MOJITO CUPCAKES
Ingredients
Serves 2
CUPCAKES:
½ cup (125 ml) whole milk
½ cup + 2 tbsp (125 ml + 30 ml) packed
fresh mint leaves, divided, plus extra for garnish
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
1½ tsp (7 ml) baking powder
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
½ cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup + 1 tbsp (265 ml) granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs
2 limes, zested and juiced, plus extra lime slices for garnish
4 oz (125 ml) white rum, divided
½ tsp (2 ml) vanilla extract
thin lime wedges and fresh mint, for garnish
RUM BUTTERCREAM:
5 large egg whites
1¼ cups (310 ml) granulated sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) lightly packed brown sugar
2 cups (500 ml) unsalted butter, diced and softened
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
½ cup (125 ml) white rum
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, stir together milk and ½ cup (125 ml) mint leaves over medium heat. Warm until steaming, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain through a fine- meshed sieve into a small bowl, pressing on mint leaves to extract flavoured milk. Discard mint and set milk aside to cool.
- Preheat oven to 325 F (170 C). Line 2 standard-sized muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
- In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat together butter and 1 cup (250 ml) sugar on medium-high speed until smooth, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing to combine after each.
- Beat in lime zest and juice, rum and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with flavoured milk in two batches. Mix just until incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, give batter one last stir. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake, rotating pans after 12 minutes, until cakes spring back when touched and a wooden skewer inserted only has a few moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes total.
- While cupcakes bake, combine remaining 2 oz (60 ml) rum, 2 tbsp (30 ml) mint and 1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar in a small saucepan and warm over medium heat until sugar has melted and mixture is just warm, about 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat, cover and let steep.
- Carefully remove cooked cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to cool on a wire rack for 8 minutes. Brush tops of cupcakes with infused rum syrup and allow to cool completely.
- While cupcakes cool, make Rum Buttercream. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring about 1-in (2.5 cm) of water to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk together egg whites and sugars in large bowl and place over simmering water, making sure bowl does not touch surface of simmering water. Bring mixture to 160 F (71 C) while whisking constantly. Transfer mixture to bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat on medium-high speed until mixture has cooled, doubled in volume and forms stiff peaks, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add butter, about 1 tbsp (15 ml) at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition until smooth. Stir in salt and rum until well combined. Transfer buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Frost cupcakes and garnish with a lime wedge and few fresh mint leaves, if desired.
Drink Pairings
OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER WITH PANCETTA AND PANKO CRUST
Ingredients
Serves 2
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 slices pancetta, coarsely chopped
8 medium-sized fresh oysters in the shell, unopened
¾ cup (175 ml) cooked spinach, well-drained (fresh spinach, blanched until wilted)
⅓ cup (75 ml) panko bread crumbs
3 tbsp (45 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
1 green onion, finely chopped
pinch of salt
1 dash hot pepper sauce
½ tsp (2 ml) anise-flavoured liqueur
4 cups (1 L) kosher salt, for baking
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 F (230 C).
- Heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and stir-fry until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels and set side.
- Clean oysters and place in a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover oysters and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool oysters. When cooled, shuck off the top shell from each oyster.
- Add pancetta, spinach, panko, Parmesan, green onion, salt, hot sauce, remaining 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and liqueur to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped but not puréed, about 5 to 7 seconds.
- Spread salt in a 9 x 13-in (3.5 L) baking dish. Arrange oysters in their half shells on top of salt in a single layer. Top each oyster with spinach mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 10 minutes, then change oven to broil and cook until spinach topping is browned.
Drink Pairings
MAPLE-BOURBON PORK BELLY
Ingredients
Serves 6
1 lb (454 g) pork belly, skinned
1 tbsp (15 ml) bourbon
4 tsp (20 ml) each of salt and maple syrup
freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Rub pork with bourbon, salt, maple syrup and pepper. Place on a baking sheet in refrigerator and let sit overnight.
- Preheat oven to 450F (230C). Place pork belly on a rack on a shallow baking sheet, fat-side up, and roast for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 275 F (140 C) and bake for 11⁄2 hours or until you can pierce pork easily with a knife. Remove pork from oven, place on a rack and cool to room temperature. Wrap pork in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, preheat oven to 350F (180C). Bring pork to room temperature and cut into thick slices. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and heat in oven until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Serve with your favourite brunch accompaniments.
