STRAWBERRY ALMOND WHITE CHOCOLATE BARS
Ingredients
Serves 42 Bars
2 lbs (1 kg) white chocolate
½ cup (125 ml) freeze-dried sliced strawberries
⅓ cup (75 ml) dried apricots, cut into slivers
⅓ cup (75 ml) unblanched sliced almonds, lightly toasted
Instructions
- Lightly oil a 10 x 15-in (20 x 38 cm) jelly roll pan and line with plastic wrap with edges extending over sides of pan.
- To make bars, coarsely chop white chocolate and place in a double boiler or a large bowl over simmering water. Stir gently as it begins to melt. Remove from heat just before fully melted and continue stirring until smooth.
- Spread plain white melted chocolate out evenly on prepared jelly roll pan, then top with strawberries, apricots and sliced almonds. Gently press into melted chocolate.
- Set bars aside for a couple of hours to slightly firm. Then score the surface into bars before refrigerating for several hours until fully firm.
- Separate into bars and store in a tightly covered container in a cool place until ready to serve.
Drink Pairings
WINNING CHOCOLATE ROSEMARY POPCORN
Ingredients
Serves 4
½ cup (125 ml) olive oil
5 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ cup (125 ml) popcorn kernels
½ cup (125 ml) chopped dark chocolate
1 tbsp (15 ml) sea salt flakes
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, place olive oil and 5 sprigs rosemary. Set over medium-low heat, bring to a simmer, cover and simmer gently for 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer rosemary to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat infused olive oil over medium-high heat. Add popcorn kernels, cover and gently shake pan every 30 seconds until you hear popping. Once popping is constant, gently shake pot back and forth continually over burner. When popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove pan from heat, remove lid and pour popcorn immediately over a rimmed baking sheet.
- Gently melt chocolate in a double boiler. Remove crispy rosemary leaves from stems and coarsely chop.
- Drizzle popcorn with warm melted chocolate; then sprinkle with chopped rosemary and sea salt. Set popcorn aside at room temperature allowing chocolate to harden, about 2 hours.
- Just before serving, break up popcorn and transfer to a serving bowl. Popcorn may be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve.
Drink Pairings
VANILLA BEAN PANNA COTTA WITH BOURBON PEACHES
Ingredients
Serves 6
6 sheets gelatin
2 cups (500 ml) half and half cream
2 cups (500 ml) cold whipping cream
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) Madagascar vanilla paste or 2 vanilla pods, seeds scraped
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
2 fresh peaches, peeled, stone removed and each cut into 12 thin slices
2 tbsp (30 ml) raw brown sugar
2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml) bourbon
1 cup (250 ml) crumbled Amaretti cookies
½ cup (125 ml) fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Place gelatin sheets in a shallow bowl of cold water. Set aside for a few minutes to soften and allow to bloom.
- In a medium-sized saucepan combine half and half cream, granulated sugar and vanilla paste or seeds. Bring to a slow simmer over medium heat. Using your hands, squeeze out excess water from gelatin sheets and add to half and half cream. Raise heat to mediumhigh and cook, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved completely.
- Remove saucepan from heat and strain through a fine-meshed sieve into a large bowl. Slowly stir in ice cold whipping cream using a spoon. Then pour into 6 individual serving glasses. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- When panna cotta has set and you’re ready to serve, melt butter in large frying pan. Add sliced peaches and cook until pale golden on one side. Then flip slices and add sugar. Toss over medium heat until sugar is melted. Carefully add bourbon as it will flare up. Remove pan from heat allowing flame to burn out. Cool briefly.
- Sprinkle crumbled cookies onto panna cotta and spoon peaches in bourbon sauce over top. Garnish with a few raspberries and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
SUMMER SALAD IN A JAR
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
2 cups (500 ml) mini bocconcini, halved
2 tbsp (30 ml) sundried tomatoes, packed in oil and coarsely chopped
1 tbsp (15 ml) sundried tomato oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
½ tsp (2 ml) freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh basil, some left whole for garnish, all others shredded
⅓ cup (75 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) balsamic vinegar
2 cups (500 ml) grape tomatoes, halved
6 small cucumbers, thinly sliced
2 large orange or yellow peppers, seeded and cubed
3 cups (750 ml) green lettuce of your choice
⅓ cup (75 ml) pine nuts, lightly toasted
½ cup (125 ml) cooked pancetta, coarsely chopped
Parmesan shavings
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine bocconcini, sundried tomatoes, sundried tomato oil, garlic, salt, pepper and half the shredded basil. Set aside for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare dressing by combining olive oil, balsamic vinegar and remaining shredded basil leaves. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
- To assemble, pour 2 tbsp (30 ml) of dressing into each jar, arrange a layer of grape tomatoes, followed by a layer of bocconcini mixture, a layer of cucumbers, a layer of yellow or orange peppers and repeat until the jar is three quarters full. This will vary depending on size of jar. Add lettuce on top. Garnish with pine nuts, pancetta and Parmesan shavings. Finish with a few small basil leaves.
