Escargots à la Bourguignonne

The classic escargot recipe

4 dozen snails
3 tsp minced parsley
1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
½ tsp salt
1 clove garlic, peeled and mashed
⅛ tsp of pepper
2 tbsp minced shallots or scallions
fresh white breadcrumbs
4 dozen snail shells (optional)

Escargots à la Bourguignonne is actually escargot cooked with beurre à la bourguignonne.
Drain snails and pat dry on paper towel. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Burgundy butter: Mash garlic into a paste and combine with finely chopped shallots and parsley. Add salt and pepper and mix in butter. Place a small dab of the butter in the bottom of the shell, push a snail into the shell, and cover the snail with generous dab of the butter mixture. If using an escargot dish, put a small amount of snail butter in each section and push a snail into the butter. Top with a generous dab of butter.
For best results refrigerate at least one hour.
Sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake, uncovered, 10-12 minutes. When piping hot, serve along with some good French bread accompanied by a young red wine, such as a Beaujolais.

Adapted from Le Guide Culinaire by August Escoffier.

For other escargot recipes see here.

Download pdf here.

Marinated Mozzarella Balls

by Meghan McMorrow

Ingredients

• ¾ cup good extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano finely chopped
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
• ¼ tsp kosher salt or to taste
• 16 ozs bocconcini or ciliegine mozzarella drained

Instructions

• Mix together the olive oil, garlic, herbs, red pepper flakes and salt.
• Add the mozzarella balls, stir to fully coat.
• Allow to marinate for an hour or longer. The longer they marinate, the better the flavors will be. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to five days.

Notes

Makes approximately 44 mozzarella balls; amount will vary depending on brand and packaging.  Download pdf here.

Caprese Skewers

 

Ingredients
15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
30 fresh mini mozzarella balls (or a large ball cut into bit-sized pieces or use a melon baller)
30 small or 15 large basil leaves
1 cup reduced balsamic vinegar
30 mini skewers or large toothpicks

Method
Pour 1 cup balsamic vinegar into a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until it’s the consistency of maple syrup. Let cool. (Or you can replace this with store-bought balsamic reduction, if available.)

Method
Skewer a mozzarella ball then a basil leaf then onto half of a  cherry tomato, cut side down. Drizzle a little of the balsamic glaze on each skewer. 

Download pdf here.

Fig and Onion Crostini

Ingredients:

3 figs, chopped
2 figs thinly sliced, about ⅛"
1 tsp mustard seeds
4 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
1 inch fresh ginger, finely grated. About 2 tsps
1 red onion, chopped
1 cinnamon stick
100g manchego cheese
1 baguette cut into ¼-½" slices
Sprig of fresh thyme for garnish

Method

Make onion-fig chutney. In a small saucepan, add the chopped onion, sugar, mustard seeds, spices, ginger and vinegar, and cook together slowly until the onion is completely softened. Add the fig wedges and cook for another 5 - 10 minutes until the figs are just starting to break down. Remove the cinnamon stick.

Construction

Brush olive oil over the baguette slices and grill under the broiler until toasted.

Top the baguette slices with shaved manchego and chutney. Place a slice of fig on top and sprinkle with a few leaves of fresh thyme.

Download pdf here.

Hunter's Chicken

Poulet chasseur by Paul Bocuse

One of my favourite chicken dishes is by the great French chef, Paul Bocuse. It seems like such a simple dish judging by the ingredient list, but tastes wonderful! I added the green beans as an option to make it a complete meal.

• 1 chicken
• 2 shallots
• ⅓ lb mushrooms
• 4 tomatoes, peeled and halved
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 sprig thyme (or ¼ tsp dried thyme)
  
• 1 small bunch parsley
• ½ bay leaf
• A few sprigs of tarragon (or ¼ tsp dried tarragon)
• A few celery leaves (or ¼ tsp celery seed)
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• ½ lb green beans (optional)
  

Method:

1. Cut up the chicken into serving-size pieces and season with salt and pepper.

2. Peel the shallots, clean the mushrooms, and combine with the tomatoes and herbs.

3. Heat the oil in a stew pot and lightly brown the chicken on all sides.

4. Add the garlic, celery leaves, white wine, and the tomato-mushroom mixture [and green beans if including].

5. Allow to cook uncovered over moderate heat for half an hour [or for 8 hours in a slow cooker].

6. Remove the pieces of chicken, set them aside and keep warm, and reduce the sauce for about 10 minutes over high heat.

7. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.

Download pdf here.

