Thursday, April 30, 2009

Flan de Fresas - Strawberry Flan

Flan de Fresas - Strawberry Flan

prepared by Lisa


This rich dessert is a variation of the traditional Spanish dessert called "Flan." Instead of vanilla, this flan is flavored with fresh strawberries.

Serves 6

Ingredients
* 1 pint Fresh, Ripe Strawberries
* 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
* 1 can (14 oz) can Condensed Milk
* 6 Eggs
* Caramelized Sugar Topping
* 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
* Mint for Garnish

Preparation

Optional: Reserve about 4-5 diced fresh strawberries for garnish.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Caramelize the Sugar for Topping

Put a heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat for 30 seconds.

Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar.

With the back of a wooden spoon, keep sugar moving constantly in skillet until sugar is completely melted, and of a rich medium brown color (caramelized).

Pour caramelized sugar into each of the ramekins. Set aside.
Prepare Flan

Wash the strawberries and remove the stem. Place the strawberries, sugar eggs and condensed milk in to a food processor or blender and blend until strawberries are minced and all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Ladle the strawberry mixture into each ramekin. Cover each ramekin with aluminum foil.
Place Ramekins in a Water Bath

Place each ramekin into a large open, oven-proof pan, such as a broiler pan. Add very hot water to the pan. The ramekins should be submerged approximately 3/4 in the water. In Spanish, a "water bath" is called a "baño Maria".

Carefully place the pan on to the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, carefully remove each ramekin from the water, uncover and to allow to cool.
Plate, Garnish and Serve

Once cool, place in refrigerator to chill. When you are ready to serve, run a paring knife around the outside of each ramekin to loosen the flan. Then, place the serving plate on top of each one and flip it over. It may be necessary to tap the ramekin to force the flan to fall out onto the plate. Garnish with fresh strawberries and mint. Serve.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Sangria

Sangria
(prepared by Karen)

750 ml bottle Zinfandel
1 c brandy
1 c OJ
1 can 7 up
Lime
Lemon
Orange
Apple

Parmesan-Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon

Parmesan-Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Gourmet | October 2005

These were made by Jeanne and were really yummy!

We modeled these hors d'oeuvres on the little bombs of flavor that Suzanne Goin invented for her Los Angeles restaurant A.O.C. Each bite delivers a huge range of tastes — sweet, salty, and smoky — all at the same time. They're easy to make and completely irresistible; I can't think of a more appealing tidbit to nibble on.


Yield: Makes 6 hors d'oeuvre servings
Active Time: 15 min
Total Time: 25 min

Ingredients:
18 (1- by 1/4-inch) sticks Parmigiano-Reggiano (from a 1/2-lb piece)
18 pitted dates (preferably Medjool)
6 bacon slices, cut crosswise into thirds

Special equipment: 18 wooden picks

Preparation:

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.

Stuff 1 piece of cheese into each date, then wrap 1 piece of bacon around each date, securing it with a pick. Arrange dates 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan.

Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain on a paper bag or parchment. Serve immediately.


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Bread with Mushrooms and Alioli

Not sure if this one really would be good or not, since I left the homemade Aioli home in my fridge and had to prepare the toast and mushrooms without it...Oops! - Molly


Bread with Mushrooms and Alioli
Tostada de Setas

This tapa recipe comes from a bar in Madrid. I used to jog around the Retiro and then eat these tostadas washed down with a nice cold caña! When I serve this recipe at a party, it is always the first to go!- Sonia Chan
Ingredients:

4 or 5 ounces mushrooms, stems removed and sliced thin

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

A pinch of sea salt

1 tsp sherry wine

Alioli (garlic mayonnaise)

French bread, sliced into rounds

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a pan that has a cover. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms, salt and sherry. Cover, and lower heat. Cook until liquid is released from the mushrooms, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Toast bread slightly, just to dry it out a bit. Spread with alioli and top with mushrooms. Broil for about 30 seconds or until alioli starts to bubble.


from Tienda friend Sonia Chan

Monday, January 26, 2009

Harvest Hash

Jen Gelston's yummy side for January's dinner:

Harvest Hash
1 russet (baking) potato (1/2 pound)
3 medium parsnips (1/2 pound total), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/4 cups)
1/2 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/4 cups)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 shallots (6 ounces), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (1 1/3 cups)
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage

Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Bring a 5- to 6-quart pot of salted water to a boil and cook potato until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander. Cook parsnips and squash together in same boiling water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes, then drain in colander.

Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, swirling skillet occasionally, until foam subsides and butter begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Add shallots and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until shallots are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add parcooked vegetables, salt, and pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in sage to taste.

Gourmet
October 2002
2002-09-10 12:46:38.0

You can view the complete recipe online at:

Want to see how other cooks rated and reviewed this recipe? Go to http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/107214

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Garam Masala Scallops Over Acorn Squash

Garam Masala Scallops Over Acorn Squash Gourmet | February 2001

Active Time: 35 min
Total Time: 1 1/4 hr
Serves: 2? I bought 2.25 lbs of scallops and make it for 7 with plenty of sauce to go around, though more scallops would have been nice too for a real main dish.

Ingredients
1 large (1 1/2- to 2-lb) acorn squash
3/4 lb sea scallops, tough muscle removed from sides if necessary
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeño chile
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

Garnish: very thin slices of jalapeño chile, chopped fresh cilantro, and ground Aleppo pepper or cayenne


Accompaniment: haricots verts with mustard seeds and toasted coconut

Preparation
Prepare squash:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Halve squash lengthwise, reserving 1 half for another use. Halve remaining squash piece diagonally crosswise and season with salt. Arrange wedges, cut sides up, in a small roasting pan filled with 1/2 inch water. Cover roasting pan tightly with foil and roast until tender, about 1 hour.

Prepare scallops after squash has been roasting 30 minutes:

Pat scallops dry and season with salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but
not smoking, then brown scallops on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes total (scallops will be almost cooked through). Remove from heat. Add turmeric and toss until scallops are yellow, then transfer to a bowl.

Cook jalapeño, garlic, ginger, and
1 tablespoon lime juice in remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, 1 minute. Add water and simmer until water is evaporated and chile mixture is softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cream and garam masala and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover.

When squash is tender, add remaining 2 teaspoons lime juice and scallops with any liquid that has accumulated in bowl to sauce and simmer until scallops are just cooked through and sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Put a squash wedge on each of 2 plates and spoon scallops and sauce over squash.

Cooks' notes:
• Squash may be roasted 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat, covered, in a microwave about 5 minutes.
• For a fuller, more caramelized squash flavor (but a more rustic presentation due to browning), roast squash uncovered, cut sides down, and substitute 2 tablespoons butter for water in pan.
• Scallops and sauce may be prepared separately 2 hours ahead and chilled, covered.


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Firecracker Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

Firecracker Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing Epicurious | August 2006
Cal-a-Vie Living: Gourmet Spa Cuisine

Editor's note: The recipe below is excerpted from Cal-a-Vie Living: Gourmet Spa Cuisine and is part of a healthy and delicious spa menu developed exclusively for Epicurious by Cal-a-Vie.

This salad was inspired by Chef Dave Armour in 1989 and can be prepared with any lettuce. We like to add hoisin-crusted shrimp to this, just warm enough to wilt the spinach, and, of course, some homemade bread hot out of the oven.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
Orange Sesame Dressing
1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce (optional)
1 shallot, chopped
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

Salad
6 cups washed baby spinach
1/4 cup daikon sprouts
1/4 cup julienned carrot
1/4 cup julienned jicama
2 tablespoons mixture of black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds, for garnish
preparation

1. For the dressing, cook the orange juice in a saucepan until reduced by half. Combine with the honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, water and hot sauce in a blender. Add the shallot and ginger and process until smooth. Store in the refrigerator.

2. For the salad, mix the spinach, daikon sprouts, carrot and jicama in large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat well. Garnish with the sesame seeds.

Chef's notes:
• Just as this salad can be made with mixed greens or whatever lettuce you have on hand rather than with spinach, any kind of sprouts can be substituted for the daikon sprouts.
• If you like a thicker consistency for your salad dressings, add a quarter of a teaspoon of xanthan gum powder to the dressing and pulse in a blender.

nutritional information
nutrition per serving: 111 calories, 14 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein, 5 g fat, 2 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 298 mg sodium
Nutritional analysis provided by Cal-a-Vie Living: Gourmet Spa Cuisine
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