Use the extra dressing with boiled potatoes or green beans to make an instant salad later in the week.
Serves 4.
1 10-ounce package ready-to-use spinach leaves or 1 pound fresh
Combine first 8 ingredients in blender or processor and blend until well combined and frothy. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Combine spinach, artichoke hearts, bacon and eggs in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat generously. Divide among 4 plates and serve.
This composed salad is a variation of a recipe from Chef Antonio Ortega of Príncipe y Serrano in Madrid, Spain.
Serves 4.
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 large button mushrooms, sliced
8 cups torn mixed greens
Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss potatoes with 2 teaspoons oil in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes in single layer on nonstick baking sheet. Bake until crisp and golden, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms; sauté until golden, about 4 minutes. Add parsley and garlic; stir 1 minute. Transfer to plate. Add vinegar and stock to skillet; boil until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Cool slightly. Whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
Toss greens and chives in large bowl with 2 tablespoons warm vinaigrette. Divide greens among plates. Arrange potato slices in circle atop greens on each plate. Mound mushrooms in center. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over and serve.
Serves 4.
Combine first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix in oil and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
Serves 4.
1/4 plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain. Refresh under cold running water and drain thoroughly. Arrange asparagus on large platter. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
Whisk oil and vinegar to blend in small bowl. Add tomato, bell pepper, green onion and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
Spoon half of vinaigrette over asparagus. Garnish with egg. Pass remaining dressing separately.
Any colorful combination of seasonal fruit can be used to decorate this pretty dessert.
Serves 8.
crust
1 1-pint basket strawberries, stemmed, halved
For filling: Beat egg and yolks in small bowl to blend. Dissolve cornstarch in lemon juice in small bowl. Mix into eggs. Puree berries and sugar in blender. Strain puree through a fine sieve into medium saucepan. Add butter and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Slowly whisk hot berry mixture into egg mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan and cook until filling is very thick and boils, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Transfer filling to small bowl. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface to prevent skin from forming; refrigerate at least 6 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.)
For crust: Blend flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and lemon peel and process using on/off turns until coarse meal forms. Add lemon juice and process until moist clumps form. Gather into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate 45 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Let soften slightly at room temperature before continuing.)
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch-thick round. Fold dough over rolling pin and transfer to 9×1-inch tart pan with removable bottom.Gently press dough into pan. Trim and finish edges. Chill 15 minutes. Line dough with foil and fill with dry beans or pie weights. Bake 15 minutes. Remove beans and foil and bake until crust is golden, about 20 minutes longer. Transfer crust to rack and cool.
Spread filling evenly in crust. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, in irregular pattern on filling. Fill in with raspberries and boysenberries. Tuck peach slices between berries. Stir currant jelly in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted. Brush jelly over fruit to glaze. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Refrigerate.)
Crisp anise cookies are layered with raspberries and honey-flavored cream. There are enough cookies to make four desserts, with extras for nibbling.
Serves 4.
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 egg, beaten to blend
sauce
filling
2 1/2-pint baskets raspberries or 1 1-pint basket strawberries, sliced
For cookies: Combine flour, sugar, aniseed and salt in bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, yolk and vanilla and mix at low speed until coarse meal forms. Knead dough into smooth ball. Flatten to disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to scant 1/8-inch thickness. Using 3 1/2-inch fluted cutter, cut dough into rounds. Transfer rounds to heavy large cookie sheets, spacing evenly. Gather dough scraps. Repeat rolling and cutting until all dough is used, chilling dough briefly if soft. Brush cookies with beaten egg. Bake until light golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack to cool. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store cookies in airtight container.)
For sauce: Puree raspberries and honey in blender. Strain. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
For filling: Beat crème fraîche and honey in chilled medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Transfer filling to pastry bag fitted with 3/8-inch (no. 3) star tip.