Source: Paul Bocuse à la Carte, trans. Colette Rossant, Pantheon Books, New York, 1987. p67

Caramelized Pears

by Martha Stewart

This is a simple, fast dessert that pairs well with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. Anjou and Bartlett are the best choices for this dish — they're sweet and juicy and hold their shape when cooked.
Serves 6

Ingredients
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 medium pears, such as Anjou or Bartlett, quartered and cored
¼ cup packed light-brown sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Salt
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high. Add pears, one cut side down, and cook until browned, then reduce heat to medium and cook 3 minutes. Turn pears to other cut side and cook 4 minutes. Add brown sugar and 1 tablespoon water, swirling pan to combine. Turn pears skin side down and cook until sauce is thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla and pinch of salt (unless you used salted butter). Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Oils and Fats

One of the best oils for cooking and eating is avocado. Avocado oil has the highest smoke point of any regularly available oil — 250°C (482°F).

Avocado oil is high in monounsaturated fats (as found in red meat, dairy, nuts and olive oil) and vitamin E. It also enhances the absorption of carotenoids and other nutrients.

Like olive oil, the best is unrefined virgin oil, the next best is regular pure oil. The key is to make sure you are actually getting pure oil. A study in the U.S. found many brands (both imported and domestic) were rancid, and some were adulterated with cheaper oils. One brand contained no avocado oil!

Of those tested, the best virgin oil was CalPure Extra-Virgin Avocado Oil. Of the pure oils Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil and Marianne's Avocado Oil were found to be fresh and pure.

 

 

Scotch Eggs

"These are the ultimate picnic snack. ”

Serves 8    Cooks In 40 minutes

Ingredients:

10 large eggs

8 sausages (or 1 lb sausage meat)

½ bunch of fresh chives

½ bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 whole nutmeg, for grating

1 tbsp English mustard

plain flour, for dusting

1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs

2 litres peanut or vegetable oil

Method:

1. Put 8 eggs (reserve 2 for dipping) into a pan of cold water and bring to the boil. Boil for 6 to 7 minutes, then transfer to a bowl of cold water. Once cooled, carefully peel them.

2. Squeeze the sausages out of their skins and into a bowl.

3. Pick and finely chop the herb leaves, add to the sausage meat along with a good grating of nutmeg, the mustard and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Give it all a good mix together then divide into 8 balls.

4. Have 3 plates ready: one with a small handful of flour, one with the two remaining eggs beaten together, and a third with the breadcrumbs.

5. Start by flouring your hands, then in the palm of one hand, flatten one of the sausage balls into an oval-shaped patty.

6. Roll a peeled egg in flour, then pop it in the middle of the patty. Gently shape the meat evenly around the egg, moulding it with your hands until sealed.

7. Roll the meat-wrapped egg in the flour, shake off any excess, then dip into the beaten egg, followed by the breadcrumbs. Roll in the egg and breadcrumbs again for a really good coating.

8. Heat the oil in a deep pan or deep fat fryer to about 300ºF. If you have a cooking thermometer it’s a good idea to use it. Otherwise, test if the oil is hot enough by adding a piece of raw potato and leaving it for about 1 minute – if it sizzles and browns, it’s ready.

9. Carefully lower the eggs into the pan and cook for 4 minutes, or until golden, turning them every so often. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper (if you’re worried about the meat being under-cooked, deep-fry the scotch eggs until they’re golden and crispy, then pop them in a hot oven for a couple of minutes.)

10. Cool the Scotch eggs slightly, then arrange on board with a good piece of Scottish Cheddar, some pickles.

© 2021 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

Steak & Mushroom Pie

by Paul Kiely (BBC Good Food)

INGREDIENTS:
1½ chuck steak trimmed
3 tbsp peanut or olive oil
3 tbsp plain flour
2 medium onions halved & sliced
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
⅓ cup red wine
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cups beef stock
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs thyme
2 tbsp butter
¾ lb mushrooms halved (or quartered if large)

FOR THE SHORTCRUST PASTRY
250g cold butter cubed
400g plain flour plus extra for rolling
1 large egg with 2 tbsp cold water whisked together
1 beaten egg to glaze


METHOD:

