A trip to the local deli will usually provide all you need for a simple tapenade to spread on homemade tortilla chips, fresh bread or your favourite crackers.
1/2 cup roasted red peppers
6 sundried tomato halves
1/2 cup stuffed marinated jumbo olives
1/4 cup oil cured (morrocan) black olives
1/2 bunch basil
drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Combine in a food processor and purée until smooth. Refrigerate until needed
All great dishes include some form of a great sauce, and here is a basic recipe for a nice demi-glace based reduction. I usually make demi glace in a largish batch and then freeze it in 1/2 liter (2 cup) bags for future use.
2 shallots, sliced
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp cup butter
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup sherry
1 branch rosemary
2 branches thyme
2 cups demi glace, (beef or veal)
Sauté shallots and garlic in butter until tender
Add red wine vinegar and reduce until syrupy (au sec)
Add sherry and herbs and reduce by half
Add demi glace and simmer for 1 hour, strain, and adjust seasoning
2 cups whipping cream
2 tbsp buttermilk, sour cream, or previous batch of crème fraîche
Whisk together all ingredients
Cover and stand at room temperature until thickened, 2-3 days
Refrigerate until needed
1 lb white asparagus
2 Cara Cara oranges (or blood oranges)
1/2 cup orange juice
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup toasted chopped almonds
Peel white asparagus and trim ends
Peel and section oranges, reserving juice
Place two pots of water on stove:
one 3/4 full of salted water (for cooking the asparagus) and bring to a boil,
the other 1/4 full of warm water (for making the sabayon) but don’t turn it on yet.
Place orange juice in a medium bowl and add egg yolks and a pinch of salt
Place bowl over the pot of warm (not hot) water and turn onto medium high heat
Whisk continually until light, airy, and very hot to the touch.
Add butter, 1 tbsp at a time, whisking until well incorporated
Turn off heat, but leave bowl remaining on top to stay warm until asparagus is cooked.
Place asparagus in boiling salted water and cook until tender, 3 minutes or so
Place 4 spears asparagus on each plate, and top with 1/4 cup of the sabayon
Top with 4 orange segments and 1 tbsp chopped almonds.
Serve immediately
4 portions beef tenderloin (5-6 oz each)
steak spice
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
Season tenderloin well with steak spice and rub with chopped garlic and olive oil.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (may be left overnight)
Bring back to room temperature before cooking
Season steak well with sea salt
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Heat a cast iron pan over high heat until very hot
Place tenderloin into pan and sear until nicely browned on one side
Turn over, brown lightly on second side, and place entire pan into the preheated oven
Cook for 5-7 minutes, until pink in centre and temperature registers 130 degrees for a nice pink
Remove pan from oven (and steaks from pan) and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Ragout
2 Tbsp. butter
2 shallots, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lb. shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup dry sherry
2 cup beef or veal demi glace
Melt butter in a frying pan on medium heat. Sauté shallots and garlic until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add mushrooms and sauté until golden, 5 to 6 minutes.
Deglaze the pan with sherry.
Add demi glace and simmer until hot.
Season to taste and reduce to adjust consistency if required.