Recipes
FEATURED RECIPE: Aubergine Cake
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Appetizers
Almond Crusted Brandy Cheese Ball
Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers
Salads
Orange & Honey-Roasted Pecan Salad
Crab Cakes with Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
Soups
Sauces
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Entrees
Roasted Leg of Lamb with Mint Sauce
Spaghetti Squash & Shrimp with Garlic-Parsley Tapenade
Chicken & Vegetable White Lasagna
Desserts
Aubergine Cake
vegetable oil, for frying
3 large onions, 1/4 inch slices
2 large eggplants, 1/4 inch slices
6 large tomatoes, 1/4 inch slices
2 (8 oz.) logs fresh mozzarella, sliced
Extra virgin olive oil and basil leaves for garnish
In a large sauté pan over medium heat, slowly sauté the onion slices in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil until soft and caramelized but not browned, about 15 minutes. Place in a bowl and set aside.
In the same sauté pan add about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil. Heat to frying temperature and in batches fry the eggplant slices until slightly brown and a bit crispy. Lay the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain.
Line a deep 9-inch cake pan with plastic wrap with plenty of excess plastic hanging over the sides. Begin layering in the following order – sliced tomatoes, sautéed onions, mozzarella, eggplant slices, another layer of tomatoes, more sautéed onions, cheese, eggplants and finally a last layer of tomatoes.
The warmth of the onions and eggplant melt the cheese and help everything mold together. Fold the plastic wrap up around the layers. Place a salad plate on top to press the layers down. Refrigerate for about four hours or overnight. Unwrap the plastic from the top. Place a large plate on top of the cake pan and turn over. Remove the cake pan and the plastic. Serve in slices with basil garnish and a drizzle of olive oil.
Fig and Goat Cheese Tart
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
salt and pepper
1 package of refrigerated pie dough or batch of homemade dough
8 figs, quartered
4 ounces of goat cheese, crumbled
4 eggs
2 cups cream or whole milk
Directions
In a skillet over medium heat add a tablespoon of olive oil, the sliced red onion, sugar and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sauté slowly until soft and caramelized, but not browned. Remove to a small bowl and allow to cool. Line a straight-sided quiche or tart pan with your chilled dough. Carefully press the dough into the pan. Trim excess dough from the sides, leaving a small amount of overhang due to the dough shrinking during baking. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your dough with parchment paper and weigh it down with dried beans, pie weights or dried rice. Place it on a baking sheet and blind bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the paper and the weights and bake for another 10 minutes until golden and no longer appears wet. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before filling.
When your crust is cooled, arrange the quartered figs across the bottom and top with the goat cheese and caramelized onions. In a mixing bowl whisk together the 4 eggs and the 2 cups of milk or cream and a small amount of salt and pepper. Pour the liquid into the crust. Fill almost to the top. Transfer to the oven and cook at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes or until filling is firm. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Peach Paste
Ingredients
10 large peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 packets gelatin, melted as per package instructions
Directions
Put sliced peaches in pan and bring to boil with water and sugar. Cook for ten minutes
or until reduced by half. Cool and put peaches in a blender. Blend until smooth. Stir in
gelatin and pour into an 8x8 baking pan. Place in the refrigerator to set for about 6 hours.
Use a spread on crackers or on toast with various cheeses.
Almond-Crusted Brandy Cheese Ball
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon brandy
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups sliced almonds
2 green onions thinly sliced
Directions
Place cream cheese in a bowl. Add brandy and orange juice and mix well. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add the green onions and mix until all ingredients are combined. Place sliced almonds on a cutting board. Spoon cream cheese onto middle of almonds then roll until the cream cheese is completely covered and formed into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. If you like a bit of spice add a few chili flakes or a few shakes of tobasco sauce.
Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers
Ingredients
3 large butter croissants
2 slices white bread
1/4 cup sliced almond
chicken breasts sliced into strips
1 cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Directions
Pulse croissants and bread in food processor two to three seconds or until bread is finely chopped. Add almonds and pulse a couple of times just to coarsely chop. Dredge the sliced chicken in seasoned flour and shake off excess flour. One at a time dip chicken into beaten eggs and then coat with the homemade breadcrumbs. Heat cooking oil to 300 degrees and fry the chicken strips until crispy and light brown.
Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1 clove garlic
Pinch of salt
6 anchovies
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 egg yolks
1 medium lemon, juiced
1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan
Salt & pepper, to taste
Directions
On a cutting board mince the garlic with the salt until it reaches a paste-like consistency. Add the anchovies to the board. Chop and mash until smooth. Scrape off the board and place in a bowl. Whisk in the mustard, egg yolks and lemon juice. Begin drizzling in the oil and continue to whisk vigorously. Stir in the parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
Orange & Honey-Roasted Pecan Salad
Ingredients
1 tablespoon honey, plus 1 teaspoon butter
2 tablespoons pecans
2 cups mixed salad leaves
1/4 cup goat cheese
1/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
2 mandarin oranges, peeled cut into segments
Italian dressing
Directions
In a nonstick sauté pan heat honey and butter over medium heat. Add pecans and coat with honey about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Arrange salad on serving plate. Sprinkle goat cheese on top. Arrange mandarin segments and sliced tomatoes on top. Dress with Italian dressing. Can also use Texas pink grapefruit instead of mandarin oranges.
Crab Cakes with Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
For the Crab Cakes:
Ingredients
1 pound lump crabmeat
1 egg
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Directions
In a bowl combine the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley. Carefully fold in the crabmeat, corn and breadcrumbs. Form crab mixture into loose cakes. Heat a skillet over medium heat with two tablespoons of oil. Add the cakes and brown on each side. Cook about five minutes on each side and be careful when turning.
For the Salad:
Ingredients
1 cup tomato, cut in to small cubes
1 cup cooked beets, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced
1 tablespoon sliced almond
1/4 cup fresh goat cheese
8 leaves of romaine lettuce
Directions
In a bowl combine the first five ingredients and toss together. Place two romaine leaves on each plate and top with the other ingredients. Top with a vinaigrette dressing and serve with crab cakes.
Blueberry Salad
Ingredients
6 romaine leaves
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1/4 chopped tomato
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/3 cup goat cheese crumbles
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon chopped basil leaves
Directions
On two salad plates arrange 3 romaine leaves on each. Top with the tomatoes, blueberries, almonds and goat cheese crumbles. For the dressing, whisk together remaining ingredients and drizzle over salad.
Leek & Potato Soup
Ingredients
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 large leeks, tops trimmed, remaining portion cut in half lengthways, washed with running water then sliced thin
3 cups chicken broth or vegetable
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 chopped garlic clove
Directions
In a large pan melt butter. Add sliced washed leeks and garlic. Sauté for two minutes. Add chopped potatoes. Add flour and stir together. Cover with stock and bring to a boil. The soup is ready when potatoes are cooked
Tomato Gazpacho
Ingredients
4 large homegrown tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cups V-8 juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
¼ cup celery, finely chopped
¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
¼ cup cucumber, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cilantro, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. Chill for eight hours. Stir again. Spoon into small serving bowls or mugs. Garnish with garlic toast. Serves 4 to 6 depending on the size of the bowl.
Red Onion Marmalade
Ingredients
2 large red onions or 4 Noonday Onions, sliced thin
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
Directions
Add oil to a sauté pan and cook over low heat until onions are soft. Add salt, pepper and garlic. Add brown sugar. Stir until caramelized. Add vinegar and reduce by half. Allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
1 twelve ounce jar roasted red peppers, plus one jar of cold water
1 large onion sliced thin
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 teaspoon chili flakes
2 teaspoons corn starch, mixed with 1/4 cup water
Directions
In a large sauté pan over medium heat sauté the onions for two minutes. Add the jar of red peppers, along with their liquid and the jar of cold water. Add the bouillon, chili flakes and brown sugar. Bring all ingredients to a boil and simmer until onions are cooked through and soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. After cooling, pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pan and bring to a boil. Add the cornstarch mixed with the water and stir until thick. Remove from heat and cool before serving. Serve with steak, chicken or other types of meat.
Lemon Chili Sauce
Ingredients
8 lemons, juice only
1 cup brown sugar
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cup warm water
1/2 onion chopped fine
2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with a small amount of water to make a paste
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes, or more to taste
Directions
Place the juice in a pan with water, sugar and chili flakes. Add chicken bouillon, chopped onion and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch paste to thicken and whisk together. Cool for ten minutes and blend until smooth. This can be served hot or chilled.
Roasted Leg of Lamb & Mint Sauce
Ingredients
5 pound leg of lamb
Olive oil
Salt
Cracked black pepper
1 bunch rosemary
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch of mint
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons very hot water
1/4 cup malt vinegar
Directions
Roughly chop the rosemary. Rub the leg with olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic. Roast for about 2 hours, depending on the size of the leg, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of meat registers 140 degrees.