Drink Pairings
WHOLE FISH WITH FENNEL AND COUSCOUS
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 fennel bulbs, halved, cored and cut into ½-inch (1.25 cm) slices
1 large onion, halved and cut into thin wedges
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 lemons, 1 zested, then juiced, 1 cut into wedges
pinch saffron threads
1 cup (250 ml) chicken stock
1 cup (250 ml) cous cous
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup (60 ml) coarsely chopped fresh dill
¼ cup (60 ml) finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tbsp (45 ml) finely chopped mint
3 tbsp (30 ml) toasted pine nuts, divided
2 x 1½ lb whole snapper or sea bass, scaled and cleaned well inside and out
½ lb (250 ml) baby plum tomatoes, halved
2 tbsp (30 ml) currants
parsley sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
- Place fennel and onion in a large roasting pan and toss with 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice. Roast in oven for 20 minutes or until almost tender and starting to caramelize.
- Meanwhile, add saffron to the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Stir in cous cous, tightly cover and remove from heat. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes, then fluff up cous cous with a fork, and add 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice, half the lemon zest, dill, flat-leaf parsley, mint, 1 tbsp (15 ml) pine nuts. Season to taste.
- Rinse fish with cold water inside and out, then pat dry. Slash deeply on both sides of fish and season with salt and pepper and the remaining lemon zest. Stuff cous cous into the cavity of each fish, reserving any leftover for later.
- Mix tomatoes and currants with fennel and onions. Place fish on top and roast for about 30 minutes, or until juices run from the slashes on sides of fish.
- Scatter with remaining pine nuts, then serve from the roasting pan with lemon wedges and garnish with parsley sprigs.
Drink Pairings
TORTIÈRE WITH HOMEMADE QUÉBÉCOIS GREEN KETCHUP
Ingredients
Serves 6 to 8
BUTTER PASTRY:
3 ⅓ cups (825 ml)
2 cups (500 ml) chilled unsalted butter, cubed
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
¼ cup (60 ml) ice water
TORTIÈRE:
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
12 medium white button mushrooms, stemmed and finely chopped
½ cup (125 ml) dry white wine
1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef
1½ lb (750 g) lean ground pork
½ tsp (2 ml) each, cinnamon, ground cloves, coarse ground black pepper
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground allspice
¾ cup (175 ml) russet potato, peeled and grated
flour, for rolling pastry
1 large egg yolk, beaten
QUÉBÉCOIS GREEN KETCHUP:
6 lbs (3 kg) medium green tomatoes, cleaned, coarsely chopped
3 lbs (1.5 kg) medium onions, about 15
1 cup (250 ml) coarse salt
3 green apples, peeled, cored and diced
3 celery stalks, diced
2 cups (500 ml) white vinegar
1 cup (250 ml) cider vinegar
2 cups (500 ml) sugar
⅓ cup (75 ml) mixed pickling spices, tied in
cheesecloth
2 tbsp (30 ml) mustard seeds
2 tbsp (30 ml) celery seeds, optional
Instructions
- To make BUTTER PASTRY: Place flour, butter and salt in a food processor and pulse until pea-sized pieces form. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the ice water until just combined, adding more ice water if too dry. Divide dough in half and flatten each half to a 1-in (2.5 cm) disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
- To make TORTIÈRE: Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until almost all liquid has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine to deglaze bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil until liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef, pork and spices. Cook, stirring to break up the meat into small pieces, until pork is cooked through. Mix in potato and cook until potato is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and chill, about 2 hours.
- Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-in (30 cm) round and transfer to a lined 9-in (23 cm) pie dish, leaving overhang. Fill with cooled meat mixture. Roll out remaining dough disk into a 10-in (25 cm) round. Place dough over the meat filling, then fold the edges of pastry together and crimp, brush with egg yolk. Cut 3 slits in top crust to allow steam to escape. Chill for 1 hour.
- Bake tortière for 30 minutes, reduce heat to 350 F (180 C) and bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 40 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool 20 minutes before serving.
- To make QUÉBÉCOIS GREEN KETCHUP:In a large non-reactive container, alternate layers of tomatoes and onions, sprinkling each layer with salt. Loosely cover and let stand overnight in a cool area. Drain well, removing as much water as possible.
- In a large stockpot, combine strained vegetables, chopped apples and celery with vinegars, sugar, spice bag, mustard seeds and celery seeds. Heat over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered for about 1½ hours, stirring frequently. Remove cheesecloth spice bag and pour into hot, sterilized jars.
