appetizers (les hors d’œurves)

“seasonal” depends upon your dirt: two light recipes for fall using the seasonal ingredients in your market

October 14th, 2011

Roasted Stuffed Figs

 “seasonal” depends upon your dirt:
two light recipes for fall using the
seasonal ingredients in your market

Fall is a time to enjoy the warm flavors it offers. However, what do you do when you want to eat seasonally, but the season is uncharacteristically hot? What do you do if the season is short and you cannot find the ingredients? Inspired by ways to create light dishes with a variety of fall flavors, this week’s simple pleasure is twofold: (1) roasted  figs stuffed with a St Agur and basalmic vinegar reduction, garnished with French honey and served on a roasted pear slice; and (2) persimmon, endive, apple, and beet salad with creamy (creamless) dressing. Read the rest of this entry »

 

en garde: defending against the heat with fresh melon, herb and prosciutto skewers

August 25th, 2011

fresh melon, herb and prosciutto skewers

en garde: defending against the heat
with fresh melon, herb and prosciutto skewers

The forecast is nothing short of blazing heat in both Los Angeles and France. Too hot to cook. Too hot for heavy food. A plate of ripe melon with thinly-sliced prosciutto is a classic summer pairing. Inspired by the triple digits and my fencing daughter, melon, herb and prosciutto skewers are this week’s simple pleasureRead the rest of this entry »

 

it is hot in here: tarte flamblée with Alsacian slaw … “ah weee”

July 28th, 2011


wooden pizza spatula by Chef Morgan

it is hot in here: tarte flamblée with Alsacian slaw … “ah weee”

The region of Alsace is beautiful and full of wonderful people, A.O.C. wines (such as Muscat, Gerwürztraminer, and Riesling) and its own culinary traditions one of which is tarte flamblée (also known as flammeküche). In a nod to this special region of France, tarte flamblée served with a lardon and apple cabbage slaw is this week’s simple pleasure.

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boulettes de chèvre et raisins secs et groseilles (goat cheese balls with raisins and currants)

July 1st, 2011

a “palette” pleasing appetizer and adieu to an artist

I was in France last week when I heard the news that Peter Falk had passed. I thought of the first time I met him. It was nearly twenty years ago at his home.  I was scurrying around trying to be helpful and when I turned around, there stood Mr. Falk. I did not recognize him and so I asked him in my most matter-of-fact, grown-up tone, “may I help you?” He smiled at me with that “Columbo” smile and I realized as soon as the clumsy words spilled from my mouth who he was and I felt a little foolish. Peter Falk was charming and kind. He was an incredibly talented actor and artist. I thought of him in his art studio, surrounded by his female sketches. I thought of an artist’s “palette ” and everyone’s “palate and it is the combination of the two which is the inspiration for this week’s simple pleasure: boulettes de chèvre et raisins secs et groseilles (goat cheese balls with raisins and currants). The artist palette serving tray is optional.

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roasted and stuffed summer cherry tomatoes (à la bourguignonne)

June 24th, 2011

 

chef Morgan summer cherry tomatoes (à la bourguignonne)

summer cherry tomatoes (à la bourguignonne)

Cooking inspiration can come from anything and sometimes it comes from really nothing at all. Today it was my poêlon à escargots, a ceramic dish with twelve individual holes in which to cook the escargots. The dish works nicely because the individual holes roast each escargot in a bath of seasoned butter. However, I wanted to take advantage of the summer cherry tomatoes that are filling the markets so I decided to roast my tomatoes in my poêlon à escargotsas if they were escargots. The result: delicious so I thought I would share the recipe with you.  This week’s simple pleasure is summer cherry tomatoes “àla bourguignonne” (with a twist, of course).

 

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time for summer: panier de crudités avec anchoïade

May 26th, 2011

 

panier de crudités avec anchoïade

panier de crudités avec anchoïade

 

This Memorial Day weekend  get a jump on summer with a Provençal panier de crudités avec anchoïade. You will feel like you are on vacation at the Côte d’Azur and that is why it is this week’s “simple pleasure. Read the rest of this entry »

 

carrot velouté with quenelle of fresh chèvre

April 21st, 2011

carrot velouté with quenelle of fresh chèvre

stats:

yield: makes 8 cups

what you need:

soup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup diced spring onions
1 pound young orange carrots, diced
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup carrot juice (reduced from 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt (and as needed)
2 cups water (and as needed)

garnish
8 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
fresh chervil leaves (as needed)
fresh coriander flowers (as needed) Read the rest of this entry »

 

le printemps est arrivé ! (Spring has sprung !)

March 3rd, 2011

le printemps est arrivé !
(Spring has sprung !)
taking advantage of the early Spring crops with savory pancakes and tarts

Every season gives us an array of new flavors and colors. Autumn’s coolness is tempered by the warm oranges and reds of pomegranates, winter squashes, pears, and apples. Winter has its dark kales, pale cabbages, brilliant white cauliflower and sunchokes, and bright citrus. Then there is Spring. Spring bursts with newness: vegetables and fruit trees are covered with blossoms and the bright shades of green fill the markets.  English peas, shelling beans, asparagus, fava beans, ramps, baby spinach, spring onions, and fresh garlic are just a few of the season’s treats. Vegetables harvested in the Spring are at their sweetest and mildest (baby carrots, spring garlic, spring onions, baby leeks, and new potatoes, to name a few).

Despite the chilly air (and threats of snow on the Hollywood sign), Spring has sprung in Los Angeles and bringing the season’s beautiful and tasty bounty to your family’s table is easier than you think. This week’s simple pleasure is devoted to the green of Spring and because I could not make a decision as to which recipe to post I am posting two: an elegant and beautiful savory tart topped with sautéed Spring vegetables, flowers and goat cheese; and savory Spring vegetable pancakes. Both are simple to prepare.

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Spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

March 3rd, 2011

Spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

 

makes 4 tarts (4” by 4”)

what you need:

pastry

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted and cut into 4 squares (4 by 4 inches)
2 ounces young goat cheese
1 egg, mixed

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Spring vegetable pancakes

March 3rd, 2011

Spring vegetable pancakes

stats:

makes 8-10 pancakes

what you need:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup finely minced fennel bulb
1/4 cup soybeans (fresh or frozen), shelled
1/4 cup spiral cut carrots (or grated)
1 cup grated potatoes, large grate with skins Read the rest of this entry »