarch slurry, if needed.

Mushroom Dumplings

1/4 C. butter
8 ounces assorted mushrooms, diced small
1 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. cold butter
1/2 C. milk, approximate
1 T. chopped fresh parsley

Heat butter in saucepan over medium heat; add mushrooms and sauté until fully cooked and dry. Allow to cool while making dumplings. In medium-sized bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt; cut in butter until dough is crumbly; stir in enough milk to form soft dough; blend in cooled mushrooms. Drop by large spoonfuls into boiling reserved braising liquid; cover and simmer 10 minutes (do not lift lid). Place 2 or 3 dumplings in large soup-style serving dish. Lean one pork shank on the dumplings; generously ladle with thickened sauce.

Fried Egg & Bacon Puff Pastry Squares

Fried Egg & Bacon Puff Pastry Squares

5074a3c0718d4c3953ed22bfaf356c151 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce package), thawed
All-purpose flour, for rolling
10 large eggs, divided
1 teaspoon water
9 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface, and roll out into a 12-inch square. Prick pastry all over with a fork. Cut into thirds to yield three 4-inch-wide strips, then cut strips crosswise into thirds (you should have nine 4-inch squares). Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees with rack in top position. Lightly beat 1 egg with water. Brush top of pastry squares with egg wash; place 2 pieces (1 slice) bacon on each square. Bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown and bacon is cooked through and crisp around edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crack 3 eggs into skillet, and cook until whites are set and golden brown along edges but yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes. Place 1 egg on top of each of 3 pastry squares, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving platter, and loosely cover with foil. In 2 more batches, cook remaining 6 eggs in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, transfer to pastry squares, and season. Garnish with chives, and serve immediately.

Skillet Cornbread Pudding with Ham & Pepper Jack

Skillet Cornbread Pudding with Ham & Pepper Jack

skillet_cornbread_jpg_rend_sni12col_landscape2 T. unsalted butter
1 1/2 C cooked corn, thawed frozen or fresh
1 bunch scallions (white and green parts, sliced
1 6oz chunk Black Forest ham, diced (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp chili powder
3 large eggs
2 C half-and-half
4oz pepper Jack cheese, diced
1/4 C chopped fresh basil
1 tsp kosher salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1 C packaged cornbread stuffing cubes
Pinch sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Melt the butter in a 10″ cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the corn, scallions, ham, garlic, and chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally until the scallions are soft, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl and stir in the half-and-half, cheese, basil, salt and pepper to taste. Pull the skillet from the heat. Stir the cornbread stuffing and sugar into the skillet. Pour the egg mixture over and stir gently to distribute all the ingredients evenly. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until lightly puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Baked Eggs in Bread Bowls

Baked Eggs in Bread Bowls

eggs-bread-bowls-ay-1940815-x8 crusty dinner rolls
8 large eggs
1/4 cup chopped mixed herbs, such as parsley, chives and tarragon
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice off top of each dinner roll and gently remove some bread until there is a hole large enough to accommodate an egg. Arrange rolls on a rimmed baking sheet. Reserve tops. Crack an egg into each roll, then top with some herbs and a bit of cream. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until eggs are set and bread is toasted, 20 to 25 minutes. After eggs have cooked for 20 minutes, place bread tops on baking sheet and bake until golden brown. Let sit 5 minutes. Place tops on rolls and serve warm.

Poppyseed Bread

Poppyseed Bread

poppyseedBread:

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/8 cups cooking oil

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 T. poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring extract (or 1 1/2 tsp melted butter can be substituted)

 

Glaze:

1/4 cup orange juice

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp butter flavor extract (or 1 1/2 tsp melted butter can be substituted)

 

For the bread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into greased and floured baking pans. Makes 6 small loaves or 2 large loaves. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes for large pans and less for smaller pans. If you have a dark metal pan make sure to bake it for less time at a lower temperature. I overdid this batch a little bit because I used a dark pan. I like the disposable foil bread pans the best.  For the Glaze: Pour all ingredients into a small saucepan and let cook on stove on medium heat until sugar dissolves. Remove bread from pans and pour glaze over warm bread. Use knife or spatula to bring the glaze that has run off up and over the warm bread until it stays on.

