Gourmet Classic Egg Nog
Beat 12 egg yolks until light and gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups of fine white sugar.
Beat until mixture is light coloured and thick.
Turn the mixture into a chilled punch bowl set in crushed ice.
Blend in 1 quart each of milk and heavy cream.
Stir in slowly 1 1/2 quarts of bourbon, 1 pint cognac and then fold in 12 stiffly beaten egg whites.
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup dark rum and freshly grated nutmeg.
Makes about 50 4 ounce servings.
Lemon Roasted Chicken Pollo al Limone
1 free range chicken ( 1.25 kgs)
4 lemons
4 large cloves of garlic, finely sliced into strips
1 branch fresh rosemary
1/4 cup melted butter
salt, black pepper
Wash lemons. Cut 2 into rounds and juice the other 2.
Do not throw out skins of juiced lemons.
Pre heat oven to 180°.
Slice garlic into strips and de-leaf rosemary. Make small holes in the skin over the back of the chicken with the point of a small knife and insert rosemary and garlic.
Rub chicken with salt and pepper.
Incorporate lemon juice with melted butter and brush over chicken. If there is any butter and lemon mixture left over dip sliced baguette in mixture and pop it inside chicken, seal with the skins of juiced lemons. This will perfume the chicken during roasting.
Cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until the juices run clear. Take out of oven, cover with tinfoil and set aside for about 10 minutes before carving.
Serve with fresh steamed french beans drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice.
Boeuf Bourguignon
800 gr beef chopped into cubes
50gr butter
100gr lardons/chopped bacon, not smoked
100gr white small onions
25 gr flour
3 dl red wine ( the better the wine the better the results!!) + a glass for the cook
3 dl good bouillon ( beef/ veal)
Several dried bay leaves
Melt butter in a casserole ( type le creuset/le staub). Add bacon, onions. Sweat then remove aside.
Pat beef with paper towels then brown in same juices.
Sprinkle over flour and pour over hot bouillion.
Add bacon, onions, red wine and bay leaves.Cover and let bubble for about 2.5 hours. Turn off.
30 mins before serving, heat gently and add 100 gr of finely chopped mushrooms. You can leave mushrooms whole if they are not too large for a rustic effect.
Serve with steamed potatoes (or fresh pasta) and chopped parsley...
Smoked Salmon Lox, Dill and Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs
Count 2 eggs per guest
Bunch chopped dill/
Half a slice of smoked salmon per guest
Cream Cheese ( Philadelphia/St Moret)
Butter on hand
Scissor chop dill, cover and set aside
Chop salmon, cover, into fridge
Beat eggs, add pepper, pink peppercorns if you have them.
Have bagels ready, cut in half and ask one of your guests to earn their brunch by toasting them.
Pour mixture into large pan on lowish heat and pull/drag mixture gently towards the middle of the pan with a wooden spoon/spatula.
Add in a few shavings of butter, not too much.
Scatter over salmon, spoon about 2 teaspoons of cream cheese per guest over the top ( just slop it on, don't stir in) and lastly scatter over dill.
Don't leave eggs or they will dry out.
Serve with toasted bagels
Heavenly Green Soup
3 courgettes
large onion
150g chopped lardons/bacon (bacon can be replaced with quality vegetable stock for vegetarians)
1 turnip
bunch chives chopped
bunch flat parsley chopped
3 tablespoons cream cheese
salt & pepper to taste
Method
Chop all vegetables and throw into large pan with bacon. Cover with water and let bubble away gently for about 45 mins checking water level regularly.
Remove from heat and throw in fresh parsley and chives.Let stand for about 15 mins.
Add cream cheese and blend until smooth and green...
Serve with salt, pepper.
Susie's Dark Chocolate and Chestnut Muffins
1 cup natural yoghurt ( Greek is best)
2 large farm free range eggs, beaten
2 cups flour ( you can also use half flour, half bran )
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon/1 sachet baking powder
1/2 cup olive oil
Dark cooking chocolate (I use Nestlé, Corsé 70%)
Chestnut purée or Bonne Maman Confiture de Marron
Method
Pre heat oven 180°
Put yoghurt, eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder, olive oil into a bowl...mix until creamy.
