• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix creme fraiche or sour cream, shallots, dill and one tablespoon lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (Mixture can be prepared a day ahead. Keep chilled.)
Peel and finely grate potatoes. Wash potatoes under cold water. Drain well. Toss potatoes with 2 tablespoons butter in bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Add remaining butter. Spoon 1/2 cups of grated potatoes in the skillet to make four round galettes.
Using a metal spatula, press and flatten potatoes into pancakes. Cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook until bottom is golden, about 4 minutes. Invert galette with a metal spatula. Cook until bottom is golden, about 4 minutes.
Transfer pan to oven; cook until galettes are crisp, about 10 minutes.
PRESENTATION
Place galettes on warm plates. Spread with creme fraiche. Top with salmon. Drizzle with a squeeze of lemon juice on each plate. Season with pepper. Garnish with caviar, (optional) and chives.

• preparation

Tenderize the conch to 1/8-inch thickness, using a meat mallet.
Place the conch in a pot of water. The water should just cover the conch. Boil for 20-30 minutes.
In a large pot, add the oil and allow to heat up for a minute.
Add the flour and stir to make a roux. Let the roux simmer for about 5 minutes. Don't let the roux burn!
Add the tomatoes, onions, thyme, pepper sauce/red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir and let simmer for a minute or two.
Add the potatoes, tomato paste. Stir and let simmer for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, take the conch out of the water and cut it into small chunks.
Add the water, conch and the juice of 1 lime to the large pot.
Cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are done, about 30 minutes.
Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary.

• preparation

Heat oil in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion, peppers, celery, garlic, thyme and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook until tender and starting to brown, about 10 minutes. Add vinegar, tomatoes, tomato paste and ¼ cup water. Reduce heat to low, and cook 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Reserve sauce.

To make fungi, bring 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boil. Whisking constantly, gradually add cornmeal in thin stream. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring frequently, until it holds its shape on a spoon but the cornmeal is tender, at least 15 minutes. Add more water if it becomes thick but the cornmeal is still tough. Add butter and okra. Add salt to taste.

In a wide saucepan, bring 8 cups water to boil. Add lime juice, and reduce heat to low. Add fish. Simmer 10 minutes, or until it flakes easily with fork. Drain well.

To serve, put 2 scoops fungi and a fish fillet on each plate. Spoon sauce over and around fish.

• preparation

Thoroughly wash the chicken pieces and reserve on paper towel to dry.
Combine the flour with half (half a teaspoon) of the salt and place in a large bowl and reserve.
Combine all remaining dry spices and herbs in a small bowl. Season chicken pieces and mix well.
In a separate bowl combine the two eggs with the milk and whisk. Dip the chicken in the milk and egg mixture and then into the flour.
Repeat and reserve the chicken pieces.
Using a deep fryer or a large cast iron pan with high sides, fill the pan until it is almost half filled with the oil.
Heat the pan over medium high.
Place 4 pieces of the chicken into the pan and let them cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook another 6 - 10 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove the chicken and reserve.
Fry the last four pieces of chicken in the same manner. Serve the chicken warm.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix creme fraiche or sour cream, shallots, dill and one tablespoon lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (Mixture can be prepared a day ahead. Keep chilled.)
Peel and finely grate potatoes. Wash potatoes under cold water. Drain well. Toss potatoes with 2 tablespoons butter in bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Add remaining butter. Spoon 1/2 cups of grated potatoes in the skillet to make four round galettes.
Using a metal spatula, press and flatten potatoes into pancakes. Cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook until bottom is golden, about 4 minutes. Invert galette with a metal spatula. Cook until bottom is golden, about 4 minutes.
Transfer pan to oven; cook until galettes are crisp, about 10 minutes.
PRESENTATION
Place galettes on warm plates. Spread with creme fraiche. Top with salmon. Drizzle with a squeeze of lemon juice on each plate. Season with pepper. Garnish with caviar, (optional) and chives.

• preparation

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Start by rehydrating the dried porcini mushrooms. Place them in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let them soak for about 20 minutes or until they are soft. Drain and chop them coarsely.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sauté until they become translucent.

Add the fresh mushrooms and rehydrated porcini mushrooms to the skillet. Cook them until they release their moisture and start to brown. This should take about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a separate saucepan, heat the heavy cream and milk over low heat. Once it's warm, add half of the grated Parmesan and half of the grated Gruyere cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.

If you want to add a layer of potatoes, arrange the thinly sliced potatoes in a greased baking dish first. Then layer the mushroom mixture on top.

Pour the cheese sauce over the mushrooms and potatoes (if using).

Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and Gruyere cheese on top of the gratin.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the gratin is bubbling.

Garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired and serve your delicious gratin aux porcini hot.

• preparation

Wash cauliflower and cook in boiling water until done.
Cool, drain and cut into small pieces.
Place in a salad bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and mix with cauliflower. Marinate for 1 hour in refrigerator.

• preparation

Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl, and line the strainer with cheesecloth.
Add the tomato water ingredients to a blender or food processor, and pulse until pulpy or finely chopped. (You may need to cut the tomatoes or in large chunks to get it next to the blade. If you do, make sure to pour any extra juice in with them!)
Pour the mixture into the prepared strainer, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or up to a day.
Tip: for clear tomato water, don’t press or stir the pulp.
Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

A favorite application for Tomato Water is, by far, the Farmers Market cocktail. It's like a wine-based Bloody Mary, and it might be my favorite libation ever.
Mix 5 ounces California Pinot Noir,Gamay, Cinsault, Grenache, Counoise
with 3 ounces tomato water. Add
Dash of sea salt, and Ice. Garnish with: tomato + basil + fresh mozzarella on toothpick
*make a “Spicy Farmers Market” by adding 3 slices of fresh jalapeno or serrano pepper.




how to make tomato water and wine bloody mary

A favorite application for Tomato Water is, by far, the Farmers Market cocktail. It's like a wine-based Bloody Mary, and it might be my favorite libation ever.


You can double this recipe if you have a bowl + strainer big enough. You can add fresh herbs or peppers or even an onion. It's your tomato goodness, after all. Once you try it, I'm pretty sure you'll be making it again.

You can also use the water to make a more traditional Bloody Mary with vodka, use it in vinaigrette + salad dressing for knockout flavor, or use it in place of vegetable stock.
You can make Tomato Sorbet. You can even drink it by itself, which is what I often do. Sometimes with a little ice and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of club soda. Sometimes straight - no chaser.

You can double this recipe if you have a bowl + strainer big enough. You can add fresh herbs or peppers or even an onion. It's your tomato goodness, after all. Once you try it, I'm pretty sure you'll be making it again.


NOTES
Use the remaining solids for pasta, salsa, soups or smoothies.
Store refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Recipe can be doubled.

• preparation

Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add celery and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add shallots and garlic; sauté until shallots are tender. Transfer mixture to large bowl.
Mix in all remaining ingredients except beef broth. Add enough broth to moisten stuffing.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Set aside about half of the stuffing to fill crown roast of pork cavity. Transfer remaining stuffing to loaf pan large enough to hold stuffing. Cover with foil. Bake stuffing in pan alongside roast during last 1 hour of cooking until thermometer inserted into center registers 155 °F, about 1 hour.
Invert stuffing in pan onto platter. Slice stuffing and serve with roast.

• preparation

In a large bowl, stir flour, cereal, baking powder, baking soda and seasonings.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs thoroughly. Stir in carrots, buttermilk, brown sugar and oil.
Add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in raisins. Spoon into greased muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 400 degrees F. for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer muffins on a rack to cool.

• preparation

Heat oven to 325°F.
Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

Bake 45 to 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim.
Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours. Top with strawberries just before serving.

• preparation

For the crust:
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Process the cookies in the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until moistened. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.

For the filling:
Melt the chopped chocolate until smooth. Let cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the sugar, cream, and cocoa powder and beat** until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate until just combined. Do not to overbeat.

Pour the batter into the cooled crust. Place the springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the top looks slightly dry and the middle is slightly wobbly. Turn off the oven and crack the oven door open and allow to cool for 10 minutes as this helps prevent cracking. Remove the cheesecake from the oven to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 4 hours. Release the cheesecake from the pan onto a cake stand or serving plate.


For the topping:
Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the cream just until simmering. Pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes before stirring until the mixture is melted and smooth. If needed, allow to cool and thicken. Pour over the cheesecake.

** Do not overbeat the batter as it adds air which causes the cake to crack in the center when cooked as it cools.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine the blueberries, apples, sugar,
cornstarch and lemon juice.
Spoon in an oven proof casserole dish.
Topping:
Combine the dough and crumble by hand over fruit.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown
and apples are tender.
Serve warm with cream or ice cream.

• preparation

Heat oven to 325°F.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add eggs; mix just until blended. Remove 1 cup batter; stir in pumpkin and spices.
Pour remaining plain batter into crust; top with pumpkin batter.
Bake 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, butter and confectioners sugar. Press evenly in ungreased 8x8x2 inches pan, building up 1/2-inch edges.
Bake 20 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat remaining filling ingredients until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Pour over warm crust. Bake about 25 minutes or until center is firm. Cool. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Cut into 25 1-1/2-inch squares.