Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
hors_d_oeuvres [2017/01/14 05:34]
Leslie Cambias
hors_d_oeuvres [2017/06/03 20:20] (current)
Leslie Cambias [Party Frittata]
Line 10: Line 10:
  
  
-Melt butter in a frying pan and cook, stirring the shelled pecans just until they are lightly toasted.. ​ Put into a serving bowl and salt to your taste.  Serve hot.+Melt butter in a frying pan and cook, stirring the shelled pecans just until they are lightly toasted.. ​ Put into a serving bowl and lightly ​salt them.  Serve hot.
  
 ---- ----
Line 30: Line 30:
  
  
-Peel and seed the cucumber and roughly slice it.  Put it into a processor and puree it quickly, ​ so that it is still quite grainy. ​ A few seconds will do it,  stopping to wipe down the sides. ​ Drain this in the same way as yogurt. ​ +Peel and seed the cucumber and roughly slice it.  Put it into a processor ​with a pinch of salt and puree it quickly, ​ so that it is still a little ​grainy. ​ A few seconds will do it,  stopping to wipe down the sides. ​ Drain this in the same way as yogurt. ​(The juice that drains out is good mixed with V8.) 
  
  
Line 98: Line 98:
  
  
-We used this with great success in stuffed eggs.  Just add the softened butter and cheese mix to the yolks and a very little mayonnaise. ​ Any upscale cheese shop or deli should stock Sapsago, ​ or you may have to order it on line.+We used this with great success in stuffed eggs.  Just add the softened butter and cheese mix to the mashed ​yolks and a very little mayonnaise. ​ Any upscale cheese shop or deli should stock Sapsago, ​ or you may have to order it on line.
 ---- ----
  
Line 159: Line 159:
      *1 teaspoon of cognac  ​      *1 teaspoon of cognac  ​
      *½ cup of whipping cream  ​      *½ cup of whipping cream  ​
-     *1 envelope of gelatine softened in a tablespoon of cold water.+     *1/2 envelope of gelatine softened in a half tablespoon of cold water.
  
 The first thing to do is clean the livers. ​ If the container of livers has a bright green cast because the gall has been left in it, take it back to the store. ​ (The best chicken livers, ​ like the best calf livers, ​ are pale – sort of tan.}  Grasp the liver by the center and pull one side to pull it from the “nerves”. ​  Try to get all  these tough fibers out,  but this is not necessary if the pureed livers are  later forced through a fine sieve. ​  If you are squeamish, ​ partially freeze the livers first. ​ Then you will not squeam. The first thing to do is clean the livers. ​ If the container of livers has a bright green cast because the gall has been left in it, take it back to the store. ​ (The best chicken livers, ​ like the best calf livers, ​ are pale – sort of tan.}  Grasp the liver by the center and pull one side to pull it from the “nerves”. ​  Try to get all  these tough fibers out,  but this is not necessary if the pureed livers are  later forced through a fine sieve. ​  If you are squeamish, ​ partially freeze the livers first. ​ Then you will not squeam.
Line 167: Line 167:
  
  
-In a food processor, ​ puree the livers and onion while warm.  Add cognac, the butter and a good pinch of white pepper. ​ Process until it is smooth. ​ Taste and adjust for salt (remember that cold food requires a little more salt). ​ Pass the puree through a fine sieve to make it luscious. ​ Whip the ½ cup of cream and fold into the cooling puree (this is what makes it a mousse). ​ Put it into an appropriate serving container, level the top surface, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.  It will firm up because of the butter.+In a food processor, ​ puree the livers and onion while warm.  Add cognac, the butter and a good pinch of white pepper. ​ Process until it is smooth. ​ Taste and adjust for salt (remember that cold food requires a little more salt). ​ Pass the puree through a fine sieve to make it luscious. ​ Whip the ½ cup of cream and fold into the cooling puree (this is what makes it a mousse). ​ Put it into an appropriate serving container, level the top surface, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.  It will firm up because of the butter ​in it. 
 +    ​
  
- +You may omit the next step and just strain the cooking liquid through filter paper or cheesecloth,​ add the gelatine, cool and pour it onto the chilled mousse.  ​
-You may omit the next step and just strain the cooking liquid through filter paper or cheesecloth,​ add the gelatine and pour it onto the chilled mousse.  ​+
  
  
Line 216: Line 216:
  
  
-Bring to a boil the water and  unsalted butter and salt.  When boiling, ​ dump in one cup of bread flour all at once,  and stir until it forms a ball.  Let it cook, rolling it around for about a minute, ​ until a white film forms on the pan  This ball of dough is called a panade. ​ Take it out and let it cool a little ​in a mixing bowl.  ​+Bring to a boil the water and  unsalted butter and salt.  When boiling, ​ dump in one cup of bread flour all at once,  and stir until it forms a ball.  Let it cook, rolling it around for about a minute, ​ until a white film forms on the pan  This ball of dough is called a panade. ​ Take it out and let it cool in a mixing bowl.  ​
  
  
-Hand method: ​ Cut up the panade and add 3 to 4 eggs,  one at a time,  beating with a strong wooden spoon to incorporate each egg before adding the next one.  When the dough is soft and smooth, ​ add 4 oz of cheese, cut into very small dice: 1/8 inch or so.  Let it rest for at least 1/2 hour before using.+Hand method: ​ Cut up the panade and add 3 to 4 eggs,  one at a time,  beating with a strong wooden spoon to incorporate each egg before adding the next one.  When the dough is soft and smooth, ​ add 4 oz of cheese, cut into very small dice: 1/8 inch or so.  Let it all rest for at least 1/2 hour before using.
  
