Fruit “Tarts” a la Mode

Serves 6

• 1 Sheet Puff Pastry, thawed
• Seasonal Fruit – 3 Peaches or Pears or Mixed Berries
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• about 6 Tbsp. Raspberry Jam
• Thinly Sliced Almonds, optional
• 1 Egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. Water
• 1 Pint Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. Peel & seed the fruit, and slice thinly.  Mix with Lemon juice and Brown Sugar.  Reserve
2. Roll the Puff Pastry out and cut into 6 even pieces.  Using a paring knife, make a border indentation about 1” in from the edges (this will allow the outside puff pastry to rise more)
3. Spread some of the jam on the inner section of the puff pastry.  Then, arrange the fruit neatly, overlapping so that each piece of puff has about half of a full piece of fruit.
4. Sprinkle with almonds, if desired, and then brush the outer edge with some of the egg wash.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
5. Serve immediately, with a scoop of the vanilla ice cream.

Poached Pear & Prosciutto Salad with Burrata Cheese

Serves 6

• 1 Lb. Fresh Burrata Cheese
• 1/2 lb. Prosciutto, sliced thin
• 2 Wine-Poached Pears (see below)
• 6 oz. Baby Arugula
• 1/2 cup Toasted Pecans
• Champagne Vinaigrette (see below)
• Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin olive Oil, Fleur de Sel, as needed for garnish

1. Cut the Burrata into 6 equal wedges and drizzle lightly with balsamic and olive oil.
2. Place burrata on a “bed” of the prosciutto on individual plates.
3. Cut each pear into quarters and fan (there will be 2 extra fans).
4. Toss the baby arugula in with some of the vinaigrette and place on each plate next to the cheese and prosciutto.
5. Place a pear fan on top of the greens, along with some of the toasted pecans
6. Sprinkle with Fleur de Sel, and drizzle lightly with more olive oil and balsamic, if desired.  Serve immediately.

Poached Pears:

• 375 mL White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1/4 lb. Granulated Sugar
• 1 1/4 c. Water
• 1/2 Zest of 1 Lemon
• 1 Cinnamon Stick
• 1/2 Vanilla Bean, split & scraped
• 2 Anjou Pears

1. Bring the wine to a boil, and skim off any impurities.  Add the water and sugar, and stir until dissolved.  Add the remaining ingredients (except pears) and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Peel the pears, cut in half, and use a small melon baller to remove the core.  Poach in the wine liquid until tender, about 7-8 minutes (the should still be firm enough to hold their shape)
3. Remove from the poaching liquid and reserve (chill)

Champagne Vinaigrette:

• 1 oz. Champagne Vinegar
• 3 oz. Olive (Pomace) Oil
• Salt, Pepper, and Granulated Sugar, to taste

Whisk together the vinegar & oil.  Season to taste with salt, pepper, and sugar (as needed)

Creamy Mushroom & Brie Soup

Makes about 6 servings

• 2 oz. Dried Wild Mushrooms
• 4 Cups Chicken Stock
• 4 Tbsp. Butter
• 3 Shallots, minced
• 1 1/2 Lbs. Mixed Mushrooms (Portobello, shiitake, etc.), chopped
• 2 Tbsp. Flour
• 2 Tbsp. Sherry
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 8 oz. Brie, cut into cubes
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

1. In a Saucepan, bring 2 cups of the chicken stock to a boil.  Place dried mushrooms in a bowl, and immediately pour hot stock over the mushrooms to rehydrate.  Let the mushrooms soak for about 10 minutes, then squeeze out any excess moisture, cool & chop.  Transfer the stock to a tall container and reserve.
2. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter then sweat the shallots for 2-3 minutes (do not brown)  Add the fresh mixed mushrooms and saute for 3-4 minutes, then add in the rehydrated mushrooms with a little salt & pepper.  Cook another 3-4 minutes to help cook off some of the mushroom liquid.
3. Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and stir until flour begins to cook – about 4-5 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
4. Whisk in some of the mushroom/chicken stock, mixing well to incorporate, and then begin to add the remaining mushroom/chicken stock (be careful to not let any of the sediment that has settled on the bottom get into the soup – it will make the soup “gritty”).  Add remaining chicken stock, stirring constantly, until the soup is smooth  Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
5. Add the sherry and the heavy cream to the soup, and return to a boil, then reduce down to a simmer.  Season to taste with salt & pepper.
6. Stir in the brie, one piece at a time, letting each piece fully incorporate before adding the next.  Adjust seasonings if needed, and serve immediately.  (DO NOT allow soup to boil once cheese is added, as it will “break” and the oils from the cheese will float up to the top)

Chocolate Fondue with assorted “Dippers”

Serves 2

• 1/2 cup Cream
• 7 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate, broken into pieces
• 1 Tbsp. Liqueur of your choice (amaretto, fangelico, chambord, etc.) – optional

• Biscotti
• Pretzel Rods/Sticks
• Pound Cake, cut into cubes
• Banana Chunks
• Strawberries
• Pineapple
• Marshmallows
• Cookies
• anything else you feel like dipping!