Drink Pairings
THE NEW ÉCLAIRS
Ingredients
Serves 24
1 x Basic Choux Pastry (make ahead, see BASIC CHOUX PASTRY RECIPE)
GLAZE:
10 oz (300 g) Fondant
food colouring, colour and quantity as needed
ÉCLAIR FILLING:
3 large eggs
⅓ cup (75 ml) granulated sugar
Pistachio, Raspberry or Lemon Flavouring
6 tbsp (90 ml) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
PISTACHIO FLAVOURING:
⅓ cup (75 ml) pistachio paste
1 tsp (5ml) vanilla
RASPBERRY FLAVOURING:
3 oz (90 g) raspberries, puréed and strained
1 tsp (5 ml) almond extract
LEMON FLAVOURING:
½ cup (125 ml) strained lemon juice
1 tsp (5 ml) ginger syrup
Instructions
- Prepare BASIC CHOUX PASTRY as per Master Recipe up to step 4. Place dough in a pastry bag fitted with a ½-in (1.25 cm) plain tip (or Wilton 4B1 tip that will produce ridged éclairs). Pipe éclairs 4-in (10 cm) in length directly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. To help with size, draw stencils on parchment and place, drawn-side down, on baking sheet. Bake éclairs for 15 minutes or until well puffed and golden, then lower oven to 325 F (170 C) and continue to bake another 30 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely on baking sheet. Will keep for 2 to 3 days in refrigerator in a covered container.
- Prepare ÉCLAIR FILLING: In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, whisk together eggs and sugar until light in colour.
- Depending on flavour preference, add one of either pistachio paste, strained raspberry purée or strained lemon juice to the saucepan. Add cut butter and whisk constantly until butter is melted and mixture is thick. Simmer gently for a few seconds. Pour into a fine meshed sieve set over a bowl. Then, for pistachio flavouring stir in vanilla, for raspberry stir in almond extract, and for lemon stir in ginger syrup. Cover with plastic wrap pressed into surface of filling to prevent skin from forming, and refrigerate to thicken.
- Pierce bottom of éclairs in 2 or 3 places and fill with desired prepared filling using a piping bag.
- To make GLAZE: Heat 10 oz (300 g) fondant in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat just until melted. Stir in food colouring, as desired. Dip éclair tops into fondant, removing excess. Alternately, buy coloured fondant and roll out into a thin sheet. Cut size to fit éclairs and press down to adhere.
- Decorate as desired.
Drink Pairings
WHISKY CINNAMON SWIRL CAKE
Ingredients
Serves 10
DOUGH:
½ cup (125 ml) water
2 tbsp (30 ml) bourbon whisky
2 tbsp (30 ml) 2 percent milk
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
2¾ cups (675 ml) all-purpose flour, divided, plus extra for dusting
3 tbsp (45 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) fine sea salt
2¼ tsp (11 ml) instant yeast
1 large egg
FILLING:
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ tbsp (22 ml) ground cinnamon
¼ cup (60 ml) light brown sugar
WHISKY GLAZE:
1 cup (250 ml) icing sugar
⅛ tsp (0.5 ml) fine sea salt
1 tbsp (15 ml) 2 percent milk
1 tbsp (15 ml) bourbon whiskey
¼ tsp (1 ml) vanilla extract
¼ tsp (1 ml) finely grated lemon zest
Instructions
- To make DOUGH: In a small saucepan, stir together water, bourbon, milk and butter over medium heat. Stir until butter has melted and mixture is hot to touch.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2¼ cups (560 ml) flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir in bourbon butter mixture and then egg. Add only enough of reserved ½ cup (125 ml) flour, 2 tbsp (30 ml) at a time, to make a soft dough that gently pulls away from sides of bowl.
- Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make FILLING: Fold butter, cinnamon and brown sugar together in a bowl with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Grease an 8-in (20 cm) springform pan and line bottom with a round of parchment paper.
- Roll rested dough out on a lightly floured surface to a 12 x 15-in (30 x 38 cm) rectangle. Spread Filling mixture on top. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut dough into six 2-in (5 cm) wide strips. Loosely roll up 1 strip and place, upright cut-side down, in centre of prepared pan. Taking each additional strip, loosely coil around centre roll, pinching each strip to end of previous one. The dough should not quite fill the whole pan and be loose. Keeping coils loose ensures dough has room to expand as it rises. Cover pan with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm location until doubled in size, about 60 to 90 minutes. While cake is rising, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Bake cake uncovered for 15 minutes. Then lay a sheet of foil loosely over top to prevent it from becoming too dark, and continue baking another 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed and lightly golden brown. If some coils start to rise out of cake while baking, simply press down with back of a spatula.