 

 

Tomato Tartlets

Tomato Tartlets

Tomato Tartlets

All-purpose flour, for rolling

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

2 1/2 ounces grated sharp white cheddar (2/3 cup packed)

3 medium tomatoes, cut into ten 1/4-inch-thick slices

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Ground pepper

1/3 cup small basil leaves, for serving

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and middle thirds. Lightly flour a rolling pin and work surface and roll out puff pastry to a 14-by-16-inch rectangle. With a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 10 rounds and transfer to two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets; with a fork, prick each round all over. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese on each, leaving a 1/4-inch border, and top with 1 tomato slice. Brush with oil and season with pepper. Bake until pastry is deep golden at edges, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let tartlets cool completely on a wire rack. To serve, top with basil.

Leek & Asparagus Quiche

Leek & Asparagus Quiche

1 pie shell, pre-made crust is fine

a bundle of asparagus, trimmed of woody stems, & steamed (I microwave them for 2 minutes)

2 leeks, washed and trimmed

3 strips of bacon, cooked & crumbled (or 1/4 C. of diced ham)

3 eggs

pinch of nutmeg

1 C. of heavy cream or half & half

3/4 C. of Gruyere cheese, shredded

salt & pepper

 

Cover your pie shell with foil and blind bake your pie shell with pie weights for 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and set aside. After you have steamed your asparagus, cut your asparagus spears into 2″ lengths, saving the tips for decorating the top of the quiche. Slice your leeks into rounds and saute them with the asparagus pieces (not tips) in a heavy skillet w/ some olive oil. Cook until leeks are softening, about 5 minutes on medium heat. Make your custard: Whisk eggs w/ cream and nutmeg. Add shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, salt & pepper. Transfer custard to a measuring C. for easier pouring. Place your leeks & asparagus pieces on the bottom of the pie crust. Pour your custard mixture over the vegetables, and decorate the top with the reserved asparagus tips. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for 30 minutes until starting to brown and puff up. Serve with a nice green salad w/ a mustard vinaigrette. Happy spring!

 

 

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Delmonico’s Smoked Salmon and Brie Crepes with Herbsaint Butter Sauce and Crispy Spinach

Delmonico’s Smoked Salmon and Brie Crepes with Herbsaint Butter Sauce and Crispy Spinach

1/4 C. minced shallots

1 C. Herbsaint liqueur

1/4 C. heavy cream

Salt

Cayenne pepper

1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cut into pieces

1/4 tsp. hot sauce

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 pounds smoked salmon, thinly sliced

1 pound Brie, thinly sliced

12 medium crepes

2 C. fresh spinach leaves, washed and patted dry

 

In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine the shallots and Herbsaint. Season with salt and cayenne. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the mixture reduces by half. Add the cream and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, a couple of pieces at a time. Season with the hot sauce and Worcestershire. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and keep hot. Place a couple of slices each of the salmon and cheese over the bottom of each crepe. Roll each crepe up tightly. Place in a buttered casserole dish and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 4 to 6 minutes, or until the cheese starts to melt. Fry the spinach until crispy, about 1 minute. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with salt. To serve, spoon the sauce in the center of each plate. Lay a couple of the crepes in the center of sauce. Garnish with some of the fried spinach.

 

 

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Zucchini Squares

Zucchini Squares

3 C. of zucchini, diced

1 C. of Bisquick

1 1/2 C. of Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 tsp. of  Oregano, dried

1/2 C. of vegetable oil

4 Eggs, beaten

1 C. of pepperoni, iced

1/2 tsp. of  Salt

1/2 C. of onion, chopped

2 T. of Parsley, dried

1 Clove garlic, crushed or pressed

1/2 C. of Green pepper, chopped/optional

 

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Combine everything in a large bowl but the eggs and the oil. Beat the eggs and add them to the oil in a small bowl. Stir to mix. Add the eggs and oil to the other ingredients and stir until blended. Spread evenly into a lightly greased 9″ x 13″ pan. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes at 350ºF Cut into squares and serve hot or cold. Makes 12 large squares. Tastes a lot like pizza.

 

 

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Shrimp Bread Salad with Golden Garlic Vinaigrette

Shrimp Bread Salad with Golden Garlic Vinaigrette

About 5 thick slices day-old country-style bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 7 C.)

