Art Leek Squares

Artichoke Leek Squares
Makes 77 1-inch squares.
   
2 6-oz jars marinated artichoke hearts
1 1/2 cup minced leeks
1 tsp minced garlic
4 eggs
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/4 pound each grated sharp and Muenster cheeses
3 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 7x11 pan. Heat marinade from artichokes
in skillet over medium heat. Saute leek and garlic until soft (5
minutes). Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Beat eggs in
large bowl. Stir in crumbs, oregano, hot pepper sauce, salt and
pepper. Chop artichoke hearts and add to eggs. Stir in leeks,
cheeses and parsley and mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30
minutes untill golden. Cut into 1 inch squares and serve.

Bon Appétit!

Apple Terrine

Apple Terrine of Foie Gras with Apple Brioche Charlotte, Fresh
Blackberry Sauce

4 ounces foie gras (in one piece), cleaned for low-heat cooking
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon saltpeter
Pinch white pepper
Pinch sugar
Pinch nutmeg
1 large apple

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup rendered foie gras fat, melted and strained
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 pint blackberries

6 slices brioche, crusts removed and cut into 1/2 inch strips of equal length,
  plus four 1-3/4 inch rounds
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 pound butter, softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon clove
Rendered foie gras fat to taste

1 Granny Smith apple, cut into fine julienne
1/2 pint fresh blackberries
1 bunch watercress

To increase the surface area of the foie gras, gently flatten it
by applying pressure with your hand. Combine the salt, saltpeter,
pepper, sugar, and nutmeg, and coat the foie gras with this mixture
to cure. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 12 hours.  Preheat
the oven to 325 degrees. With an even slice, cut off the top of
the apple, about 1/4 inch from the crown, and carefully remove the
core without breaking through the bottom. Using a melon baller,
hollow out a deep, wide cavity inside the apple. Fill the apple
with the cured foie gras, packing firmly, and replace the apple
top. Place the apple in a baking pan filled with 1/4 inch of water,
cover with foil, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until a knife
pierced into the center comes out warm. Carefully remove the apple
from the water, wrap in plastic, and chill for several hours.

In a saucepan set over a low flame, combine the sugar and foie gras
fat, stirring to form a thick mixture. Continue heating and stirring
until most of the sugar is absorbed. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar
and bring to a boil, watching closely because this mixture has a
tendency to boil over. Remove from the heat.  Mash the blackberries
into the sauce by pressing them with the back of a spoon against
the side of the pot. Strain and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Lay the strips and rounds of
brioche on a sheet pan and toast until lightly colored.  In a baking
dish, combine the apples, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and clove, and
cook until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Puree the apple mixture in a
food processor, adding foie gras fat to taste.

Line the insides of the ring molds with the strips of toasted
brioche arranged vertically as shown in the photograph. Place a
disk of brioche on the bottom of each. Spoon the apple puree into
the charlotte molds, using the puree to hold the strips of brioche
together, and gently warm in the oven. Unmold the charlottes on
each of four plates. Top with some julienned apple. Gently heat
the blackberry sauce and add the fresh blackberries.  Spoon the
sauce around the charlotte. Slice the apple terrine into quarters
and place one slice on each plate. Garnish with upland cress or
other baby greens.

Bon Appétit!

Almond Wings

Sesame Almond Chicken Wings
Yield: 6 servings

1 Tbsp light soy sauce
1 Tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 tsp ginger, freshly grated
2 egg whites, beaten

2 Tbsp ground almonds
2 Tbsp rice flour
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 Tbsp wheat flour
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
4 cup peanut oil for deep-frying

Cut each of the wings into 3 logical pieces, setting the wing tips
aside for soup stock. Prepare the marinade and soak the wing pieces
in this for 15 minutes. In the meantime, blend the coating mixture
and heat the oil. Drain the marinade from the wings and dip each
in the egg whites. Then dredge in the coating mixture. Deep fry at
360 degrees until each piece is golden brown, about 5 minutes.

Bon Appétit!

Serve hot with dipping sauce.

Almond Potatoes

Baby Potatoes Coated With Almonds

3 lb baby new potatoes
2 Tbsp almond oil
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
2 Tbsp grated ginger
1/2 cup powdered almonds
2 Tbsp cilantro, minced
1 salt and pepper
1 lemon juice

Steam potatoes till just tender, about 15 minutes. Set them aside.
Combine oil, peppers, ginger, almonds and cilantro in a large bowl.
Add potatoes and toss till well coated. Season with salt and pepper
and sprinkle with lemon juice. Spear potatoes with cocktail sticks;
arrange on a platter. Serve hot, or keep warm in a 250F oven for
up to 30 minutes.

Note: To powder almonds, place blanched almonds in a food processor
and pulse until they are reduced to a powder.

Bon Appétit!

5 Spice Chicken Wings

Deep Fried 5 Spice Chicken Wings

1 pound chicken wings
2 teaspoons salt
black pepper
1 teaspoon honey
pinch 5 spice powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 ounces rice flour
pinch salt
2 egg whites

Chop 1 Chicken wing into 2 pieces at the joint.  Cut or slit at
one end and push and scrap the meet to the opposite end with a
knife to form a drumstick.