Drink Pairings
MUSHROOM AND CABBAGE DUMPLINGS
Ingredients
Serves 16 Dumplings
DIPPING SAUCE:
3 tbsp (45 ml) soy sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) rice wine vinegar
1 tsp (5 ml) chili oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) honey
½ tsp (2 ml) fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
½ tsp (2 ml) minced green onion
½ tsp (2 ml) toasted sesame seeds, crushed
DUMPLINGS:
3 tbsp (45 ml) vegetable oil, divided
¼ small cooking onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp (10 ml) peeled and minced fresh ginger root
2 cups (500 ml) shiitake mushrooms, chopped
½ head small Napa cabbage, shredded
2 tbsp (30 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) Chinese cooking wine
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil
16 x 3-in (8 cm) wonton wrappers
¼ cup (60 ml) water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine DIPPING SAUCE ingredients. Whisk together until blended and set aside.
- To make DUMPLINGS: Heat a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Add half the vegetable oil, minced onion, garlic and ginger and sauté until soft.
- Add mushrooms, cabbage, salt and sugar and cook until mushrooms are fully cooked and liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a bowl and mix in Chinese cooking wine, soy sauce, pepper and sesame oil.
- To assemble, place 1 tsp (5 ml) filling in middle of a wonton wrapper. Wet edge of wrapper with a little bit of water. Fold over and crimp edges together to form small pleats to seal. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
- Heat remaining vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Place dumplings flat-side down in frying pan until golden brown. Add water and immediately cover with lid.
- Cook dumplings for about 6 to 8 minutes over medium heat. Then remove lid and continue cooking until dumplings release from bottom of the pan and bottoms are crisp.
- Serve hot, dipped in Dipping Sauce.
Drink Pairings
MUSHROOM HAZELNUT PÂTÉ
Ingredients
Serves 12 as an appetizer
PÂTÉ:
1 tbsp (15 ml) each, olive oil and unsalted butter
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 cups (500 ml) assorted chopped fresh mushrooms
1 cup (250 ml) hazelnuts, lightly toasted and skins rubbed off
¼ cup (50 ml) light spreadable, plain cream cheese, at room temperature
1 orange, zest only
3 tbsp (45 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp (5 ml) dried thyme
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
generous pinches of cayenne
TUMBLED MUSHROOM GARNISH:
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
½ cup (125 ml) assorted small mushrooms
¼ tsp (1 ml) dried thyme
chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- To make PÂTÉ: Heat oil and butter in a mediumsized, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add onion and garlic and cook over low heat until onions are soft. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden, stirring often to prevent them from sticking. Remove from heat.
- Process nuts in food processor until finely ground. Add sautéed mushroom mixture, cream cheese, orange zest and juice, parsley and seasonings. Process until coarsely blended. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Line a chilled 2-cup (500 ml) baking dish with plastic wrap extending past edges of dish. Spoon Pâté into lined dish and pack down. Smooth top and draw edges of plastic wrap over top to seal. Refrigerate. Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Makes about 2 cups (500 ml)
- To make TUMBLED MUSHROOM GARNISH: Melt butter in a frying pan. Add mushrooms and sauté just until they begin to turn golden. Season and set aside to slightly cool. Garnish Pâté with tumbled mushrooms and serve with assorted breadsticks, crisp crackers and small radishes.
Drink Pairings
PORK CHEEKS
Ingredients
Serves 4
8 pork cheeks (about 1 lb – 500 g)
1 each, medium carrot, small onion, medium celery stalk, red apple, coarsely chopped
2 sage leaves
⅓ cup (75 ml) Calvados
2 tsp (10 ml) apple cider vinegar
2 cups (500 ml) chicken stock
RED CABBAGE:
1 slice bacon or pancetta, diced
2 tbsp (30 ml) finely chopped onions
1 lb (500 g) red cabbage, quartered, cored and thinly sliced
1 apple (red or green), peeled, cored and cut into small dice
1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) apple jelly
Instructions
- To make PORK CHEEKS: Pre-heat oven to 325 F (160C). Pat pork cheeks dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a saucepan, heat oil. Add pork cheeks, cook in batches, turning halfway, for 4 to 5 minutes or until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add carrot, onion, celery and apple and cook until lightly browned. Add sage leaves, Calvados and apple cider vinegar, simmer until reduced by half. Add pork and enough stock to cover. Bring to a simmer and cover. Transfer to oven and cook for 1½ to 2 hours or until very tender. Remove pork and reserve.