For the sauce:
Pull mint leaves off of the stems. Place on a cutting board and chop finely. Sprinkle the sugar over the mint and continue to chop. Place the mint and sugar in a small bowl. Cover with the water and allow to steep for a couple of minutes. Add the vinegar and salt to taste.
Mixed Seafood Timbale
Ingredients
2 eight ounce cod fillets
4 ounces crabmeat
1 egg white
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons lemon juice
8 large shrimp, uncooked
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Directions
Peel shrimp and leave the tails on four of them and set aside. Place the other four shrimp and the cod in a food processor and pulse to a rough paste. Add the cream and pulse until combined. Add the crab, lemon juice, salt, pepper, parsley and egg white and pulse until combined. Butter the inside of four ramekins that are two ounce in size. Fill the ramekins with the fish mixture and press a shrimp into the top of each one. Place ramekins in a baking dish and fill the dish half way up with hot water. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until firm. After the ramekins have a chance to cool, using clean hands turn the ramekin over in one hand and carefully slide out the fish. Place on a plate on top of grilled polenta cake, potato cake or salad greens.
Seared Tuna Steaks
Ingredients
2 eight ounce tuna steaks
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon salt flakes
1 teaspoon ground garlic
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground chili flaked
Directions
Mix together all of the seasonings. This mixture can be stored in an airtight container. Season the fish on all sides with the seasoning mix. Heat skillet with two tablespoons of oil Sear each side of tuna for 30 seconds. Place on chilled plate and cool in fridge for 2 hours. Serve thinly sliced on a bed of sauerkraut Serve with soy dipping sauce.
Spaghetti Squash & Shrimp with Garlic-Parsley Tapenade
Ingredients
1 large spaghetti squash
2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper
1 dozen large gulf shrimp (U12 or 15)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, diced small
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Directions
Make the garlic-parsley tapenade (recipe below) and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut spaghetti squash in half and clean the seeds out with a spoon. Drizzle with the olive oil and rub with salt and pepper. Turn the squash halves flesh side down on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes or until the inside of the squash is tender. Let cool for 15 minutes. Using a fork, run the tines of the fork down the length of the squash flesh pulling out long strands of squash. Continue until all of the flesh is pulled out of the skin. Place the strands loosely in a bowl. Cover to keep warm while cooking the shrimp.
In a large bowl combine the shrimp, olive oil, shallots, garlic, fresh parsley, salt & pepper. Heat a grill or sauté pan to high and add the shrimp. Cook until pink and tails curl. Divide the squash between plates and top with shrimp & juices from the pan. Add a spoon full of tapenade to the top of the shrimp.
Dirty Mudbugs (a.k.a. Dirty Rice with Crawfish)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound chicken livers, puréed
1 1/2 cups chicken broth, divided
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 cups cooked long-grain rice
1 can (eight ounce) chopped tomatoes, drained
1 pound crawfish tail meat, cooked (available at Brookshire’s)
Garnish: green onions and parsley
Instructions
In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork, and chicken liver; cook until browned and crisp. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth, scrape up browned bits from the pan, and cook until liquid evaporates. Add another 1/2 cup broth, onion, bell pepper, and celery, and cook until vegetables are softened. Add garlic, and cook for an additional minute. Add salt, black pepper, cayenne, cooked rice, tomatoes, crawfish and remaining 1/2 cup broth. Stir to combine well and cook over low heat until all ingredients are warmed through. Garnish with green onion and parsley, if desired.
Garlic-Parsley Tapenade
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic
1 medium white onion
1/2 cup parsley
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place the garlic, onion and parsley in a blender and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the butter and olive oil and pulse to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If too thick add a little more oil.
Chicken & Vegetable White Lasagna
For the Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 cup warm milk
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 pound ricotta cheese
Melt butter in a thick bottomed sauté pan. Add flour and cook for two minutes or until it
reaches a light blond color. Add warm milk and bring to the boil. Take off heat and stir
in ricotta cheese. Season with salt, pepper and chicken bouillon. Add more milk if sauce is too thick.
For the Lasagna:
9 lasagna noodles
2 chicken breasts, poached in water & sliced
1/2 each of red, orange and yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup green peas
2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach, cooked and squeezed
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Sauté the peppers, onion, and mushrooms in a small amount of olive oil until soft. Remove from heat and stir in the peas, tomatoes and spinach. In a 9x13 baking dish layer the bottom of the dish with 3 lasagna noodles, 1/2 of the vegetables, 1/2 of the chicken and some of the white sauce. Repeat with another layer and finish by topping the last layer of noodles with the last of the white sauce and the Parmesan cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for thirty minutes. Serve with fresh garden salad and garlic bread.