1. Heat 1/4 cup of the cream in a small nonreactive saucepan over medium heat until it’s just about to boil.  Remove from heat and add chocolate pieces.  Let stand 3-4 minutes.
2. Whisk the chocolate and cream together until smooth, and whisk in liqueur, if using.
3. Transfer to a fondue pot, mini crock pot, or small bowl over a tea candle and serve with an assortment of dippers on the side.  Enjoy!

Roasted Lamb Chops with Rosemary Demi Glace

Serves 2

• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tsp. fresh Thyme leaves, crushed with your hands
• 2 Tbsp fresh Rosemary Leaves, crushed with your hands
• 2 tsp. Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp. Black Pepper, ground
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 4 Lamb Chops, about 1 1/4” thick
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Marinate the Lamb:

1. Combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a mixing bowl and mix well.
2. Add the lamb chops and turn in the mixture, coating well.
3. Keep at room temperature to marinate 30 minutes – 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400F.

1. In a heavy, ovenproof skillet, heat remaining oil over high heat.
2. Add lamb, and cook until browned on both sides (about 3 minutes per side).
3. Transfer skillet to the oven and cook to desired doneness (about 10 minutes for medium-rare, 13-14 for medium)
4. transfer the lamb to a serving plate and loosely cover with foil.  Let rest 5 minutes before serving

Rosemary Demi Glace

makes about 4 servings

• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp. Red Onion, diced
• 1 cup red Wine, Cabernet
• 2 cups Beef Stock, or prepared demi-glace
• 1 tsp. Tomato Paste
• 1 sprig Rosemary
• 2 Tbsp. Flat Leaf Parsley
• 2 Tbsp. butter, at room temperature

1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Saute onions until translucent.  Add tomato paste and cook 1-2 minutes more, until paste begins to brown slightly.
2. Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping the bottom well.  Then addd the stock, rosemary, and parsley.  Cook until reduced by about half (about 15 minutes).  Remove from heat
3. Strain sauce through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, then return to the pan an stir in the butter to thicken (no heat needed, the sauce will melt the butter)
4. Season to taste and keep warm until ready to serve.

*This is not a TRUE demi glace, but instead a sauce that can easily be made any night of the week.*

Lovers’ Shrimp Skewers with Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

Serves 2, with left over pesto

• 1/2 tsp. Lemon Zest
• 1 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp. cup Lemon Juice

• 8 Jumbo Shrimp

• Wooden Skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking

• 1 Red Bell Pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 Shallot, chopped
• 2-3 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
• about 1/2 cup Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

• Basil, chiffonade (little thin ribbons)

Marinate the Shrimp:

1. Whisk together first 5 ingredients and pour into a resealable bag.  Add shrimp, seal, and shake well for 1 minute.
2. Let marinate for 30 minutes – an hour.  Then remove shrimp from marinade and skewer 2 shrimp in the same direction, then 2 in the other (loosely forming a heart shape).  Reserve until ready to prepare

For the Pesto:

1. In a food processor, combine the roasted pepper, garlic, shallot, and parmesan cheese and process until smooth, being sure to scrape down the sides so that everything is blended.
2. With the food processor still running, stream in the olive oil until the mixture thickens (but you don’t want it too thick)
3. Season to taste with Salt & Pepper, and keep at room temperature until ready to serve.

To prepare:

Heat a grill pan (or BBQ/Grill) over medium high heat.

1. Brush the pan lightly with oil to prevent sticking, and then cook the shrimp about 2-3 minutes per side, cooking shrimp through, but being careful not to over cook (they should be opaque and firm).
2. Spoon some of the pesto onto the plates and spread around into a heart shape.  Then place a skewer of the cooked shrimp (which have hopefully now formed a heart shape) on top of the sauce.  Garnish with some of the chiffonade of basil.

