Choucroute Garni with the World's Premier Culinary College #VideoRecipes

How to Make French Choucroute Garnie

Ingredients:

for cured pork ribs
1.5 lbs pork rib tips
2 tbs kosher salt
1 tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cloves
meat
1 lbs smoked bacon slab (unsliced)
1 1/2 lbs smoked pork chop cut into 2 slices
8 links homemade knackwurst sausage
for choucroute
2 medium onions sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 C dry Riesling (or other off-dry white wine)
1 Tbs honey
3 bay leaves
1 Tbs juniper berries
1/2 tsp black peppercorns
1/4 tsp caraway seeds
3 cloves
5 sprigs thyme
1 batch homemade choucroute rinsed and drained
2 C low sodium chicken stock (if you make the stock, don’t add any salt)
8 potatoes peeled
Five weeks before
Make the choucroute (sauerkraut)
Up to 1 week before
Make the Knackwurst and smoke.
Two days before
Cure the pork ribtips by mixing the salt, sugar and cloves and rubbing the mixture into the meat. Put in a ziploc bag and refrigerate until ready to use.
Day of Choucroute Garnie


Procedures:

(1)Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

(2)Rinse the cured rib tips. Cut the fatty ends off the slab bacon and chop into 1/4″ thick batons. Cut the rest of the bacon in half lengthwise then slice into 1/2″ thick rectangles. You should end up with 8 pieces about 4″ x 1 1/2″ x 1/2″.

(3)Add the small pieces of bacon fat into a large dutch oven over medium heat and render out some fat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they are tender, brown and smell sweet. Add the wine, honey, bay leaves, juniper, pepper, caraway, cloves and thyme then bring to a boil.

(4)Add half the sauerkraut and stir to combine. Nestle the ribs into the sauerkraut along with a few pieces of large bacon. Put down some more sauerkraut then lay down the rest of the bacon. Cover with the remaining sauerkraut then pour over the chicken stock.

(5)Cover with a lid and transfer to the oven. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours then add the smoked pork chop on top of the choucroute garnie. Cover and return to the oven until the pork chops are warmed through and the rest of the meat is fork tender (about another 30 minutes).

(5)Add the potatoes to a pot of generously salted water and boil until tender. When the potatoes are almost done, bring a small pot of water to a bare simmer and add the sausages. Allow them to simmer until they plump up, then remove them from the water. Add the sausages on top of the choucroute garnie and return to the oven uncovered for a few minutes to allow the skins on the sausages to crisp.

(6)To serve, lay down a healthy heap of choucroute onto a serving platter and cover with the various cuts of meat. Then surround with the boiled potatoes and garnish with something green.

Homemade Eggplant Parmigiana #VideoRecipes

Photo Source:Homemade Eggplant Parmigiana by Maria's Italian Kitchen, on Flickr">



Eggplant Parmigiana


Ingredients:

Extra-virgin olive oil
2 large eggplant, about 2 pounds
Salt and pepper
2 cups basic tomato sauce, recipe follows
1 bunch fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced 1/8-inch thick
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs, lightly toasted under broiler
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Using some extra-virgin olive oil, oil a baking sheet.

Slice each eggplant into 6 pieces about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Lightly season each disk with salt and pepper and place on the oiled sheet. Bake the eggplant at 450 degrees F until the slices begin turning deep brown on top, about 12-15 minutes. Remove the eggplants from the oven. Remove the slices from the baking sheet and place them on a plate to cool.

Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F. In an 8 by 12-inch brownie pan, place the 4 largest eggplant slice evenly spaced apart. Over each slice, spread 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and sprinkle with a teaspoon of basil. Place one slice of mozzarella over each and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon grated Parmigiano. Place the smaller slices of eggplant over each of the disks and repeat with tomato sauce, basil, and the 2 cheeses. Repeat the layering again until all the ingredients are used.

Sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs over the top of the eggplant dish, and bake uncovered until the cheese is melts and the tops turn light brown, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately. 4 servings


Basic tomato sauce:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, 1/4-inch dice
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 medium carrot, finely grated
2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
Salt

Tomato Sauce:

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.

Yield: 4 cups

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

How to prepare Chicken Cordon Bleu -- MAC and ME Cooking Show



Photo Source: "Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta by swampkitty, on Flickr">





The flavors of the classic French recipe are recast in this simple pasta dish. We used roasted or grilled chicken purchased in the meat department to speed things up.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces uncooked medium egg noodles
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fat-free milk, divided
• ½ cup cream cheese
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheese
• 2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup (4 ounces) diced lean deli ham
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Procedures:

1) Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

2) While cooking noodles, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife.

3) Combine flour, cream cheese, unsalted butter and 1/4 cup milk in a heavy saucepan, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Place the pan over medium heat; whisk in 1 3/4 cups milk and mustard. Cook 6 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low.

4) Add the cheese, stirring until melted. Stir in the chicken, peas, ham, and black pepper, and serve over noodles.

5) Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups chicken mixture and 1 cup noodles)

Note: Try to control the consistency of the sauce. Your choice is the most appropriate one.

Tuna Salad Wrap

Quick Tuna Salad Wrap




Photo Source: "Tuna salad (mayo) wrap by wmgregory, on Flickr">







Ingredients:

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cans water-packed light tuna, drained, about 12 ounces
2 tablespoons chopped mixed olives
2 tablespoons capers
1/4 cup diced red or yellow bell peppers
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 10-inch whole-wheat tortilla
8 slices tomato
4 large lettuce leaves

Procedures:

1) In a large bowl, combine vinegar, lemon juice, water and olive oil. Add tuna, capers, olives, bell peppers, chives, parsley, lemon peel and black pepper and stir until well combined.

2) Place 1/2 cup of salad into tortilla. Add one lettuce leaf and 2 tomato slices. Roll burrito style, leaving one end open.

3) Serves 4 serving

Traditional Pizza Dough #VideoRecipes

Traditional Pizza Dough #VideoRecipes

A traditional way of making pizza dough for a 15-inch pizza and select toppings of your choice.

Ingredients:

• 1 (1/4-ounce) envelope active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (105 degrees F to 115 degrees F)
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Cornmeal

Procedures:

1. Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a 2-cup liquid-measuring cup; let stand for 5 minutes.

2. In work bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt. Pulse several times to combine. With processor running, slowly add yeast mixture and oil. Continue running processor until mixture is combined and forms a ball.

3. On a lightly floured surface, turn dough out and knead for 5 minutes. Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees F), free from drafts, for 1 hour, or until dough is doubled in bulk.

4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

5. Punch dough down; knead lightly 4 or 5 times. Roll dough into an 18-inch circle.

6. Spray a 15-inch pizza stone or 15-inch pizza tray lightly with cooking spray; sprinkle with cornmeal. Place dough round on top of stone, folding edges over to fit stone. Prick dough with a fork. Or, put in a pizza tray and put inside the oven (if you’re not using stone.)

7. Top with desired sauce and toppings. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

8. Serves 1 (15-inch) pizza.