- While cake is baking, make WHISKY GLAZE: In a medium bowl, whisk together all glaze ingredients and set aside.
- When cake is done, rest in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing sides of springform pan and transferring to a serving plate. Just before serving, drizzle with Whisky Glaze. Cake is best served the same day it is made but will keep, refrigerated an airtight container or tightly covered for up to 4 days. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.
Drink Pairings
TOURTIÈRE TARTLETS WITH DRIED CHERRY SAUCE
Ingredients
Serves 24 tartlets or 1 large deep-dish tourtiere
PASTRY:
5 cups (1¼ L) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 ml) vegetable shortening
1 cup (250 ml) lard
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
ice water
FILLING:
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
1 lb (500 g) ground wild boar
1 lb (500 g) ground venison
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
6 to 8 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups (1 L) cleaned, sliced wild mushrooms
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups (500 ml) beef stock
1 tsp (5 ml) dried thyme
½ tsp (2 ml) ground cloves
½ tsp (2 ml) ground cinnamon
salt and freshly ground pepper
¾ cup (175 ml) fresh bread crumbs
½ cup (125 ml) chopped flat-leaf parsley
DRIED CHERRY SAUCE:
2 cups (500 ml) beef stock
2 oz (60 g) dried cherries, coarsely chopped
⅓ cup (75 ml) balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- To make PASTRY: Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Using a fork, work in shortening and lard until crumbly. Add enough ice water to form dough. Knead gently and form into a ball. Divide into 2 discs and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- To make FILLING: Heat oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or frying pan over medium-high heat and cook boar and venison, breaking up meat to mix, until no longer pink. Add onion, garlic, mushrooms, celery and carrot. Sauté for 10 minutes or until soft and golden brown. Add beef stock and spices. Cover and simmer on low for about 30 minutes or until almost no liquid remains and meat is tender. Stir often. Season with salt and pepper. Add bread crumbs and parsley and stir to combine. Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 425F (220C). Roll out 1 disc of pastry on floured work surface to 1⁄4-in (0.5 cm) thickness. Using 5-in (12 cm) round cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles and press rounds into muffin tins. Repeat with second disc of dough. Gather up remaining dough and shape into a ball. Set aside. Fill shells with cooled meat mixture.
- Roll out remaining pastry to 1⁄4-in (0.5 cm) thickness. Using a 21⁄2-in (6 cm) round cookie cutter, cut out 24 rounds for top of tartlets. Place rounds on top of filling in tart shells. Place tarts on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- While tartlets bake, prepare DRIED CHERRY SAUCE: Combine sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, simmering gently, until reduced by about half. Set aside and keep warm until ready to serve.
Drink Pairings
STUFFED TURKEY THIGHS
Ingredients
Serves 12
TURKEY STUFFING:
1 lb (500 g) package chopped frozen spinach, thawed
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
1 small yellow onion, peeled and minced
1 large garlic clove, smashed and minced
½ lb (250 g) quark cheese
1 lemon, zest only
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cumin
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground coriander
TURKEY AND GRAVY:
3 boneless turkey thighs, skin on, about 3 lbs (750 g)
2 tbsp (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra if needed
2 tbsp (30 ml) all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 mL) turkey or chicken stock
1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
1 tbsp (15 ml) light miso paste
apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- To make TURKEY STUFFING: Place thawed spinach in cheesecloth and wring out as much liquid as possible. Place in a food processor and set aside. Melt butter in a frying pan, add onion and garlic and sauté over medium heat, until soft and clear. Do not brown. Transfer to food processor with spinach. Add quark, lime and seasonings. Pulse together until finely minced. Set aside. Can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight.
- To make TURKEY AND GRAVY: Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Place thighs, skin-side down, on a cutting board. Cut each thigh open parallel to board. Pound thighs with a mallet to partially flatten.
- Spread equal amounts of Turkey Stuffing evenly over each thigh, leaving at least a 1½-in (4 cm) border around each edge. Roll up thighs, pulling skin as tightly as possible to seal. Tie with butcher twine and place, seam-side down, in a large, oiled baking pan. Brush with butter. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 F (165 C) and roast until internal temperature on a meat thermometer inserted into meat portion reads 165 F (75 C). Remove from pan, cover with foil to rest while preparing sauce.
- Place baking pan on stove top. Scrape turkey drippings to loosen. Sprinkle with flour and whisk over medium-low heat until crumbly and turns golden. Gradually whisk in stock and Dijon. Continue whisking over medium heat until thickened. Whisk in light miso paste, add salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Stir in a splash of cider vinegar and strain gravy through a fine-meshed sieve into a serving container.
- Slice rolled thighs crosswise, drizzle with gravy.