Cut cooking paper into large squares and line muffin tin..paper should go at least an inch over the top.
Spoon 1 large spoon of mixture into each, add a decent spoon of chestnut puree and then top up with muffin batter mixture.
Break off half a line of dark chocolate and insert lengthwise down into the batter...do this for each muffin.
Into oven for about 20 - 25 minutes or until they "smell" cooked...should bounce back at your touch.
Variations...
Apple , Pecan Toasted Rolled Oats : grate a granny smith apple, mix a cup of roughly chopped pecans with a sachet of vanilla sugar, teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup toasted rolled oats
Rhubard, Cardomom & Lime : cup cooked rhubarb, 1/2 teaspoon cardomom powder, zest of a lime
Blueberry & Lemon : cup frozen blueberries, zest of a lemon
Date, Walnut & Marscapone: 1/2 cup chopped dates, 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts, a spoon of marcapone/cream cheese per muffin, zest of lemon
Susie's Red Wine Sausage Hot-Pot
6 Duck sausages (adapt for vegetarians with Tofu sausages)
1 large onion
1/2 teaspoon Piment d'espellette/chilli
2 large fleshy tomatoes, the riper the better, cut into chunks
250 mushrooms, finely sliced
200ml tomato coulis
1 large glass Bordeaux red ( can be substituted with cider, in this case add a chopped apple too )
Method
Brown sausages, set aside
Put olive oil and piment into your Le Creuset casserole pot. Warm through and add chopped onion, sweat.
Add sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, tomato coulis. Simmer and stir through for about 10 mins.
Add wine, pop lid on and siommer gently for about 45 mins.
Serve with Potato and parsely mash.
Mother's Pumpkin Soup
1baby squash
1 large red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 sticks celery, finely chopped
1 large young turnip
250 gr chopped bacon
parsley, chives
1 Creuset casserole pot
Method
Mother used to steam her pumpkin/squash and then peel it. Working mother, I don't have time for that and have learnt ( thank you Janice) to pop it in the microwave with an inch of water and zap for 10 mins. Scoop out the flesh.
*Put chopped bacon, celery and red onion with 2 tablespoons olive oil in pot. Heat should be medium, get them to sweat.
*Peel, chop turnip and add to pot
*Add pumpkin flesh and crushed garlic.
*Cover with about 3 cups of water
*Cover and let simmer for about 45 mins. Check liquid level constantly.
*Mix. I use an electric " wand" which I can put directly into the pot.
*Serve with a spoon of creme fraiche and chopped parsley and chives.
Wednesday 28 10
I love Panna Cotta...its up there with junket, another forgotten delight from childhood. Panna Cotta is wonderful alone or flavoured with seasonal fruits, chocolate, coffee, caramel, whatever...my first Panna Cotta as a child was flavoured with rose water and served with crushed roasted pistachio nuts...here's my basic recipe served with Bonne Maman Chestnut Jam.
Very easy...serve with tuile, amoretti biscuits, or crushed/chopped macarron.
Panna Cotta for 6
500g cream
50g sugar
4 gelatine leaves
1 dessert spoon castor sugar
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla essence
4 tablespoons Bonne Maman Chestnut Confiture
Method
Put cream and sugar in a large pot and heat gently, do not boil. Just before boiling point turn down flame and let simmer for about 10 mins.
Put gelative leaves in a dish and cover with water - leave 10 mins. After 10 mins remove with fingers and add to cream. Stir.
Meanwhile heat chestnut confiture through gently and add 4th gelatine leaf to it, stir until dissolved.
Pour cream mixture and layer with Chestnut Confiture into glasses of your choice..Let set in fridge for around 5 hours.
Friday 23 10
As promised an Artichoke Risotto..this recipe is based around the old classic Risotti alla milanese, Saffron Risotto. I prepare my artichokes separately as I find this is the best way to maintain their delicate flavours...this recipe is dedicated to my neice Kate who is an artichoke fanatic
Susie's Side Artichokes
Buy good quality 400g artichokes in brine, not oil. Buy halved artichokes, they are easier to deal with...
1 teaspoon capers ( something we don't see enough of anymore!)
