MINI BAKED ALASKAS
Ingredients
Serves 8
1 x 6-in (15 cm) vanilla sponge or pound cake
2 x 16 oz tubs (2 x 500 g) vanilla ice cream, softened
¼ cup (60 ml) cherry jam, divided
½ cup (125 ml) bourbon cherries, or canned cherries
MERINGUE:
4 egg whites
1 cup (250 ml) white sugar
Instructions
- Cut sponge cake horizontally into ¼-in (0.5 cm) slices. Cut rounds out of slices the same size as the opening of a silicon muffin mould. Set aside.
- In a mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the softened ice cream with half of the cherry jam and 1 tbsp (15 ml) of the bourbon the cherries were packed in (omit if using canned cherries).
- Fill the muffin moulds with the cherry ice cream, leaving ½-in (1.25 cm) space at the top. Put 3 cherries in each muffin mould and push into ice cream. Top each muffin mould with a cake round. Freeze overnight or longer.
- To make MERINGUE: Make the meringue just before serving. In a glass or metal bowl, mix egg whites and sugar. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat until sugar has mainly dissolved and egg whites are slightly warm. Stir egg whites while heating so they don’t cook.
- Transfer egg white mixture to bowl of mixer. Whip with the whip attachment until stiff peaks form.
- Turn out ice cream from the muffin moulds. Cover each ice cream cake with about ¼ cup (60 ml) of meringue. Use a knife or an offset spatula to create peaks all over the cakes. Brown with a blowtorch until lightly browned all over and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
PAN-SEARED STEELHEAD WITH PEA PURÉE
Ingredients
Serves 4
POTATOES:
½ lb (250 g) small, assorted coloured baby potatoes
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
½ tsp (2 ml) minced fresh thyme
PEA PURÉE:
2 cups (500 ml) frozen peas
½ cup (125 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
1 tbsp (15 ml) truffle oil
1 tsp (5 ml) finely grated lemon zest
1 garlic clove, smashed and minced
½ tsp (2 ml) each salt and black pepper
STEELHEAD:
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
¼ cup (50 ml) enoki mushrooms
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
4 x 4 oz (120 g) steelhead trout fillets, boned and halved crosswise
¼ cup (50 ml) sugar snap peas, blanched
¼ cup (50 ml) micro greens, for garnish
Instructions
- To make POTATOES: Boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and return to saucepan. Toss with butter and seasonings. Cover and set aside.
- To make PEA PURÉE: Blanch peas for a minute or two with boiling water just until thawed. Strain and place in a blender along with remaining ingredients. Blend until very smooth. For a creamier texture, press mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a small saucepan. Cover and set aside.
- To make STEELHEAD: Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C). In an ovenproof frying pan, heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter over medium-high heat until very hot. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden. Season with salt and pepper and remove with a slotted spoon to a dish and set aside.
- Add oil to hot frying pan. Add fillets, skinside down, and sear over medium-high heat until skin is crispy. Gently flip fillets and place pan in oven. Bake for another 2 to 3 minutes or just until fish is cooked in the centre.
- Toss potatoes over medium heat until warm, and gently warm Pea Purée. Spoon purée in centre of a shallow serving bowl. Position potatoes on top in centre of purée. Stack 2 pieces seared salmon on top of potatoes. Scatter mushrooms alongside with blanched peas. Garnish with a few micro greens and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
PANKO, COCONUT AND MACADAMIA NUT CRUSTED MAHI MAHI WITH PASSION FRUIT SAUCE
Ingredients
Serves 6
PASSION FRUIT SAUCE:
⅔ cup (175 ml) frozen passion fruit pulp, thawed, or pulp from 3 to 4 fresh ripe passion fruits
1 tbsp (15 ml) lime juice
¼ cup (60 ml) cider vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) granulated sugar
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tsp (5 ml) finely minced ginger root
CRUSTED MAHI MAHI:
6 x 5 oz (150 g) mahi mahi fillets (or substitute halibut, snapper or other flaky fish)
1 cup (250 ml) pineapple juice
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, beaten
½ cup (125 ml) Japanese-style panko bread crumbs
⅓ cup (75 ml) unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ cup (60 ml) finely chopped macadamia nuts
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) black pepper
¼ tsp (1 ml) paprika
2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil, plus extra
Instructions
- If using fresh passion fruit, cut each in half and scrape pulp into a microwavesafe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Strain pulp through a fine-meshed sieve, pressing with a spoon to extract all the pulp and juice from the seeds. Discard seeds and reserve juice.