Season with salt, pepper, honey/sugar, 5 Spice powder, soya sauce.
Beat up the egg white with a fork.  Dip chicken wing in the egg
white then coat with the rice flour.  Deep fry till golden brown
in colour.

Bon Appétit!

Ciliegine Con Prosciutto

Small, cherry-sized balls of cow's milk mozzarella,
packed in sealed plastic containers are available in
the dairy section of many supermarkets or speciality
stores.

1/2 medium lemon
1 medium garlic clove
2 tbl snipped fresh chives
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp hot red-pepper flakes
9 ounces fresh mozzarella "cherries" or fresh
mozzarrella
15 thin prosciutto slices (6 ounces)
If you can find Parma it's
worth the extra money.
1 medium bunch dill

Squeeze lemon juice into a medium bowl.  Peel and
crush garlic and put it into the bowl along with the
chives, olive oil, and red-pepper flakes.  Drain and
add cheese "cherries" or cut mozzarella into 3/4-
inch cubes and add to the mixture.  Marinate at room
temperature at least 2 hours. (Can cover and
refrigerate overnight).  Cut prosciutto slices in
half lengthwise.  Wrap 1 slice of prosciutto around
each piece of cheese and 1 small sprig of dill.
Secure with a toothpick and serve.

Bon Appétit!

Carrot Cake

Dry Ingredients (Combine and set aside):
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2   tsp. salt
1 1/3 tsp. baking powder
1 1/3 tsp. baking soda
1 1/3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2   tsp. cloves
1/2   tsp. ginger

Combine:
1 cup sugar
1 cup cooking oil
3 eggs (added separately)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Farenheit.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir well.
Fold in two cups of grated carrots and 1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional).
Pour into 9x13" non-stick pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until done.
(Make sure it is cooked)

Icing:
8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 cup butter (or less)
1 1/2 cup of icing sugar (I just add icing sugar 'till the mixture tastes right)

Bon Appétit!

Grilled grey mullet with garlic, lemon and thyme

Ingredients:
4 grey mullet each weighing about 350g/12oz
For the Marinade:
juice of 1 lemon
120ml/5fl oz olive oil
2 tsp fresh thyme, very finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
freshly ground black pepper
For the Sauce:
2 anchovy fillets, drained and finely chopped
1 orange
50ml/2fl oz water

Method:
1. Slash the fish three times on each side cutting down to the bone. Place in a dish which is not much bigger than the fish itself. Mix together all the marinade ingredients and pour over the mullet. Leave to marinate for 1 hour, turning occasionally.
2. preheat the grill to high and grill the mullet for 6 minutes on each side.
3. Transfer the dish to a warmed serving dish and add any cooking juices to the marinade. Pour the marinade into a small pan. Add the anchovy, grated rind of ½ orange and juice of the whole orange and the water. Bring to the boil, whisk a little and pour over the fish before serving.

Bon Appétit!

Mediterranean fish soup

Ingredients:
1 small gurnard or grey mullet, weighing about 450g/1lb
1 red mullet, weighing about 350g/12oz
1 small monkfish tail, weighing about 450g/1lb
100g/4oz prepared squid
20 small mussels, cleaned
150ml/5fl oz white wine
1 fennel bulb, trimmed
1 red onion, peeled
1 leek
2 celery sticks
1 red pepper
5 plum tomatoes, skined
6 small new potatoes weighing about 175g/6oz in total
120ml/4fl oz olive oil
6 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
2 strips of orange zest, cut into very thin shreds
a good pinch of dried chilli flakes
2tsp sun-dried tomato paste
2 young, fresh bay leaves, shredded finely
leaves from 1 sprig of fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh fennel herb or dill
3 tbsp Pernod or Ricard
salt
20 turns of the black pepper mill
extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt and sliced ciabatta or fresh bread, to serve

Method:
1. Fillet the gurnard or grey mullet, red mullet and monkfish. Make a fish stock with the bones, using 2.75L/5pt of water.
2. Cut the squid lengthways along one side of the pouch and open it out. Cut the squid and the fish fillets lengthways into strips 2cm/¾in wide, then cut across each strip into slices 1cm/½in wide. All the pieces of fish should be the same size and shape.
3. Put the mussels in a pan with a splash of white wine, cover and cook over a high heat for 3-4 minutes until they have opened. Discard any that remain closed.
4. Strain the mussel cooking liquor into the fish stock, then shell the mussels, discarding the shells.
5. Cut the fennel bulb and red onion into 6-8 wedges so that each wedge measures about 2cm.¾in at its thickest part.
6. Cut the leek lengthways into quarters and the celery sticks lengthways in half.
7. Cut the red pepper lengthways into strips 2cm/¾in wide and the tomatoes and potatoes lengthways into 4 wedges. Then cut each of the vegetables across into thin, arc-like slices, making sure that they are all roughly the same size and shape - this is very important to the final look of the soup.
8. Heat the olive oil in a large pan - if you have a suitable oven-to-table one, this would be ideal. Otherwise just use a large saucepan and transfer the soup to a tureen to serve.
9. Add the fennel, red onion, leek, celery, red pepper, garlic, orange zest and dried chilli.
10. Cook over a low heat for about 4 minutes, until the vegetables are just softened. Add the sun-dried tomato paste, fish stock, remaining white wine, tomatoes, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
11. Add the fish, plus the bay leaves, thyme, half the fennel herb or dill and the Pernod or Ricard. Simmer for 3 minutes only (otherwise you will overcook the fish), adding the mussels for the final 30 seconds.
12. Sprinkle the soup with the remaining fennel or dill and take to the table, together with little bowls of extra virgin olive oil and coarse sea salt and the bread. Serve in large soup plates and instruct your guests to dip the bread in the oil and then the salt to eat the soup.