- Bring braising liquid to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes, or until reduced by half. Strain liquid through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer until reduced by half again. To serve, either shred or slice the pork cheeks, add sauce and seasonal vegetables.
- To make RED CABBAGE: In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over low heat until fat is rendered. Increase heat to medium-low, add onions and cook until lightly coloured. Add remaining ingredients and ½ cup of water. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until cabbage is very soft, about 1 hour, adding boiling water during cooking if cabbage gets too dry.
Drink Pairings
PHYLLO BITES
Ingredients
Serves 24
2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil
1 small yellow onion, very finely diced, about ½ cup (125 ml)
2 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
3 cups (750 ml) finely chopped Swiss chard
¼ cup (50 ml) toasted pine nuts
¼ cup (50 ml) crumbled feta cheese
2 tbsp (30 ml) freshly grated Parmesan
1 lemon, zest only
1 tsp (5 ml) dried harissa spice, plus extra for dusting top of phyllo
454 g box frozen phyllo pastry dough, thawed
¾ cup (175 ml) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra, if needed
Instructions
- Heat oil in a saucepan, add onion and garlic. Sauté over medium heat until soft and almost clear. Stir often. Stir in chard, and sauté until wilted. Remove to a large bowl lined with cheesecloth. Squeeze excess moisture from mixture and place in another bowl.
- Gently unroll phyllo sheets and place flat on a sheet of waxed paper. To prevent phyllo drying out, cover pastry with plastic wrap and then a damp kitchen towel. Lay one sheet of phyllo on a flat surface. Brush with melted butter, working from centre of sheet to the edges. Place another sheet of phyllo directly on top and brush with butter.
- Cut phyllo into 4 equal-sized horizontal strips. Place about 1½ tbsp (22 ml) of cooled filling on end of each strip. Fold over corner to form a triangle. Continue folding phyllo end to end making a triangle-shaped envelope. Brush with melted butter to seal seams and place in a single layer on a lightly buttered, parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue to make triangle phyllo pockets until all filling is used up (covering unused phyllo sheets with a damp cloth).
- If not baking immediately, overwrap baking sheet and Phyllo Bites with plastic wrap to tightly seal. Freeze for up to 3 weeks.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Bake Phyllo Bites from thawed or frozen, uncovered, in a single layer, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with a light dusting of harissa spice.
Drink Pairings
POTATO FLATBREAD WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, PANCETTA AND FONTINA CHEESE
Ingredients
Serves 4
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter
2 large cooking onions, peeled and thinly sliced
¼ tsp (1 ml) granulated sugar
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 cup (250 ml) thinly sliced new potatoes
4 tbsp (60 ml) olive oil, plus extra for brushing bread
2½ cups (625 ml) all-purpose flour
1 x 7 g package instant or quick-rise yeast
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh rosemary, divided
¼ cup (60 ml) finely chopped, pitted dried olives
½ tsp (2 ml) granulated sugar
¾ tsp (4 ml) salt
1 cup (250 ml) very warm water, about 130 F (50 C)
2 cups (500 ml) shredded fontina cheese
6 slices pancetta, ⅛ -in (0.25 cm) sliced, cooked until crisp, and crumbled
½ cup (125 ml) crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- To make caramelized onions, melt butter in large frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and sugar and toss to coat. Slowly cook onions, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until they start to turn colour. Turn heat up to mediumhigh and stir constantly until they begin to brown, about 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. In a bowl, toss potatoes with 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay in a single layer on the baking sheet. Place in oven and bake, turning slices over once, until potatoes just begin to brown, about 10 to12 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups (500 ml) flour, yeast, 1 tbsp (15 ml) of the rosemary, chopped dried olives, sugar and salt. Gradually stir the warm water and 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 10 minutes. Cover and let rest on floured surface 10 minutes. Alternatively, this can be done in an electric mixer with a dough hook attachment.
- Preheat barbecue to 450 F (230 C).
- Roll or press dough into a 12- or 16-in (30 to 40 cm) circle. Spray lightly or brush with vegetable oil spray or olive oil and allow dough to sit 10 minutes while barbecue preheats.
- When barbecue is hot, place flatbread dough, oiled-side down, on grill and cook, covered, 3 to 7 minutes or until underside has grill marks, is lightly browned and the top has started to bubble. Watching to make sure temperature is not too high, as all barbecues are different.