- Place pulp, lime juice, cider vinegar, sugar, garlic and ginger in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce reduces and thickens. Remove and set aside.
- Place fish fillets in a heavy re-sealable plastic bag along with pineapple juice. Prepare three bowls for coating fish fillets, one with flour, one with beaten eggs and one with a mixture of panko, coconut, macadamia nuts, salt, pepper and paprika.
- Remove fish from pineapple juice and coat each fillet in flour on all sides. Then coat well in eggs. Then transfer and dip into the panko/coconut/nut mixture until thoroughly coated all over.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden brown, and fish is flaky. Remove and repeat with remaining breaded fish, adding extra oil as needed.
- Serve fish immediately, topped with spoonfuls of Passion Fruit Sauce.
Drink Pairings
MANGO, TAPIOCA AND COCONUT PUDDING
Ingredients
Serves 6
½ cup (125 ml) small pearl tapioca
2½ cups (625 ml) whole milk
½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped out
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
1 14 oz (398 ml) can unsweetened coconut milk
2 large egg yolks
¼ cup (60 ml) sugar
3 cups (750 ml) peeled and ½-in (.5 cm) diced mango
1 tbsp (15 ml) fine-grated lime zest
3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh lime juice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, mix together tapioca, milk, vanilla bean and seeds and salt. Heat over medium heat to simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until the pearls are tender and translucent, about 20 minutes. Stir in coconut milk.
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar. Slowly whisk in a steady stream with half of the warm tapioca mixture. Whisk well to mix and pour egg yolk mixture back into the remaining tapioca in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature, discarding vanilla bean.
- In a medium bowl, mix together mango, lime zest and juice. Transfer half of the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. Stir the puree into diced mango.
- Divide half of the fruit into 6 serving glasses, top with the tapioca pudding, then top with the remaining mango mixture. Cover the puddings with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until chilled.
Drink Pairings
MAKER’S MARK CAESAR
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 lime
celery salt or steak spice, to rim
1½ oz (45 ml) Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon
4 dashes of hot sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
celery stick, for garnish
Clamato juice, to top
freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Moisten rim of glass with a lime wedge and roll rim in celery salt or steak spice to coat. Fill glass with ice. Add Maker’s Mark, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add celery stick garnish and top with Clamato. Finish with some freshly ground pepper, a lime wedge and enjoy!
Featuring
POACHED RHUBARB AND HAZELNUT CRUMBLE WITH PRESERVED PEARS
Ingredients
Serves 2
6 small stalks young rhubarb
granulated sugar
water
½ vanilla bean
⅓ cup (75 ml) muscovado brown sugar
3 tbsp (45 ml) hazelnuts, ground and lightly toasted
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
⅓ cup (75 ml) chilled butter, diced
pinch of sea salt
preserved pears, for garnish
vanilla whipped cream or ice cream, for garnish
fresh lemon balm, for garnish
Instructions
- Gently peel stalks with a sharp paring knife. Place peeled skins in a saucepan with enough equal parts sugar and water to cover, and seeds scraped from vanilla bean. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain liquid in a bowl and discard skins. Return liquid to saucepan.
- Chop fresh rhubarb into bite-sized pieces. Add to liquid and poach until tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment. Pulse remaining ingredients, other than garnishes, in a food processor to a course sand texture. Sprinkle evenly over parchment-lined pan. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool to room temperature and chop to desired size of crumble.
- Serve a ribbon of crumble on a dessert plate, dollop with some poached rhubarb. Place a couple slices of preserved pears on top and dollop with whipped cream or ice cream and garnish with fresh lemon balm.
Drink Pairings
MILK CHOCOLATE PRETZEL BARS
Ingredients
Serves 16 Bars
8 oz (250 g) milk chocolate
¼ cup (60 ml) ground pretzel crumbs, plus extra
Instructions
- Lightly oil an 8 x 8-in (20 x 20 cm) square baking dish and line with plastic wrap, overlapping edges. Alternatively, use a 6-bar untreated chocolate mould.
- Melt milk chocolate in double boiler or a bowl over simmering water. Stir gently as it begins to melt. Remove from heat just before fully melted and continue stirring until smooth.