1 clove garlic, crushed
olive oil
Method
In a wide based pan heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, low heat.
Add capers and crush them with the back of a spoon until mushy. Add garlic.
Drain artichokes well. Add them to caper mixture and toss around until heated through. Turn off heat.
Heat through gently before serving with risotto....I plonk mine on top of risotto served in huge white bowls.
For the Risotto alla milanese
1 onion, not too big
1 litre bouillon/stock, veal is best ( I use fond de veau) but chicken or veg will do
50g butter
400gr arborio or vialone rice
10cl strong dry white wine (plus a glass for the cook!!)
1 dose powdered saffron or decent sized thread ( thread is best!)
parmesan, salt, black pepper to serve
Method
Heat stock
Chop onion and toss it around with half the butter until soft. Add rice. Pour over wine....watchover until the wone has evaporated comppletely then reduce heat.
Pour over stock, add saffron making sure it is well dissolved.
Stand over your risotto pot, continue to stir with love and enjoy your glass of wine...you deserve it!!
When all the liquid is nearly gone, not dry, add the rest of the butter, salt, pepper. It should be creamy in texture..
Serve with artichokes and parmesan...YUMMMMMMMmm
Tuesday 20 10
An easy autumn dessert to warm the soul. Serve in individual beautiful glasses.
Slow Poached Figs & Amoretti Biscuits
1kg figs
glass Sauternes
large packet Amoretti biscuits
Method
Wash figs and place in a large thick based saucepan. Cover with water, sauternes ans let simmer for about 45 minutes. Do NOT boil.
Let cool.
Crumble amoretti biscuits and layer bottom of individual glasses. Top up with fig mixture, let cool in fridge.
Serve with good vanilla ice cream.
Monday 19 10
Chicken & Prawn Green Thai Curry
A spice blast to send all germs running. This can be made easily, anywhere, by anyone. There are lots of shortcuts for busy girls...If you don't have one, buy a wok, they are so useful and versatile. A fabulous meal can be thrown together in a few minutes. Ikea sell them but the best are in quality kitchen shops like Happy Kitchen, Cuisinerie de Chartrons, BHV, etc
Feeds 4 - 6.
green curry paste (Eurasie)
bunch corriander chopped roughly
4 chicken breasts,diced
a handful of frozen prawns (Picard!!)
4 large ripe tomatoes
1 red pepper
300ml coconut milk
sesame oil ( Eurasie )
noodles of choice ( we go for the large Udon noodles which are more digestible)
Method
Put 2 tablespoons of sesame oil with 3 tablespoons of green curry paste in wok.
When heated through throw in diced chicken and toss, then add chopped tomatoes and red pepper.
Pour in coconut milk, add 2 - 3 tablespoons water, chopped corriander and pop lid on wok and let cook for about 15 mins.
Serve with noodles tossed in sesame oil in large bowls.
Sunday 18 10
Walnuts are featuring again. Here's my late mother's fabulous Waldorf Salad. Good served with baked chicken breast or simply with a platter of cheeses.
Mother's Waldorf Salad
1 cup walnuts, toasted ( the toasting is what makes this!), chopped roughly
1 cup dates, chopped
6 celery sticks, sliced
3 granny smith apples, chopped into small pieces ( leave skin on if organic)
1 cup mayonnaise ( goddesses can make their own)
juice of 1 lemon
pinch cinnamon
Method
Toss chopped apples in lemon juice and put aside.
Toss toasted walnuts with cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
Put everything in a bowl and stir through mayonnaise. Chill and serve.
Alternatives : Mother used to turn this into a lunch salad by adding green grapes and chicken to the salad, really delicous...how's that for a 70's throw back!!!
Friday 16 10
End of the week, end of a huge week for some of us. Here's a really quick and easy tart to have with a few well deserved glasses of wine this evening. We'll be drinking Pouilly Fumé..
Cherry Tomato and Pistachio Deep Dish Tart
2 punnets cherry tomatoes
handful pistachios, ground in food processor
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt pepper
Flakey Pastry
Method
Pre heat oven to 160°.
Line a loaf tin with flakey pastry.
Brush pastry with mustard and set aside.