3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks

For the Vinaigrette:

7 T. extra-virgin olive oil

4 tsp. finely chopped garlic

1/2 teaspon Spanish or Hungarian sweet paprika

2 T. aged sherry vinegar (or red-wine vinegar)

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp in the shell or about 42 frozen, cleaned large shrimp, defrosted

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

1 C. loosely packed basil leaves, cut in a chiffonade

 

FOR THE SALAD: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until they’ve dried out and turned golden brown, 14 to 18 minutes. Remove them from the oven. When cool, combine the bread with the tomatoes in a large bowl. Set aside.  FOR THE VINAIGRETTE: Set a small, heavy skillet over low heat with 6 T. of the olive oil and the chopped garlic. Cook, stirring or shaking the pan frequently, until the garlic turns a pale gold, 6 to 7 minutes. Bear in mind that the garlic will continue to cook from the retained heat of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the paprika, vinegar, and lemon juice. Season well with salt and pepper. Pour half of the mixture (about 1/4 C.) over the bread and tomatoes. Stir well to combine and set the remaining vinaigrette aside.  FOR THE SHRIMP: If using shrimp in the shell, peel and devein them. If using cleaned, defrosted shrimp, skip this step. Either way, dry the shrimp well with paper towels and set aside. Set a large skillet over high heat with the remaining 1 T. of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they’re just cooked through and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes; cut one in half to check. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the remaining garlic vinaigrette to the pan, stir with the shrimp, taste, and adjust seasonings, if necessary.   TO SERVE: Add the shrimp, thyme leaves, and basil to the bread and tomatoes. Toss and serve immediately.

 

 

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Spinach and Cheese Strata

Spinach and Cheese Strata

spinachcheese3 tbsp. unsalted butter
1½ cups onion, finely chopped
2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 tsp. salt, divided
½ tsp. pepper, divided
Dash freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed French or Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
6 oz. coarsely grated Gruyere (about 2 cups)
2 oz. finely grated Parmesan (about 2/3 cup)
9 large eggs
2¾ cup milk

 

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the onions to the pan and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add ½ teaspoon of the salt, ¼ teaspoon of the pepper, and the nutmeg, and continue to cook for 1 minute more.  Stir in the spinach, remove from the heat and set aside. Butter the inside of a 2½-3 quart baking dish.  Layer the bottom of the dish with one third of the bread cubes.  Top with one third of the spinach mixture and one third of each of the cheeses.  Repeat these layers twice more with the bread, spinach and cheese. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, milk, the remaining ½ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper.  Whisk together until blended.  Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and spinach layered in the baking dish.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours or up to 1 day. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.  Bake uncovered until puffed, golden brown and cooked through, 45-55 minutes.  Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving.

Asparagus & Cheese Tart

Asparagus & Cheese Tart

1 frozen puff pastry

2 C. Shredded Gruyere Cheese

1 Lb. of Thin to Medium Asparagus

1 T. Olive Oil (a drizzle)

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Follow the instructions on the package to thaw out pastry sheet. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle flour down on work surface and roll out the pastry sheet to form a rectangle. (I made mine about 8″ x 16″. This size worked well with the size of asparagus I had). Place the formed dough on a cookie sheet. With a knife score the edge of the rectangle about one inch from each side. This will form your outer crust. With a fork, poke inside the scored crust to allow the outer crust to puff in the oven but keeping the center a flat surface. Pre-cook the dough for 15 minutes. Pull out of oven to assembe the tart ingredients. Wash and prepare the asparagus trimming the ends at least by an inch. Trim it to the proper length to fit within your designed rectangular shape. Place cheese at center of crust and along the rectangular length. Add salt and fresh ground peppercorns. Place each asparagus piece on top of cheese. You will need to alternate between the top and the bottoms of the piece of asparagus to allow the asparagus to better sit on top of the tart. After the tart is assembled, drizzle olive oil on top of the asparagus. Bake for 25 minutes. The tart can be served immediately or is great served room temperature.