- Stir in pretzel crumbs, reserving extra. Pour into prepared baking dish and smooth top. Scatter top with extra pretzel crumbs. Alternatively, spread in a chocolate bar mould. Sprinkle with extra crumbs.
- Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours or preferably overnight.
- Lift firmed chocolate from baking dish and place on a cutting board. With a warm knife, cut into 2 x 2-in (5 x 5 cm) bars. If using a chocolate mould, gently dislodge bars from mould with a knife.
- Store in a tightly covered container in a cool place for several days.
Drink Pairings
PB & J CHEESECAKE AND SORBET
Ingredients
Serves 16
RASPBERRY SORBET:
3½ sheets silver strength gelatin
2 lbs (1 kg) raspberries, puréed, strained
½ cup (125 ml) glucose or clear corn syrup
⅔ cup (150 ml) granulated sugar
⅛ tsp (0.5 ml) salt
PEANUT CRUMBLE:
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
⅓ cup (75 ml) brown sugar
1¾ cups (425 ml) all-purpose flour
⅔ cup (150 ml) butter, at room temperature
1 cup (250 ml) granola
1 cup (250 ml) peanuts, toasted and chopped
PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE:
6 cups (1.5 L) plain cream cheese
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
1 cup (250 ml) smooth peanut butter
3 cups (750 ml) crème fraîche
3 eggs
TORN DONUT:
3½ cups (875 ml) granulated sugar, divided
3 cups (750 ml) water
6 eggs
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
¼ standard loaf sliced white bread, crusts removed
canola oil, for frying
CRÈME ANGLAISE:
2 cups (500 ml) each whole milk and whipping cream
1 whole vanilla bean
¾ cup (175 ml) granulated sugar
7 egg yolks
Thai basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- To make RASPBERRY SORBET: Place gelatin in a large bowl with plenty of ice water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. In a blender, combine raspberry purée, glucose, sugar and salt. Whirl to blend. Place half purée in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Remove gelatin from water and squeeze with hands to remove water. Add to saucepan with purée and warm, stirring constantly until all gelatin has dissolved. Remove from heat and add to remaining purée in blender. Whirl briefly then transfer to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- To make PEANUT CRUMBLE: Preheat oven to 275 F (140 C). Combine sugars and flour in a bowl. Stir to blend. Add butter and work in until mixture resembles small pebbles or coarse sand. Fold in granola and transfer mixture into an 8 cup (2 L) baking dish with 2-in (2.5 cm) sides. Bake in centre of oven for 40 minutes until golden brown. Stir often as it starts to turn golden. Crumble should be rich golden brown and crisp. Cool pan on a rack. If some crumbles are too large, pulse in a food processor. Fold in peanuts and store cooled crumble in a tightly sealed container at room temperature. Can be stored for up to a week.
- To make PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE: Preheat oven to 250 F (130 C). Grease a 12 x 10 x 1.5-in (30 x 25 x 3.5 cm) baking dish and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In electric stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Beat in sugar and peanut butter and continue beating until blended. Beat in crème fraîche and eggs until blended and smooth. Transfer into prepared baking dish, smoothing top. Bake in oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until cake is firm but still has a slight jiggle when shaken. Remove dish to a rack to cool. Then, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Can be refrigerated for several days.
- To make TORN DONUT: Combine 3 cups (750 ml) each sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and stir to dissolve. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Whisk remaining ½ cup (125 ml) sugar and eggs together in a large bowl until blended and sugar is dissolved. Tear bread with crusts removed into golf ball-sized pieces. Soak in egg mixture then drain in a colander.
- Fill a large heavy-bottomed saucepan with about 5-in (12 cm) oil making sure it’s at least 5-in (12 cm) from top of saucepan. Heat oil to 350 F (180 C). Then reduce heat to medium-low to maintain temperature. Fry soaked bread in small batches in hot oil, turning a few times with slotted spoon for even browning. Bread will expand in saucepan as it cooks so don’t add too many pieces at once. When bread is golden on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes, remove with slotted spoon and drop into sugar syrup for a minute, turning to coat. Remove from syrup, drain on a rack over a baking sheet. Return oil temperature to 350 F (180 C) before frying another batch.