- Spray top with vegetable oil spray or brush with olive oil, flip flatbread over and grill other side 3 to 4 minutes until very lightly browned. Remove flatbread dough from barbecue and transfer to a large wooden board or platter. Lightly brush perimeter of the dough with olive oil. Sprinkle about two-thirds of the shredded fontina over dough. Layer evenly with cooked potato slices, caramelized onions and crumbled pancetta. Sprinkle with feta, remaining fontina and rosemary.
- Return flatbread to barbecue, reduce heat to medium and cook another 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheeses have melted. Remove from grill and sprinkle with thyme. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Drink Pairings
LOBSTER BLINIS
Ingredients
Serves 24
2 tbsp (30 ml) warm water, about 110 F (43 C)
1½ tsp (7 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) active dry yeast
1 large egg white
¼ cup + 2 tbsp (90 ml) fine cornmeal
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
¼ tsp (1 ml) fine sea salt, plus extra for seasoning
½ cup (125 ml) warm milk, about 110 F (43 C), plus extra if needed
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter, melted
2 avocados
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
4 radishes, trimmed
3 or 4 small, cooked lobster tails, meat sliced into rounds
fresh chives, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) lengths, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Let stand, allowing yeast to bloom, about 8 to 10 minutes. If mixture does not become foamy and frothy, yeast is inactive and you need to repeat step with a new pack.
- While yeast is blooming, whisk egg white until soft peaks form.
- To yeast mixture add cornmeal, flour, salt, warm milk, butter and whipped egg white. Whisk until well combined. Cover batter with a kitchen towel and set aside for 90 minutes. Once batter has rested it should be consistency of pancake batter. If too thick, whisk in more milk, 1 tbsp (15 ml) at a time.
- Preheat a non-stick frying pan or cast iron frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, dollop a rounded tsp (5 ml) of blini batter into pan leaving 2-in (5 cm) between each blini. Cook until bubbles break surface of blini, about 1 to 2 minutes, before turning over and continuing to cook another minute. Transfer blini to a plate and continue cooking remaining batter.
- When ready to assemble, mash avocados in a medium bowl, along with lemon juice, until a creamy mixture is achieved. Season to taste with salt. Thinly slice radishes using a mandoline or a sharp knife.
- Plate blini on a serving platter before topping with a dollop of avocado cream, a couple radish slices, a piece of lobster and a chive garnish. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
MARBLED LEMON TART
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
1 cup + 2 tbsp (250 ml + 30 ml) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
6 tbsp (90 ml) yellow cornmeal
1½ tbsp + 1 cup (22 ml+ 250 ml) granulated sugar, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
½ tsp (2 ml) lemon zest
6 tbsp + ½ cup (90 ml + 125 ml) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, divided
8 large egg yolks, divided
3 tbsp (45 ml) cold water, divided
½ tsp (2 ml) unflavoured gelatin
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
½ cup (125 ml) fresh lemon juice
¼ cup (60 ml) crème fraîche, sour cream or Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a food processor pulse together all the flour, cornmeal, 1½ tbsp (22 ml) sugar, thyme, salt and lemon zest until combined. Add 6 tbsp (90 ml) butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together 2 egg yolks and 2 tbsp (30 ml) cold water in small bowl. With machine running, add to flour mixture through feed tube, mixing only long as it takes for dough to hold together.
- Turn out dough onto clean work surface. Form into disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- On lightly floured work surface, roll dough out into a 10-in (25 cm) round before transferring to a 9-in (23 cm) tart pan with removable bottom. Press into corners and trim edges flush with rim of pan. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Prick bottom of tart shell all over with fork before lining with aluminum foil and filling with dried beans or rice. Bake until edges start to brown and look dry, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans and continue to bake crust until golden brown and crisp, another 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on wire rack.
- To make filling, sprinkle gelatin over remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) cold water in small bowl, and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk together remaining 6 egg yolks, 1 cup (250 ml) sugar, and salt in large heatproof bowl. Gradually whisk in lemon juice. Place bowl over saucepan of simmering water and whisk constantly until mixture has thickened and registers 160 F (70 C) on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat and whisk in gelatin mixture. Whisk in remaining ½ cup (125 ml) butter, a few pieces at a time, until smooth and well incorporated. Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Spoon filling into cooled crust and let set for 5 minutes. Dollop crème fraîche over filling and using a wooden skewer or tip of a knife, swirl into filling to create a marbleized effect. Refrigerate until filling is set, about 2 to 4 hours.