Wash and dry tomatoes, prick them with a fork.
Throw tomatoes over pastry and drizzle over half olive oil.
Scatter with ground pistachios and drizzle over rest of oil.
Cook for 40 - 45 mins. Good hot or cool. Serve with an orgy of delicious ripe cheeses and a green salad.
Sunday 11 10
Walnut Tart
This sinful rich tart full of vitamins will feed 8 easily. Its a recipe I have tried and trusted for many years. Very easy and economical to prepare, it freezes well and can be served hot or cold...
Pâte feuilletée/flakey pastry ( I use Herta Trésor de Grand Mère)
1/2 cup apricot jam
250gr walnuts
250gr fine white sugar
4 eggs separated
3 tablespoons liquid cream
100gr butter softened
50ml cognac
Method
Pre heat oven 180°
Line tart tin with pastry and brush on apricot jam. Set aside.
Throw walnuts into food processor and blend until fairly fine.
Beat egg yolks with sugar until pale and thick then stir in walnuts, cream and cognac.
Beat whites until peaked and fold delicately into walnut mixture. Spoon over pastry.
Cook 40 - 45mins.
Serve with whipped cream....
Friday 10 10
Visitors we love leave and we are all in need of major creamy comfort food and something to crunch down on.
Gorgonzola & Parsley Fettucini
Enough fresh fettucini for all
300gr gorgonzola
1cl liquid cream
100 gr butter
Bunch of flat leaf parsley chopped roughly
Lemon zest
Method
Put gorgonzola, cream and butter together in a pot over a low flame. Stir until melted and smooth..
Cook fettucini and drain.
Pour sauce over pasta, add chopped parsley, lemon zest and serve.
Green Crunch Salad for 4, 5, 6
1 large avocado
3 sticks celery
1 granny smith apple
1 firm cucumber
Lemon juice
Olive oil
1/2 cup fresh walnuts, chopped and toasted
Method :
Roughly chop everything. Throw everything into a beautiful glass bowl, toss and serve.
Good with pasta....
Wednesday 7 10
Sometimes we just need something light and sweet to mark an event. Here's my favourite Pavlova recipe. Its simple to create, creamy, full of berries and there will be no leftovers...
Susie's Berry Pavlova
2 cups white sugar/fine grain
6 egg whites
teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cornflour
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 cup strawberry jam homemade if you are a goddess like moi
3 cups whole raspberries frozen are fine
4cl whipping cream, whipped Fleurette is good if you are in France
Method
Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper/silicone baking sheet ( goddess material!)
Whip egg whites until they peak, slowly add sugar and continue beating for about 10 mins. The mixture should be think and glossy. Beat in cornflour, salt and vinegar.
Throw large dollops of the mixture onto baking tray to form a circle ( or whatever shape you feel like). Do not flatten.
Bake at 190° for about 5 mins and then turn oven down to 130°. Leave at 130° for 1 hour. When the hour is up simply turn off oven and let it cool in the oven.
Just before serving cover in dollops of strawberry jam, throw on the whipped cream , scatter the raspberries.
Friday 2 10
As promised my pesto recipes. They are rather personal so add or delete oil depending on desired "wetness" or texture.
Enjoy....
Susie's Parsley and Walnut Pesto
2 large bunches of flat leaf parsley
1 cup freshly shelled walnuts ( better and cheaper than ready shelled!)
2 tablespoons walnut oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Method
Throw all ingredients into food processor and pulse until mixture is desired texture. Some like it chunky others fine.
Jar and freeze. Lasts about 6 months in freezer. Use immediately and lasts in fridge for about 2 weeks.
*Excellent to use in salad dressings with autumn lettuces such as endive.
*I also use it with fresh pasta and add either low fat cream or very high fat creme fraiche.
*Very good smeared on top of fresh cod and oven baked...mmm!
*Serve as a condiment with raw veg and a glass of chardonnay.
* For a change replace half a bunch of parsley with a half bunch of mint.
Susie's Basil and Pinenut Pesto
2 bunches fresh basil
2/3 cup pinenuts, pan roasted in oven until golden
1/3 cup parmesan
2 tablespoons virgin (like me!!) olive oil
Method, as above.