1. Cut steak into 1 inch cubes and season. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in frying pan and over a high heat fry meat till well browned all over. Do this in 2 batches to avoid "steaming" meat; add an extra tablespoon of oil if the pan is dry. Place beef in casserole dish and toss it in flour.
2. Preheat oven to 250°F. Cook the onions then the garlic over a medium heat until golden and soft then mix with beef in casserole dish. De-glaze pan with red wine and Worcestershire sauce and bring to boil whilst stirring. Spooning any residue from the pan or strain through a sieve.
3. Pour sauce over the beef and add stock and bay leaf. Bring to the boil on top of the stove then cover with lid and cook in oven for 1 ½ hours, or put in slow cooker.
4. Meanwhile, melt butter in frying pan and cook mushrooms until lightly browned, then add to beef and return casserole to the oven for another 30 mins (2 hours in total).
5. To make the pastry, rub the butter into the flour with a generous pinch of salt and mix with fingertips until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in egg and water mixture. Bring together to form a dough and knead very lightly. Divide the dough into 2/3'ds for base and 1/3'ds for the top. Roll into balls, flatten slightly, wrap each ball in cling film and chill for 20 mins. If preparing dish early in day (or day before) you can prepare to this point and store filling and dough in fridge until next day or when ready to assemble. Remember to bring dough to room temperature before rolling.
6. Heat oven to 400°F. Roll out larger ball of pastry and use to line a greased 9" pie dish. To avoid a soggy base, sprinkle the pastry base with a spoonful of semolina then spoon in beef, onions and mushrooms using a slotted spoon, adding just enough of the liquid to be "saucy." Save remaining sauce and gently reheat and serve with finished pie. Brush the pastry rim with a little beaten egg. Roll out the smaller ball of dough for the pie top and gently lay it over the filling. Use a sharp knife to trim any overhanging pastry (you can use surplus to decorate top of pie). Crimp edges with fingers or fork, brush with beaten egg to glaze. Bake in oven for 30 mins until pie is golden brown and filling is piping hot. Serve with heated gravy.

Grain Free Onion Rings

by Gina Grad
Grain Free Comfort Food

Keto air fryer onion rings are the new obsession in our house.

Two things I would absolutely recommend in order to get the best rings possible are:

1. Use sweet onions!! This will ensure they have that wonderful sweet flavor of restaurant onion rings. If you can’t get your hands on sweet then yellow is your next best bet.

2. Let them cool on a rack or cookie sheet instead of a plate! This will keep them from getting soggy on the bottom and losing all their crispness!


Ingredients
2 large sweet onions (Vidalia, etc.)
1 ½ cups pork panko (see recipe below)
½ cup grated Parmesan (optional)
½ cup all coconut flour (or almond flour)*
3 eggs, beaten
1 splash of milk (a little less than ¼ cup)
Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika to taste

* - You won’t really be using a half cup of flour—just a little for dusting! But it’s easier to do when there’s enough in the bowl to swirl around.

Directions
1. Pre-heat air fryer at 370 for 3-5 minutes.

2. Slice onion into ¼ inch slices.

3. Separate the rings and place in a pile.

4. Whisk eggs and milk together.

5. Take each ring and dredge, in order, the flour then the egg/milk mix and finally the panko/parm seasoning mix.

6. Place rings in air fryer so they’re spread out (but you can place little ones inside big ones).

7. Cook at 370°F for 6 minutes.

8. Continue cooking in batches and serve with ranch or your favorite dipping sauce!

Copyright © 2021 Grain Free Comfort Food

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Home-made Pork Panko

The latest in grain-free alternatives and keto friendly coatings is pork panko which, as the name suggests, in a panko-looking breading coating that is made from pork rinds rather than wheat.
You can buy commercially made pork panko but it is very simple to make at home.

For ingredients all you need is a bag of pork rinds.

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300°F

2. Spread a bag of pork rinds evenly over a baking sheet

3. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes to reduce the residual water content in the rinds

4. Remove and let cool on a rack

5. Put rinds in a large ziplock bag and pound with a meat tenderer (flat side) to brek up into small pieces

6. Put the porke rinds into your food processor

7. Pulse to break the rinds down into smaller pieces, then run processor continuously to powder them to panko-like consistency

8.Remove from the food processor and use as breading immediately or put in a ziplock bag or jar and freeze for later use

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

by Patty Catalano
Pocket.com

This easy beef Stroganoff requires minimal upfront prep (no stovetop browning!), meaning you can toss in all the ingredients in the morning and then return to a warm dinner in the evening.

In this beef Stroganoff, hearty pieces of inexpensive beef cook alongside mushrooms, onion, and broth in the slow cooker. Just before serving, you’ll stir in sour cream to thicken the sauce, giving it a rich and creamy texture. Serve this hearty stew over buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or polenta for a cozy end to a cold winter’s day.

Use inexpensive stew meat. Tough cuts like chuck or bottom round beef are the best choices for braised meat stews like this Stroganoff because they contain collagen. The collagen breaks down into gelatin over long periods of moist heat cooking. The result? Meltingly tender beef.