- To make CRÈME ANGLAISE: Combine milk and cream in a medium-sized, heavybottom saucepan. Split vanilla bean in half and scrape out seeds. Stir seeds into milk. Gently heat milk over medium-low until simmering. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Whisk sugar and eggs in a bowl until blended. Gradually whisk a little hot milk mixture into egg mixture to slightly warm. Then slowly whisk egg mixture into warmed milk until blended. Return saucepan to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until a thickened custard is formed, 5 minutes. Do not let mixture boil. Anglaise is ready when thick enough to coat a spoon. Strain Anglaise into a bowl and cool before transferring to a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerating. Whisk before serving.
- To serve Peanut Butter Cheesecake, spoon a few generous spoons Crème Anglaise onto bottom of a shallow serving dish. Spoon scoops of peanut butter cheesecake over anglaise. Tear Torn Donuts into chunks and add to top. Sprinkle with Peanut Crumble and a few scoops of Raspberry Sorbet. Top with a little more Anglaise and garnish with Thai basil leaves.
Drink Pairings
PAPAYA AND CHICKEN STIR-FRY
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
1 tbsp (15 ml) + 2 tsp (10 ml) soy sauce, divided
2 tsp (10 ml) dry sherry
½ tsp (2 ml) + 1 tsp (5 ml) cornstarch, divided
1 lb (500 g) mix of boneless chicken breast and thigh meat, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) strips
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced ginger
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 medium onion, thickly sliced
1 red pepper, seeded and cut into thin ½-inch (1.25 cm) julienne
½ tsp (2 ml) dried red chili flakes
2 tsp (10 ml) hoisin sauce
½ cup (125 ml) fresh orange juice
1½ lb (500 g) ripe papayas, peeled, seeded and cut into 3 x ½-inch (7.5 x 1.25 cm) strips
2 green onions, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lime juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together 1 tbsp (15 ml) soya sauce, sherry and ½ tsp (2 ml) cornstarch. Add chicken and toss well to coat. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ginger, garlic and onion and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Add red pepper and red chili flakes and continue stir-frying until chicken is cooked through and red peppers soften, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken and peppers to a plate.
- Mix the remaining cornstarch, hoisin sauce and orange juice and add to skillet. Bring to a boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Return the chicken and peppers to the wok, along with the papaya and green onions, and stir-fry until hot, about 1 minute. Add lime juice and season. Transfer to a warm platter.
Drink Pairings
NEW NIÇOISE SALAD WITH SARDINES AND TARRAGON DRESSING
Ingredients
Serves 6
SALAD:
½ lb (250 g) small fingerling potatoes
a drizzle of olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 to 6 red or yellow baby beets
½ lb (250 g) French beans, trimmed and left whole or cut on diagonal
6 quail eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and halved
1 cup (250 ml) assorted heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
½ English cucumber, unpeeled, thinly sliced into rounds
6 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
½ lb (250 g) smoked sardines, boned and skinned
1 cup (250 ml) Niçoise olives
TARRAGON DRESSING:
1 garlic clove
½ tsp (2 ml) salt, or to taste
⅓ cup (75 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup (60 ml) flat leaf parsley
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh tarragon
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
liquid honey, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To prepare quail eggs, place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. Set heat to high and once water begins to simmer, gently roll eggs around in saucepan with a wooden spoon. Rolling will move yolk into centre. Bring water to a boil; boil for 3 minutes; then remove from heat and let stand in water for 2 minutes. Drain and cool eggs under cold running water. Drain. Gently shake saucepan so eggs roll around and shells break. Peel and cut eggs into halves.
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Cut fingerlings into bite-sized pieces and toss with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast in oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender but still firm. Remove and cool to room temperature
- Meanwhile boil beets in saucepan with water until tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, cool and peel. Cut into quarters.
- Blanch beans in boiling water; drain and plunge into cold water to stop cooking. Drain and blot dry. Add with Quail eggs.
- Halve tomatoes; slice cucumbers and radishes. Arrange all ingredients in rows on a platter. Refrigerate while making dressing.
- To make TARRAGON DRESSING: Press garlic on cutting board with flat side of a chopping knife. Sprinkle with salt, mince and scrape salt and garlic together, forming a paste. Transfer paste to blender along with remaining dressing ingredients. Whirl until smooth and creamy. Scrape down sides of bowl a couple of times. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Can be made a few hours ahead.
- Drizzle salad with dressing.