Saturday, 31 October 2015

Chewy Coconut Macaroons

Chewy Coconut Macaroons

                 Ingredients                                   Yield: One Dozen, Depending on Size
  • 500g (3 Cups)         Sugar
  • 500g (5 1/3 Cups)   Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
  • 65g (1/4 Cup)         Corn Syrup
  • 7 g (2 Tsp)              Vanilla Extract
  • 30g (2 Tbsp)           Flour
  • 3g ( 1 Tsp)              Salt
  • 226g (7)                 Egg Whites
  • 33G (3 Tbsp)          Cocoa (OPTIONAL)
                   Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a pot. Mix continuously until the mixture reaches 120 degrees F (50 degrees C).
  2. If you want to make chocolate macaroons, add the cocoa. If needed thing out the batter with 1 extra egg white. 
  3. Scoop the batter into a piping bag, or use a scoop, and place on a cookie sheet. Round is more common, but you can shape it however you'd like. 
  4. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the macaroons start to lightly brown and stiffen. 
  5. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely. 

Check out the video!
 

Thursday, 29 October 2015

Healthier Brownies

Healthier Brownies

                    Ingredients                                               Yield: 11-7 inch pan
  • 1 Cup (1 )          Avocado
  • 1 Cup                Cocoa Powder
  • 1 1/4 Cup          Sugar
  • 1 Cup                Apple Sauce
  • 4                       Eggs
  • 1 1/3 Cup          Flour
  • 1 1/2 Tsp          Baking Powder
  • 1 Tsp                Vanilla Extract

                Instructions
  1. Using a food processor, add your avocado, cocoa powder, sugar and apple sauce. Do a quick mix. 
  2. Add your eggs and mix again.
  3. Add the flour and baking powder, mix.
  4. Add the vanilla extract and mix very briefly. 
  5. Spray your brownie pan with cooking spray, and pour the batter in. Spread it out evenly. 
  6. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30-35 minutes. 
  7. Remove from the oven and let cool before cutting. 
  8. You can dress up your brownie however you want!

Check out the video!

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Coq au Vin


Coq au Vin

                Ingredients                                Yield: 4 servings
  • 4                     Chicken Legs
  • as needed       All-purpose Flour, for                                 dredging
  • 250ml (1c)      Red Wine
  • 100g (4strips) Bacon, diced
  • 250ml (1c)      Chicken Stock
  • 200g (1box)    Button Mushrooms,                                     quartered
  • 30-40              Pearl Onions, peeled
  • 30g (2Tbsp)    Butter
  • 2 cloves          Garlic, crushed
  • Bouquet Garni:
    • 1           Carrot
    • 1/2       Leek, white part only
    • 3           Bay Leaves
    • 5 sprigs Thyme 
               Instructions
  1. In a pot, render your diced bacon until crispy. 
  2. Coat your chicken legs with all purpose flour and season with salt and pepper. 
  3. While your bacon is getting crispier, add your garlic and pearl onions so that they can begin caramelizing. After it has completed caramelizing, remove the onions, garlic and bacon from the pot. Place to the side for now. 
  4. Using the bacon fat, sear your chicken legs until they are golden brown. 
  5. Remove the seared chicken from the pot. Deglaze it with your red wine. Be sure to scrap the bottom of the pot with a spoon. 
  6. Add the chicken, onions, garlic, and bacon back to the pot. Cover it with the chicken stock and add the bouquet garni. 
  7. Bring the liquid up to a boil. Cover with a lid and bake it at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour. 
  8. While the chicken is cooking, sauté your mushrooms in a pan with butter until nice and brown. Place to the side. 
  9. Remove the chicken from the oven, and take out the bouquet garni and the chicken legs. 
  10. Add a buerre manier (equal parts butter and flour) to the liquid in the pot and stir until it thickens a little. 
  11. Plate up your chicken with your mushrooms and pour your sauce over top. 
  12. It is now ready to serve!

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

French Onion Soup


French Onion Soup

                Ingredients                               Yield: 4-6 servings
  • 3 Large (750g)          Onion, julienne
  • 3 cloves                    Garlic, crushed
  • 100ml (1/3c +1Tbsp) Red Wine
  • 1.5L (6c)                   Beef Stock
  • Sachet:
      • 5-6 sprigs Thyme
      • 2-3           Bay Leaves
      • 1 sprig      Rosemary
    • As needed                 Gruyere, shredded
    • As needed                 Emmental, shredded
    • As needed                 Croutons
                  Instructions

    1. In a large pot with butter or oil, caramelize onions until a deep brown colour. (Takes 1-2 hours, make sure to stir frequently as not to burn the onions!!)
    2. Once onions have caramelized deglaze with red wine, scraping the fond off of the bottom.
    3. Add in sachet, crushed garlic, and beef stock. Bring up to a boil and reduce to a simmer for 30-60 minutes.
    4. Pour soup into bowls, add croutons and cheese and melt in the oven under the broiler.
    5. Garnish with parsley and serve! Caution:bowls will be very hot!!
    Check out the video!