The creamy gravy is made by coating the stew meat in flour which thickens the sauce during the braise. For a silky-rich finishing touch, whisk in sour cream. Choose full-fat sour cream — reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream or even Greek yogurt are more likely to curdle. To prevent any possible curdling, you can temper the sauce by whisking the sour cream with a few spoonfuls of the warm sauce to preheat the cream before adding it to the final dish.

Yield: Serves 4, Makes 4 cups Stroganoff and 4 cups noodles
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours to 8 hours


Ingredients

2 pounds chuck or bottom round beef stew meat, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1¼ tsps kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 ozs cremini mushrooms, sliced ¼-inch thick
1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1¼ cups low-sodium beef broth
2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces dried egg noodles
2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
1 cup full-fat sour cream (8 ounces)
2 tbsps chopped Italian parsley leaves
Cooking spray

Instructions

Coat a 5-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the beef, flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and toss until the beef is evenly coated. Transfer the beef and any flour left in the bowl to the slow cooker. Add the mushrooms, onion, garlic, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine. Cover and cook until the beef is tender, 6 to 8 hours on the LOW setting, or 3 to 4 hours on the HIGH setting.

30 minutes before you are ready to eat, cook egg noodles according to package directions. Drain, toss with the butter, and set aside.

Gradually and slowly stir the sour cream into the Stroganoff. Serve over buttered noodles and sprinkle with the parsley if desired.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The Stroganoff can be made up to 2 days in advance. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove over low heat.

Storage: Refrigerate Stroganoff and pasta in separate airtight containers for up to 2 days.

© 2021 Read It Later, Inc. Photos by Joe Lingeman

Greek Chicken Thighs

by Gina Grad
Grain Free Comfort Food

If you’re looking for something savory and tangy and bright and comforting, look no further than these chicken thighs!

Ingredients
3 lbs boneless chicken thighs

For the Marinade
1 cup full fat Greek yogurt
½ cup olive oil
zest of 1 ½ lemons
juice of ½ lemon
7 cloves garlic, minced
3 ½ tbsps Greek seasoning
1 ½ tsps Kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper

For the Garnish
6 oz crumbled or cubed feta
1 cup mozzarrella
6 oz of cherry tomatoes, halved
Greek olives (optional)

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 425ºF.
Combine all marinade ingredients in large mixing bowl, tasting and adjusting as you go.
Put chicken thighs in large zip plastic back and pour in marinade, making sure everything is well-coated.
Let marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight. (I say the longer, the better if possible.)v Place contents, including extra marinade into oven safe skillet or casserole dish.
Bake for 25-45 minutes depending on your oven. (Internal chicken temp MUST be at least 165 degrees.)
Take out of oven and add feta, mozzarella and tomato.
Put in broiler for a crispy, caramelized finish, checking every 20-30 seconds so it doesn’t burn.
Let cool for 10-15 minutes and serve with your favorite veggie side dish! (I suggest roasted asparagus tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper!).
You can also have a Greek rice side — plain rice tossed with a little olive oil and lemon juice, salt & pepper.

Copyright © 2020 Grain Free Comfort Food

Guinness-Horseradish Glaze

Dark and delicious, this glaze packs a punch of flavour so works best on hearty roasts, like beef tenderloin, prime rib or a leg of lamb. Our recipe gives instructions for glazing a tenderloin, but for prime rib or a lamb leg start brushing on the glaze 30 minutes before the end of cooking time.

 

3 lb (1.5 kg) piece beef tenderloin
1 cup stout, such as Guinness draught
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tsp well-drained prepared horseradish
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp finely minced fresh thyme leaves
Salt & pepper

 

 

 

 

 

1. In a medium saucepan, stir together Guinness and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.

2. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently,
until mixture has reduced to about ⅓ cup (80 mL) and is syrupy, about 20 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and stir in garlic, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Add a pinch of salt and a couple of grinds of freshly ground pepper. Set aside to cool slightly.

4. Preheat oven to 450°F.

5. In a large, heavy ovenproof skillet, brown beef tenderloin on all sides. Brush beef with one-third of glaze, then transfer skillet to oven and roast for 15 minutes. Brush beef with a further one-third of glaze, then roast until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of tenderloin registers 125°F to 130°F for medium-rare, 10 to 15 minutes.

6. Remove beef from oven and transfer to a cutting board. Brush with remaining glaze and let stand for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Makes about 1⁄3 cup; enough for one 3-lb (1.36-kg) beef tenderloin

© 2019 LCBO