Thursday 1 10
Will now try to use the most of my veg basket ...and what's in fridge. A 10.5 hour teaching day and not up to much. We had fruit and creme caramel from Bio Chartrons for pudding....now to bed!!
Tomato Home-Tapenade Poached Chicken Easy Tart
Flakey Pastry
Handful black greek olives pitted
Branch of fresh basil
1 large/enormous organic beefsteak tomato
1 tablespoon creme fraiche
1 tablespoon good olive oil
large celery leaf
generous glass dry white wine
knob butter
Put knob of butter into pan, throw in chicken breast....brown then add glass of wine and celery leaf, cover and leave simmer for 30 mins on very very low flame...poach, in other words.
Lay out pastry flat on a baking dish.
In food processor pulse olives and basil with a tablespoon of olive oil.
Slice tomato finely.
Put pulsed olive mixture over pastry, add tomato and a drizzle of olive oil and pop in oven preheated to 180°. Cook 25 mins. Then take out and spread spoon of creme fraiche over top. Turn off over and replace tart inside to stay warm.
Take chicken off heat and dice....take tart out of oven and sprinkle chicken and cooking juices over top.
Serve with green salad...MMMMMMMm, easy!!
Wednesday 30 10
Manic day, dealing with technical probs, freebox technicians, france telecom, broken washing machine, professional obligations...did I mention the household, children, meals etc. I need COMFORT FOOD, creamy chicken and saffron risotto served with steamed asparagus and a glass ( or 2!) of good Bordeaux. Easy, rapid, low cost and delicious....this is dedicated to Laurene, a "mother".
Susie's Comfort Risotto
2 cups arborio rice ( the real stuff from Italy not supermarket label...it goes further!!!!! I buy mine from the italian epicerie on Cours Portal or La Bocca, rue Notre Dame)
5 cups chicken/vegetable stock ( you can buy orgasmic italien porcini mushroom stock from the italian epicerie on Cours Portal : always check salt content in stocks, many of the industrial ones contain msg)
1 cup dry white wine (remember the result is as good as the wine!!)
2 large chicken breasts, boned, and diced ( I'll be off to my favourite foodie shop in Bordeaux for this Gastronomie de Pyrennees, Cours Portal ...recipe doesn't call for a huge quantity and quality counts when feeding my family. Go and see www.gastronomiedespyrenees.fr/
2 large red onions, diced
tomato puree or small can tomato concentrate
handful of grilled cherry tomatoes
pesto
saffron thread
3 tablespoons creme fraiche
shaved fresh parmesan to serve
Method
Heat olive oil and a good knob of butter, throw in onion and cook until soft and golden. Throw in diced chicken breast...remember if you want it golden, dry it first ( thank you Julia Child!!).
Throw in rice and toss around mixture with gay abandon, this is your "creative" moment of the day, enjoy it!! Pour in stock, wine and tomato concentrate. Add saffron thread.
Leave to bubble gently, turning constantly so rice does not stick. If it sticks try a teaspoon of cold water, this usually works. Don't over stir otherwise result will be savoury porridge.
When rice is cooked and liquid absorbed ( never too dry) fold in some pesto and the creme fraiche. Serve immediately with cherry tomatoes, grilled until they burst, and parmesan shavings. I serve this in enormous white porcelain salad bowls( 1 per person!) which I bought " for a song" at Ikea.
Give the clan a daily chlorophyl dose with a side dish of freshly steamed asparagus. If you can't find fresh go see Picard....
Enjoy, relax....
Tuesday 29 09
First major day back at work. Great wine business students but came home drained feeling like I could do with a bit of the wine myself. Hence easy meal.
Truc - Leftovers are my favourite gadget...given the current financial climate they should be yours too!!
Pat's Basil and Corn Soup VF
( VF =vegetarian friendly)
My mother's easy corn soup recipe. Its a "dah" recipe which even your teenage sons who smell like hamsters could make.