    Thursday, 22 October 2015

    Cassoulet


    Cassoulet

                  Ingredients                                  Yield:6-10 servings
    • 600g (3 1/3c)  Great Northern Beans,                                 dried
    • 250g (1-2)       Pork Sausage, large dice
    • 2                      Duck Legs, salt cured (see                            note)
    • 1                      Pork Hock
    • 2.5L (10c)       Stock (chicken or pork)
    • 100g (4 slices) Bacon, diced
    • 3                      Tomato, concasse
    • 2 (small)          Onion, medium dice
    • 1/2                  Leek, medium dice
    • 1                      Carrot, medium dice
    • 1 stalk             Celery, medium dice
    • 15g (1Tbsp)     Kosher Salt
    • Sachet:
      • 3 cloves Garlic
      • 5 stems  Parsley
      • 3            Bay Leaves
      • 4 sprigs  Thyme
      • 2 sprigs  Rosemary
      • 5 leaves Sage
                    Instructions
    1. In a preheated 400-450 degree Fahrenheit oven roast pork hock and duck legs until golden brown.
    2. While meat is roasting, in a large pot render the fat from the bacon and sausage until meat is crisp.
    3. Remove the meat from the pot leaving the fat behind and set aside.
    4. Caramelize onions, leek, carrot and celery until golden brown and tender.
    5. Once caramelized add tomato concasse and saute for a few minutes
    6. Add bacon and sausage back to the pot and deglaze with some of the stock, scraping the bottom clean.
    7. Add in sachet, beans, roasted duck legs, pork hock and remaining stock.
    8. Add in salt and bring to a boil.
    9. Once boiling, place in preheated casserole dish and bake in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 3 hours with a lid.
    10. Once the three hours are up remove lid, pork hocks and duck legs. Return cassoulet to oven and shred the pork and duck meat.
    11. Add the meat back to the bean stew stirring around for even distribution. Also remove the sachet at this point.
    12. Cook in oven for at least 30 -90 minutes uncovered to form a crust. (Tip: Use the broiler function to speed up this process) Also make sure check that there is still liquid in the bean stew, if getting low add more stock.
    13. Once desired crust is reached remove from oven and serve!
    Note: To salt cure duck legs prepare like you would if going to confit. Use salt lemon juice, thyme, rosemary and cover the duck legs wit that mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Rinse off salt prior to use.

    Check out the video!

    Sunday, 18 October 2015

    Italian Meringue

    Italian Meringue

                     Ingredients                                       Yield: Around 1 L
    • 250g (1 1/4 Cups)     Sugar
    • 60ml (1/4 Cup)         Water
    • 125g (4)                    Egg Whites

                    Instructions
    1. In a pot, add the sugar and the water. 
    2. Let the mixture boil and reach a temperature of 243 degrees F (117 C) with candy thermometer.
    3. While the sugar is boiling whisk the egg whites (using either an electric mixer or by hand with a whisk) until they form soft peaks. 
    4. When the sugar reaches the proper temperature, remove it from the heat and while continuously whisking the egg whites add the hot syrup very slowly in a steady stream. 
    5. Keep whisking the the meringue until it cools and forms soft peaks. 
    6. Scoop the meringue into a piping bag with your chosen tip, and pipe it onto your cupcakes, or whatever you are using the meringue for. 
    7. If you so desire you can toast the meringue, either under the broil in your oven or with a torch. It will take only seconds to torch the meringue so be very careful and keep your eye on it! 

    Lemon Curd

    Lemon Curd

                   Ingredients                                         Yield: 325ml
    • 125ml (1/2 Cup)   Sugar
    • 15ml ( 1 Tbsp)      Cornstarch
    • 10ml (2 Tsp)         Grated Lemon Zest
    • 125ml (1/2 Cup)   Lemon Juice
    • 4                          Egg Yolks
    • 90ml (6 Tbsp)       Cold Butter

                   Instructions
    1. In a pot, whisk together sugar and cornstarch.
    2. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and egg yolks. Whisk together. 
    3. Cook over medium to low heat. Continue whisking. 
    4. Add the butter and whisk until the mixture is nice and thick. Should take around 5-6 minutes. 
    5. Transfer to a bowl and place in the fridge for an hour to cool down. 
    6. Once cooled, you can fill your cupcakes with your completed lemon curd.