Mixed Greens Salad with Pear & Bleu Cheese

Serves 2

• 3 cups Spring Mix (or your choice of lettuce mix / mixed greens)
• Cherry / Grape / Teardrop Tomatoes
• 4 Tbsp Crumbled Bleu Cheese
• 1/2 Anjou or Bartlett Pear, julienned
• Toasted Pecans, optional

Pear & Raspberry Vinaigrette

• 1/2 Anjou or Bartlett Pear, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. Seedless Raspberry Preserves
• 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp. Herbs de Provence
• about 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• Water or Apple Juice

To Prepare the Vinaigrette:

1. In a blender, combine pear, preserves, lemon juice, and HdP.  Process until smooth.  (You may need to add water or apple juice 1 tsp. at a time if the mixture is too thick)
2. With blender still running, stream in the oil until emulsified and thickened.
3. Season to taste with Salt & Pepper and reserve

For the Salad:

1. Toss Spring Mix, tomatoes, and julienned pears with enough dressing to coat, but not make soggy or overly wet.
2. Cut larger tomatoes in half and arrange on salads, along with some of the toasted pecans.
3. Crumble the bleu cheese over the salads and serve with additional vinaigrette on the side.

Rosemary Crème Brulee with Seasonal Fruit

Serves 4

• 4 Egg Yolks
• 2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar
• ¼ cup Honey
• 1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
• ½ cup Milk
• 2-3 sprigs fresh Rosemary
• Pinch of Kosher Salt
• About 4 tsp. granulated Sugar (for the tops)
• Seasonal Fruit, sliced for garnish

Preheat oven to 300F

1. In a small saucepan, combine milk and cream and bring to a gentle boil.  Then add the rosemary sprigs, and remove from heat.  Allow to steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain before using.
2. While liquid is steeping, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, honey, salt, and sugar until fully combined, and the mixture looks light and fluffy.  Now, whisk in the warm cream mixture* mixing well to combine.  Strain through a fine mesh sieve.  Divide the mixture into 4 ramekins that hold at least 1/2 cup.  Set into a baking pan and move pan to oven.  Add enough hot water to the pan (being careful to not get any into the ramekins) to go about half-way up the ramekins.  Bake for 45 minutes – 1 hour, or until the outside is set, and the center still a bit jiggly (the temperature should be 165F).
3. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool in water until able to be handled.  Then remove from water and chill for 1-2 hours.
4. Dab any moisture from the tops of the custards (GENTLY) with a dry paper towel, then sprinkle about 2 tsp of the granulated sugar evenly across the tops.  You can broil them in the oven or use a handheld blowtorch to lightly brown the sugar.  Then, chill for about 5 minutes and serve with sliced fresh fruits and berries.

*If the cream mixture is still very hot, allow it to cool more, or temper your egg yolks by only whisking in about 1 oz of the hot cream to help raise the temperature, then another oz.  Then, your eggs should be warm enough to combine without curdling.

Grilled Sirloin Steaks

Serves 4

• 4 Sirloin Steak (8-12 oz per steak), trimmed of excess fat (leave some on for flavor)
• 4 sprigs Rosemary
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
• Olive Oil

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.  Also be sure to take the steaks out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before you are going to cook them.  This will help the steaks cook more evenly.

1. “Rub” each steak with a sprig of rosemary, then season both sides of each steak with black pepper, then salt.  Drizzle each steak with a little olive oil.
2. Place steaks on the hot grill, and allow to cook 3-4 minutes.  Then turn the steaks 90 degrees (this creates the cross-hatch pattern).  Cook 3-4 minutes more.
3. Flip the steaks and cook 3-4 more minutes.  The repeat the turning and finish with 3-4 minutes more.
4. Remove the steaks from the heat and allow to rest for at least 7-10 minutes, then serve.

Garlic Cheddar Texas Toast

Makes 4-6 Servings

• 1 Loaf French Bread (wide bread, not baguette)
• 3/4 cup Butter, softened
• 2 Tbsp. Garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
• 1/3 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated; plus more for topping slices (optional)
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350F

1. In a bowl, mix butter, garlic, parsley, cheddar, and salt & pepper well to combine
2. Slice the bread into slices (about 3/4” thick), and spread some of the butter mixture on the one side of each slice
3. Lay the slices out on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with more cheddar cheese
4. Bake until toasty and lightly golden brown (about 8-10 minutes).  Serve while still warm.