Bon Appétit!

Pepperoni Stromboli

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (1 pound) loaves frozen bread dough, thawed
• 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 ounces sliced pepperoni sausage
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, roll each loaf into 20x8 inch rectangle. Place one rectangle on a greased baking sheet. Spread spaghetti sauce in an 18x4 inch strip down the center. Sprinkle with oregano, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Fold long sides of dough up toward filling; set aside. Cut the remaining rectangle into three strips. Loosely braid strips; pinch ends to seal. Place bread on top of the cheese; pinch braid to dough to seal. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Very easy and delicious.

Bon Appétit!

Yummy Chicken

TAKE CARE: This high-calorie recipe is especially for kids with cystic fibrosis (CF). Kids with CF often need to consume additional calories to help them meet their nutritional needs.

Prep time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
1 egg, beaten
6 oz. mozzarella
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. parsley flakes
2/3 c. parmesan cheese
1/2 c. seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 c. vegetable oil

Utensils:

• oven (You'll need help from your adult assistant.)
• skillet
• casserole dish
• mixing bowl
• mixing spoons

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Dip chicken in egg. Then dip chicken in the seasoned breadcrumbs and coat evenly.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat and brown chicken until it is no longer pink in the middle.
4. Place chicken in a casserole dish.
5. Top each piece of chicken with 1 1/2 oz. of mozzarella cheese.
6. Mix together heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes.
7. Pour cream mixture over the chicken.
8. Bake for 25 minutes.

Serves: 4

Serving size: 1 chicken breast

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

805 calories
59 g protein
60 g fat
931 mg sodium
485 mg calcium

Serve this with your favorite pasta dish. Don't forget to add some veggies to your meal!

Bon Appétit!

Grey mullet and pasta

Ingredients
50ml/2fl oz extra virgin olive oil
1 head of garlic, broken into cloves
a handful of sage leaves
½ tsp fennel seeds
175g/6oz dried spaghetti
900g-1.5kg/2-3lb grey mullet, cleaned and cut into steaks, 4cm/1½in thick
50ml/2fl oz dry white wine
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
1. Bring a large pan of well-salted water to the boil.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saute pan, add the unpeeled garlic cloves, the sage leaves and fennel seeds and fry over a low heat for 5 minutes, until the garlic is soft and lightly browned.
3. Add the spaghetti to the pan of boiling water and cook for 8-9 minutes or until al dente.
4. Meanwhile season the grey mullet steaks on both sides with salt and pepper.
5. Push the flavourings to the side of the saute pan and add the steaks. Increase the heat and fry for 3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned.
6. Add the wine to the pan, cover and cook for 3 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.
7. Lift the steaks out on to a plate, cover and keep hot.
8. Drain the spaghetti, add it to the remaining juices in the pan and toss together well so that it picks up the garlic, sage and fennel. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
9. Divide the spaghetti between 4 warmed plates and top with the fish steaks. Serve with some crisp green salad leaves.

Bon Appétit!

Grey mullet with blackberry sauce

Ingredients:
2x 350g/12oz whole grey mullet, scaled and cleaned
30g/1oz butter or margarine
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 sticks celery, finely sliced
170g/6oz cooked rice
225g/8oz cooking apples, cored and diced
2 tsp ground cinnamon
225g/8oz blackberries, fresh or canned
salt and black freshly ground black pepper
150ml/¼ pint water
30g/1oz soft brown sugar

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Melt the butter or margarine in a pan and gently cook the onion and celery until soft.
3. Remove from the heat. Stir in the rice, apples, half the cinnamon, half the blackberries and season well.
4. Fill each fish with the rice stuffing and place in an ovenproof dish.
5. Spoon any extra stuffing around the fish. Cover and bake for 35-40 minutes.
6. To make the sauce; place the remaining blackberries and water in a pan; cover and cook until blackberries are soft.
7. Sieve the blackberries, stir in sugar and the rest of the cinnamon. Return to the heat and cook until sugar is dissolved.
8. Pour a little of the sauce over the fish and serve remaining sauce separately.

Bon Appétit!