1 large onion
1 large can of whole sweet corn
3cl of either vegetable or chicken stock
( ok make your own if you are a kitchen goddess or buy fab veg or stock cubes from Bio Chartrons boutique, or any other bio/organic shop, Knorr Chicken cubes are really good too. I will put a chicken stock recipe below for those of you who have the goddess in them)
handful of fresh large leaf basil
2cl milk
4 giant tablespoons creme fraiche
(it's "good" fat!! quote Mary)
Method :
Sauté chopped onion until golden. Add drained corn, leave simmer 5 mins ( meanwhile pour yourself a glass of chardonnay, you derserve it, you do two jobs, work and domestic executive).
Add basil, milk and creme fraiche. Simmer 10 mins, little simmer only not big bubbly simmer.
Take off heat. Mix, salt and pepper, serve.
Extras : You could add steamed baby asparagus spears, smoked lardons or even a little smoked fish on top. I usually just attack with a dash of Piment D'Espellette. I buy this always from the Pyrenee Epicierie and Butcher on Cours Portal, Gastonomie des Pyrenees, 12 Cours Portal. Always buy AOC piment d'espellete. Anything else is too fine and not in "petals" as it should be.
So, let them eat soup......add a nice green mesculin salad with a few cheeses. Dessert, what better than some seasonal fruit. Well that's great in theory....we are actually having leftover Raspberry Tiramisu. Recipe below.....
Susie's Raspberry and Lemon Zest Tiramisu
(I love Tiramisu...unpretentious as I am( ha ha!!) I can actually admit it reminds me of childhood trifle but better..)
1 packet "boudoir" biscuits
1 box marscapone
zest of one lemon
punnet of fresh raspberries ( or go to Picard for frozen ones!!)
2 cups expresso
2 eggs separated
5 tablespoons fine sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar
Method :
Separate eggs, beat whites until they "peak". Mix yolks, sugars with marscapone then fold in yolks. Set aside.
Dip biscuits into expresso and line dish bottom with them. Add half your raspberries then half marscapone mix. Do that again on top....sprinkle final layer with zest. Pop in fridge.
Chicken Stock GO
(GO = Goddesses only!)
6 chicken drumsticks
2 carrots
1 large golden onion
1 stick celery
a few bay leaves
some lemon tyme branches
Put all into an enormous pot and cover with water up to one third more than volume. Boil and boil until its reduced to half. Either take chicken off bones and set aside for a pasta sauce ( for example) or simply drain and then wizz up what's left over ( obviously not the bones!!) in food processor. My mother used to leave it out overnight then drain and keep just the juices....she would add freshly chopped celery and carrots, barley, the chicken which as she said " just falls off the bone" and this would become the best best chicken soup.
I put the stock into ice trays, cover and keep in the freezer. Practical and cheap!!
12 comments:
Just looking at the photo made me want to make your fettucini!
Does your FH realise how lucky he is!!
Very funny haircut post! And have been there too, asymetric, with Ronald MacDonald color to go.
Love your blog.
I've given up on hairdressers here and cut my own. Great blog and what yummy recipes!
As usual, very very funny. Can I call you Hillary?
@ Nikki...thanks for your comments. If you knew what I could do with cooking shears you would never have told me you cut your own hair!!!
Very funny...in a sad-I'm-so-sorry-this-happened-but-man-I-get-it sort of way. I've been here in France for almost 3 years. Every time I've tried to get my haircut, the hairdresser goes on and on about my thick hair and how beautiful it is...and then proceeds to wack it all out with a razor. The result is always a poor, middle-aged woman whose hair is obviously thinning! I stopped going and just let my hair grow. But yesterday I found somebody! Somebody who gets it! I can't tell you what a perfect week it has turned out to be. Or maybe I shouldn't tell you. That would be insensitive to your current plight.
@ Delana, Thank you for your message. A ray of hope. Yes for us thick haired anglosaxons going to the hairdresser can be frightful. If you are in Bordeaux do tell the name of your hairdresser....!!
ps Delana's blog is very funny...http://delana-dujour.blogspot.com/
Loving your relationship with the peanut butter jar!!
Made this last night. I love you all over again
Made this last night after a long and boring day in the shop. Proper lifted my spirits it did xxx
I posted twice. I loved it that much
@ Julia at Lily B..so glad you enjoyed. Now try making the amaretto cake for pudding!
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