 

 

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Spinach and Mushroom Crêpes

Spinach and Mushroom Crêpes

Button Mushrooms

EVOO

Dried Thyme

Salt and Pepper

Goat Cheese

Spinach

 

Rinse, trim, and thinly slice 1 1/3 pounds brown or white mushrooms. In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium heat, stir mushrooms often in 2 T. olive oil until browned, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with 3/4 tsp. dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Spread about 2 T. fresh chèvre (goat cheese), 1/3 C. rinsed fresh spinach leaves, and 1/4 C. mushroom mixture down the center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

 

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Chicken-Pesto Crêpes

Chicken-Pesto Crêpes

Pesto

Shredded Cooked Chicken

Roasted Red Peppers

Swiss Cheese

 

Spread about 1 T. purchased pesto down the center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Top with about 1/4 C. shredded cooked chicken, 2 T. thinly sliced canned peeled roasted red peppers, and 2 T. shredded Swiss or parmesan cheese. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

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Leek and Apple Crêpes

Leek and Apple Crêpes

Fuji or other sweet Apples

Butter

Leeks

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Juice

Crème Fraiche

Salt and Pepper

 

Peel, core, and coarsely chop 5 sweet apples such as Fuji (about 2 1/2 lbs. total). In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium heat, melt 2 T. butter. Add 1 C. thinly sliced well-rinsed leeks (tender white part only) and cook, stirring often, until limp, about 5 minutes. Add apples, 1/3 C. apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and 1/3 C. apple juice. Cook, stirring often, until apples are soft when pierced and all the liquid is evaporated, about 20 minutes. Spread about 1/3 C. apple mixture and 2 T. crème fraîche or sour cream down center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

 

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Smoked Salmon Crêpes

Smoked Salmon Crêpes

Smoked Salmon

Crème Fraiche

Capers

Pepper

 

Spread about 1/4 C. thinly sliced smoked salmon (about 1 1/2 oz.), 2 T. crème fraîche or cream cheese, and 1 tsp. drained capers down center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Sprinkle with pepper. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

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Basic Buckwheat Crepes

Basic Buckwheat Crepes

3 large eggs

1/3 C. all-purpose flour

1/3 C. buckwheat flour (or 1/3 C. more all-purpose flour)

1 C. whole milk

About 2 T. melted butter

 

In a blender or food processor, whirl eggs, all-purpose and buckwheat flours, and milk until smooth, scraping down sides of container as necessary. The buckwheat flour may settle as batter stands; stir before cooking if necessary. Set a nonstick frying pan 8 inches across bottom over medium-high heat; when hot, brush bottom with butter, then wipe out excess with a paper towel. Lift pan from heat and pour in 1/4 C. batter; immediately tilt pan and swirl batter to coat bottom. Crêpe should set at once and form tiny bubbles. Set pan back over heat and cook crêpe until lightly browned at the edge and dry-looking on the surface, 1 to 3 minutes. Run a wide spatula under crêpe edge to loosen. Turn crêpe over and fill immediately.

 

This recipe goes with Smoked Salmon Crêpes, Chicken-Pesto Crêpes, Spinach and Mushroom Crêpes, Leek and Apple Crêpes

 

Chicken-Pesto Crêpes

 

Spread about 1 T. purchased pesto down the center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Top with about 1/4 C. shredded cooked chicken, 2 T. thinly sliced canned peeled roasted red peppers, and 2 T. shredded Swiss or parmesan cheese. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

 

Leek and Apple Crêpes

 

Peel, core, and coarsely chop 5 sweet apples such as Fuji (about 2 1/2 lbs. total). In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium heat, melt 2 T. butter. Add 1 C. thinly sliced well-rinsed leeks (tender white part only) and cook, stirring often, until limp, about 5 minutes. Add apples, 1/3 C. apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and 1/3 C. apple juice. Cook, stirring often, until apples are soft when pierced and all the liquid is evaporated, about 20 minutes. Spread about 1/3 C. apple mixture and 2 T. crème fraîche or sour cream down center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

 

Spinach and Mushroom Crêpes

 

Rinse, trim, and thinly slice 1 1/3 pounds brown or white mushrooms. In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium heat, stir mushrooms often in 2 T. olive oil until browned, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with 3/4 tsp. dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste.  Spread about 2 T. fresh chèvre (goat cheese), 1/3 C. rinsed fresh spinach leaves, and 1/4 C. mushroom mixture down the center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

Smoked Salmon Crepes

Spread about 1/4 C. thinly sliced smoked salmon (about 1 1/2 oz.), 2 T. crème fraîche or cream cheese, and 1 tsp. drained capers down center of each Basic Buckwheat Crêpe in pan (step 4 of crêpe recipe). Sprinkle with pepper. Cook until bottom of crêpe is browned, about 1 minute, then fold two edges over filling, leaving a little exposed.