New Zealand Pavlova
Ingredients
10 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 cups heavy cream, beaten to stiff peaks
2 cups assorted fresh fruit, kiwis, berries, cherries, mandarin oranges
Directions
Beat egg whites until thick, fluffy and stiff. Mix together sugar and cornstarch and add to egg
whites one spoon at a time while continuing to beat the egg whites. Be patient. Whipping the egg whites can take up to 15 minutes & will vary with humidity. Place parchment paper on cookie sheet and draw 8" round in middle. Using a long spatula or knife, spoon egg mixture in the middle and carefully shape into a tall cake. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. When it cooks it will puff, expand and get shorter. It is ready when it begins to crack and the outside is lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature. It will begin to deflate and that's okay. Can be baked a day ahead of time and left out at room temperature. When ready to serve invert onto a plate, remove parchment paper and top with a thick layer of fresh whipped cream. Top with assorted fresh berries and fruit.
English Sherry Trifle with Egg Custard
Ingredients
1 can mandarin oranges
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1/2 cup Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry
1 pound cake, cubed
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped to stiff peaks
2 cups prepared egg custard
Directions
Make custard as per recipe. In a large bowl whisk together the liquid from the can of oranges, the sherry and the jam. Place a layer of pound cake over the bottom of a dish. Spread a layer of the liquid over the pound cake and then a layer of oranges and custard. Continue to layer until all ingredients are used. Refrigerate and then top with whipped cream and serve.
For the Custard:
Ingredients
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons cornstartch
Slowly warm milk and sugar over low heat in a saucepan. In a separate bowl combine the egg yolks and cornstarch. Remove the milk from the heat and slowly add the milk mixture to the egg yolks while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Pour back into the saucepan and constantly stir while brining to a simmer and allowing to thicken. When it begins to thicken remove from heat and keep stirring. Set aside to cool before adding to the trifle.
Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
6 ounces butter
8 ounces sugar
3 eggs
10 ounces flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa (dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water)
2 ounces chocolate chips
Directions
Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. When fluffy, continue beating and add the eggs one at a time. Add cocoa alternately with sifted dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into greased cake tin and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes. Spread fruit between layers and top with your favorite icing or whipped cream.
Limoncello Tiramisu With Mascarpone Mousse
Ingredients
1 package ladyfinger cookies
2 cups limoncello
16 ounces mascarpone cheese
5 egg yolks
3/4 sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups whipped cream
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions
To make the mousse, place the egg yolks and sugar in a large metal bowl and place over a pan of boiling water. Whisk until it becomes thick and creamy. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
Add the mascarpone and whisk until completely blended. Stir in the lemon juice and a tablespoon of limoncello.
To assemble the tiramisu, pour the remaining limoncello in a wide, shallow bowl. Individually dip the ladyfingers into the limoncello for 1 to 2 seconds.
In a 9 x 13 pan, line up the ladyfingers to cover the bottom of the pan. Top with a thick layer of mousse and then another layer of dunked ladyfingers. Add more limoncello to the dipping bowl, if necessary.
Top the second layer of ladyfingers with another layer of mousse. Spread the whipped cream over the second layer of mousse. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. Cut into squares to serve. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Vanilla Soufflé
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup, plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for dishes
2 cups whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
3/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg white
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Powdered Sugar, for dusting
Directions
Butter and sugar eight 6-ounce soufflé dishes, including the rim of each dish. In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine milk and vanilla bean with scrapings. Bring to a boil, and remove from heat. Cover, and let steep for 1 hour. Remove bean from milk, and reserve for another use.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and salt. Add 1/2 cup steeped milk, whisking to combine and form a paste. Transfer paste to saucepan with milk, and cook over medium heat while whisking constantly until thickened and smooth, about 5 to 8 minutes. If the mixture begins to get lumpy, remove from heat, and whisk until smooth. Remove saucepan from heat.
Prepare an ice-water bath: Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to milk mixture, and whisk to combine. Transfer soufflé base mixture to a shallow 1-quart container. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Set saucepan in the ice-water bath to cool completely. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Remove soufflé base from refrigerator, and bring to room temperature, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with rack in center. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip 5 egg whites on low speed with cream of tartar until foamy.
Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar while slowly increasing the speed of the mixer until it is on high. Whip until egg whites are stiff and shiny.
Gently fold egg whites into the soufflé base in three additions. Divide between prepared dishes, gently tap on each dish on the work surface, and place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven, and bake until dark golden and the sides appear sponge-ike, 16 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately with seasonal berries.