Place 1 cookie on flat surface. Pipe filling in small stars over cookie. Place 1 layer of raspberries atop stars. Top with second cookie. Pipe filling in small stars over second cookie. Place layer of raspberries atop stars. Top with third cookie. Sift powdered sugar over. Place 1 raspberry in center. Repeat layering of cookies, filling and berries to make 3 more desserts. Spoon sauce onto plates. Transfer 1 galette to center of each plate. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.
This luscious frozen dessert can be made without an ice cram maker. Begin preparing the recipe at least one day ahead.
Serves 10.
1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
fresh raspberries (optional)
raspberry sauce
For Dessert:
Half fill medium saucepan with water and bring to boil. Whisk sugar, yolks and 1/4 cup cream in small metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of boiling water and whisk until candy thermometer registers 160°F, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula, about 4 minutes. Remove from over water. Pour yolk mixture into large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until cool and thick, about 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla and brandy.
Beat 1 1/2 cups cream with sour cream to stiff peaks in medium bowl. Fold cream into yolk mixture in 2 batches. Gently fold in half of cookie crumbs. Pour mixture into 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2-inch-high sides. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Freeze overnight.
Release sides of springform pan. Garnish dessert with fresh raspberries if desired. Slice into wedges and serve with raspberry sauce.
For Raspberry Sauce:
Puree raspberries and syrup in blender or processor until smooth. Strain to remove seeds. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Makes about 1 cup.
This dessert, prominent in the window of virtually every Paris pastry shop, is a true classic. The puff pastry rounds are usually filled with an almond mixture, but my version features hazelnuts and chocolate. Purchased pastry makes it approachable for the modern cook. Since it reheats nicely, the Pithiviers can be made ahead.
Serves 8.
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut 1 pastry sheet into 9 1/2-inch-diameter round. Transfer to heavy large cookie sheet; chill.
Using electric mixer, cream butter and sugar in medium bowl until fluffy. Mix in nuts, flour and vanilla. Mix in 1 egg. Spread filling evenly over chilled pastry round, leaving 1/2-inch border at edge. Arrange chocolate pieces over filling, spacing evenly. Chill 15 minutes.
Beat remaining egg to blend in small bowl. Cut second pastry sheet into 9 1/2-inch-diameter round. Brush border of filled pastry with beaten egg. Top with second pastry round, pressing edges together firmly to seal. Crimp edges decoratively. Brush pastry with beaten egg. Cut small vent hole in center. Using tip of small sharp knife, score half circles 1/2 inch apart in top of pastry, beginning at vent and ending at crimped edge. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Bake pastry until puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cookie sheet. Transfer pastry to platter. Serve warm or at room temperature, cutting pastry into wedges.
MAKES 36.
unsweetened cocoa powder
Heat cream, unsalted butter and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until just boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat, add semisweet chocolate to cream mixture and stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Mix in Cognac. Add figs and walnuts and blend well. Spoon mixture into 8×8-inch glass dish with 2-inch-high sides. Cover and refrigerate until mixture is firm enough to handle, about 1 hour.
Cut chocolate mixture into 36 squares. Roll each square by hand to form round. Dust rounds lightly with cocoa. Place truffles in foil-lined dish. Cover and chill until firm, at least 4 hours. (Can be prepared 4 days ahead.)
This moist orange-flavored soufflé is rich with white chocolate. Offer snifters of orange liqueur to sip alongside.
Serves 6.
3 large egg whites, room temperature
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 6-cup soufflé dish. Sprinkle dish with sugar; tap out excess. Heat cream and 1/4 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add 6 ounces of chocolate and stir until chocolate dissolves. Whisk in yolks and orange peel. Cook until mixture thickens slightly, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes; do not boil. Whisk in Grand Marnier. Transfer mixture to large bowl.
Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Mix 2 ounces chopped chocolate into warm egg yolk mixture. Fold in egg whites in 2 additions. Transfer mixture to prepared soufflé dish. Bake until soufflé is puffed and top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
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