  
Line 225: Line 225:
  
  
-Bread flour works best,  as it has more gluten. ​ The dough may be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated. ​ Let it rest for at least an hour before using. Place the dough in a zippered plastic bag, cut off a very small bit of one corner and use it like a pastry bag.  A pastry cone can be put through ​the hole before filling,+Bread flour works best,  as it has more gluten. ​ The dough may be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated. ​ Let it rest for at least an hour before using. Place the dough in a zippered plastic bag, cut off a very small bit of one corner and use it like a pastry bag.  A pastry cone can be put into the hole before filling,
  
  
Line 231: Line 231:
  
  
-These can be made ahead by piping the dough onto the baking sheet, ​ then freezing it.  it works best if they are on silicon baking sheets. Bake as above. ​+These can be made ahead by piping the dough onto the baking sheet, ​ then freezing it. Put into a 375º oven as above. ​
 ---- ----
  
Line 237: Line 237:
 ====Duchesses==== ====Duchesses====
  
-These are a great little cocktail party food.  Make small puffs by the recipe above (omitting the cheese) and cut them horizontally – to make a lid and container. ​ Dry in the oven.  ​+These are a great little cocktail party food.  Make small puffs by the recipe above (omitting the cheese) and cut them horizontally – to make a lid and container. ​ Dry in a turned off oven that is still hot.  Hold the door ajar with a wooden spoon.  ​
  
-Fill with a mix that is not too wet,  such as patés or smoked salmon in cream cheese ​and sour cream with a few capers – or whatever you can dream up.  Cream cheese mixed with curry powder is an old French favorite.. Replace the lids and serve. ​ The puffs get soggy if they are  refrigerated. ​ Try serving as a fill-it-yourself. ​  +Fill with a mix that is not too wet,  such as patés or smoked salmon in cream cheese ​or sour cream with a few capers – or whatever you can dream up.  Cream cheese mixed with curry powder is an old French favorite.. Replace the lids and serve. ​ The puffs get soggy if they are  refrigerated. ​ Try serving as a fill-it-yourself. ​  
 ---- ----
  
Line 296: Line 296:
  
 Drain the oil from 1 jar of artichokes into a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and oregano in  Drain the oil from 1 jar of artichokes into a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and oregano in 
-the oil until soft.  Drain the second jar of artichokes but do not use the oil.  Coarsely chop the +the oil until soft.  Drain the second jar of artichokes but discard ​the oil.  Coarsely chop the
 artichokes (remove any tough leaves) and mix in a bowl with the breadcrumbs, ​ beaten eggs, the  artichokes (remove any tough leaves) and mix in a bowl with the breadcrumbs, ​ beaten eggs, the 
 onion mixture, cheese, salt and pepper. ​ onion mixture, cheese, salt and pepper. ​
Line 302: Line 302:
  
  
-Pour it into an oiled baking dish (7”x11”) and bake in a 325° oven for 30-40 minutes, ​ or until it  +Pour it into an oiled baking dish (7” x 11”) and bake in a 325° oven for 30-40 minutes, ​ or until it  
-feels firm, but not dried out.  Let it cool and cut into small squares, ​ suitable for finger food,  serve with toothpicks.+feels firm, but not dried out.  Let it cool and cut into small squares, ​ suitable for finger food,  serve with wooden picks.
  
  
Line 361: Line 361:
 If you can find Mexican "​sangrita"​ (not sangria), get it -  it is delicious used as a chaser with a sipping tequila. ​ It is made of (my guessing recipe) 2 parts tomato juice, 1 part orange juice, ​ 1/4 part grenadine liqueur. Lime or lemon juice to taste, and a few squirts of Tabasco. ​ It is sweet, sour and hot.  We made it often using this recipe and it tasted good. Let it rest in the fridge for a couple of days before using it. If you can find Mexican "​sangrita"​ (not sangria), get it -  it is delicious used as a chaser with a sipping tequila. ​ It is made of (my guessing recipe) 2 parts tomato juice, 1 part orange juice, ​ 1/4 part grenadine liqueur. Lime or lemon juice to taste, and a few squirts of Tabasco. ​ It is sweet, sour and hot.  We made it often using this recipe and it tasted good. Let it rest in the fridge for a couple of days before using it.
  
 +    ​
  
-Grenadine is very sweet, so you may want to cut back on the amount here,  Experiment. ​   ​ 
  
  
 ---- ----
  
-A touch of orange juice and a minute amount of grenadine in a Bloody Mary provides a slightly sweet note that enriches the flavor.  Not enough to be discernable,​ though.+A touch of orange juice and a minute amount of grenadine in a Bloody Mary provides a slightly sweet note that enriches the flavor. ​
  
 ---- ----
Line 448: Line 448:
  
  
-     *1 pound to 1 & 1/2 pounds button mushrooms+     *1 pound to 1 & 1/2 pounds button mushrooms, cleaned and rinsed.
      *2 cups water      *2 cups water
      *1 stalk of celery, sliced      *1 stalk of celery, sliced