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Mouclade (Steamed Mussels with Lemon-Saffron Sauce)
Ingredients
1/2 cup crème fraîche*
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 large shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Cognac or brandy
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 generous pinch of saffron threads
40 mussels, scrubbed, debearded
1 cup dry white wine
Fresh chives
Preparation
Whisk crème fraîche and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Add Cognac and ignite with match. Let flames burn out; whisk in lemon juice and saffron. Set both mixtures aside.
Place mussels in heavy large pot; pour in wine. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Cover pot and cook until mussels open, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Using tongs, transfer mussels to baking sheet (discard any mussels that do not open). Remove top half of each mussel shell; divide mussels in bottom shells among 4 bowls. Tent with foil.
Strain mussel cooking liquid from pot through sieve lined with damp paper towel into skillet with shallot mixture. Boil over medium-high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 3 minutes. Very slowly whisk hot liquid into crème fraîche mixture; return to same skillet. Stir over low heat just until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; season sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over mussels. Garnish with chives.
* Sold at some supermarkets. If unavailable, heat 1 cup whipping cream to lukewarm (85°F). Remove from heat and mix in 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Cover and let stand in warm draft-free area until slightly thickened, 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature of room. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Wine to serve with Mussels: Baron Philippe de Rothschild 2000 Mouton Cadet Blanc.
Beef Tenderloin Steak with Mustard-Cognac Sauce
Ingredients
6 (7- to 8-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (each about 1 1/2 inches thick)
Coarse kosher salt
Cracked black pepper
3 tablespoons canola oil
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, divided
4 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed
2 fresh thyme sprigs
2 fresh rosemary sprigs
1 cup finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup Cognac or brandy
2 tablespoons tawny Port
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Preparation
Preheat oven to 250°F. Sprinkle steaks on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add steaks and sear until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add 3 tablespoons butter, garlic, thyme, and rosemary to skillet. Cook steaks to desired doneness, turning occasionally and basting with pan juices, about 12 minutes for medium-rare.
Transfer steaks to small rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
Pour contents of skillet into small bowl. Return 3 tablespoons drippings from bowl to same skillet and place over high heat. Add shallots and sauté 2 minutes. Add Cognac and Port and stir 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits. Add broth and boil until sauce is reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Whisk in Dijon mustard, then remaining 3 tablespoons cold butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Arrange steaks on plates; whisk any accumulated juices from baking sheet into sauce. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve.
Sauteed Mushrooms with Smoked Ham (makes 4 servings)
Ingredients
1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms*
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 pounds large button mushrooms, halved
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1/3 cup finely chopped smoked ham (such as Black Forest)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Fresh parsley sprigs
Preparation
Place dried mushrooms in medium bowl; add enough boiling water to cover. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 45 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to work surface; reserve mushroom soaking liquid. Chop mushrooms.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add button mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are brown and juices evaporate, about 12 minutes. Add porcini mushrooms; stir 1 minute. Transfer mushroom mixture to medium bowl.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to same skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and next 3 ingredients. Sauté until shallots are tender, about 2 minutes. Add mushroom mixture and 1/2 cup mushroom soaking liquid, leaving behind any sediment. Cover and simmer until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more soaking liquid if mixture is dry, about 20 minutes. Add lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)
Transfer mushroom mixture to serving bowl. Garnish with parsley sprigs.
* Dried porcini mushrooms are available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores, and many supermarkets.
Creamy Potatoes and Onions
Ingredients
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 white boiling onions (about 9 ounces total), thinly sliced
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes
2 cups water
1/4 cup crème fraîche or whipping cream
Chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and 2 cups water; bring to boil. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Uncover and simmer until almost all water evaporates, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add crème fraîche and 1 tablespoon butter. Stir gently to blend, being careful not to break up potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat before serving.) Sprinkle with parsley.
Puff Pastry Apple Tarts Glazed with Honey
Ingredients
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed
2 7- to 8-ounce Golden Delicious apples, peeled, halved, cored, each half very thinly sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 teaspoons honey
Preparation
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to very thin 18x14-inch rectangle. Using small plate as guide, cut out four 7-inch rounds. Transfer 2 rounds to each prepared sheet; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Overlap slices from 1/2 apple on each pastry round, leaving 1/4-inch plain border. Sprinkle apple on each tart with 2 1/4 teaspoons sugar, then drizzle with 2 1/4 teaspoons butter.
Bake tarts until pastry is golden and apples are tender, about 25 minutes. Drizzle each tart with 1 teaspoon honey. Transfer tarts to racks; cool 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
What to drink with Apple Tart: Barton & Guestier 1999 Sauternes "Tradition."
Source: Bon Appetit
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