 

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Lobster Salad Napoleons

Lobster Salad Napoleons

lobster-salad-su-640914-l1 spiny or rock lobster tail (about 1 lb.), thawed if frozen

Lemon dressing

Filo-parmesan pastry (recipe follows)

2 firm-ripe tomatoes (4 to 5 oz. each), rinsed, cored, and thinly sliced

4 cups arugula leaves (about 4 oz.), rinsed and crisped

Salt

 

In a 4- to 5-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add lobster and cook until meat is opaque but still moist-looking in center of thickest part (cut to test), 10 to 12 minutes. Drain lobster; immerse in ice water until cool, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain again. Cut shell open and pull out meat from lobster tail. Coarsely chop lobster, put in a bowl, and mix with 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon dressing. Lay a filo pastry rectangle on each of four dinner plates. Arrange half the lobster mixture, tomatoes, and then arugula equally on filo. Cover each stack with another rectangle and top equally with remaining lobster, tomatoes, and arugula. Set another pastry, cheese side up, on each stack. Offer more dressing and salt to add to taste.

 

Filo-parmesan pastry: You will need 6 sheets of filo dough (about 12 by 18 in.), about 3 tablespoons melted butter, and 6 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese. Lay 1 filo sheet flat (cover remaining with plastic wrap to prevent drying) and brush lightly with butter, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Cover with another filo sheet, brush lightly with more butter, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Continue until all the filo is stacked using the last of the butter and cheese on the top layer. Cut into 12 equal rectangles and transfer to two lightly buttered 10- by 15-inch pans, arranging slightly apart. Bake in a 375° regular or convection oven until golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Use warm or cool.

 

Lemon Dressing:  In a bowl, mix 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel, 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon, and 1 1/2 tablespoons each tarragon wine vinegar and minced shallots. Add pepper to taste.

 

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Broccoli and Turkey Sausage Brunch Casserole

Broccoli and Turkey Sausage Brunch Casserole

8 oz. light turkey sausage

5 C. frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained (about 12-14 oz.); cut large florets in half

1/3 C. chopped green onions

1 1/2 C. shredded, reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (divided)

1 C. part-skim or low-fat ricotta cheese

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 C. egg substitute

1/4 C. fat-free half-and-half

1/2 tsp. garlic and herb salt-free seasoning (Mrs. Dash®) or garlic powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper (add more to taste)

1/4 tsp. salt (add more to taste — optional)

2 large ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with canola cooking spray. Brown sausage in large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, using a potato masher or spatula. Add browned sausage bits, broccoli florets, green onions, and 1/2 C. of cheddar cheese to a large bowl and toss to blend. Spoon into the prepared pan. Add 1/2 C. of the cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs and egg substitute, fat-free half-and-half, garlic seasoning, pepper, and salt to mixing bowl, and beat on medium until smooth. Pour mixture over the sausage and broccoli in pan. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top of mixture in pan and arrange tomato slices on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes in preheated oven. Uncover and bake until cooked throughout (about 15 minutes more). Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

 

 

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Florentine Ham & Cheese Tarts

Florentine Ham & Cheese Tarts

18 eggs

1/2 C. Flour

2 T. Sugar

1 lb. Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 lb. Cottage cheese — large curd

1/2 C. Butter

1 Onion — minced

12oz. Evaporated milk

10oz. Frozen Spinach — thawed

1 lb. Ham Cubes

1/2 tsp. Celery Seed

1/2 tsp. Dry Mustard

1/2 tsp. Bon appetit seasoning

1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

2 T. Flour

 

Sauté together ham, butter, onion, spinach, spices, and 2 tablespoons of flour; set aside. Whisk eggs, sugar, 1/2 cup of flour, and cheeses. Add ham mixture. Ladle into greased muffin cups. Bake for 30 minutes at 325F. Cool completely. Slide knife around each tart to loosen and remove from pans. Reheat on baking sheet at 325F for about 15 minutes. Makes about 30 tarts.

 

Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

Flour for the work surface

1 sheet puff-pastry dough, thawed according to package directions

4 plum tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only

2 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (optional)

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 3-oz. package goat cheese

 

Heat oven to 375° F. Unfold the sheet of puff-pastry dough on a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, thyme leaves, oil, vinegar (if using), salt, and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomato mixture to the pastry, overlapping the tomatoes slightly if necessary, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Crumble the goat cheese over the top. Bake until the dough is puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a couple of minutes before cutting into pieces.

 

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