chocolate brioches

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Chocolate Brioches
These moist and buttery cakes are popular for breakfast throughout France.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine French
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 120 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
For the sponge:
For the dough:
Course Breakfast
Cuisine French
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 120 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
For the sponge:
For the dough:
Instructions
To make sponge:
  1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in flour, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place until foamy, about 10 minutes. (I like to place on the stove under the light).
For the dough:
  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 2 cups flour, sugar and salt; whisk by hand until well blended. Transfer bowl to mixer and attach dough hook. With mixer on low speed, add egg and milk. Increase speed to medium and knead 5 minutes. Add butter and knead 5 minutes. Stop mixer and add sponge. continue kneading on medium speed until dough is smooth and elastic, 7 to 8 minutes, adding more flour if needed. Cover the bowl with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  2. Butter 12 cupcake molds. Punch down dough, transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead in chocolate chips. Divide dough into 12 equal parts.
  3. Roll on the table in a circular motion to give body to the brioche. With your finger, "saw" a small piece of the brioche in a back and forward motion. This forms a small lump which should remain attached to the body of the brioche.
  4. Place the brioches into the buttered molds.and let rise in a warm place 45 minutes.
  5. Brush tops of brioches with egg mixture. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from molds and let cool completely. Store brioches in a plastic bag to avoid drying out
Recipe Notes

The first recorded use of the word "brioche" in French dates back to 1404. In 1611, Cotgrave's A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, described brioche as "a rowle, or bunne, of spiced bread" stated its origin as Norman. In France it developed as "a sort of bread improved since antiquity by generations of bakers, then of pastry-makers ... with some butter, some eggs, sugar coming later ... it developed from the blessed bread [pain bénit] of the church which gradually became of better quality, more and more costly, less and less bread; until becoming savoury brioche". © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

CROQUE MONSIER

A delicious, crunchy, buttery sandwich made with ham and Gruyère cheese.  This could be my favorite sandwich of all time!

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Croque Monsier
A delicious, crunchy, buttery sandwich made with ham and Gruyère cheese. This could be my favorite sandwich of all time!
Course Sandwiches
Cuisine French
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Sandwiches
Cuisine French
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan and add the flour all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Slowly pour the hot milk into the butter–flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Off the heat add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup grated Gruyere, and the Parmesan and set aside. Lightly brush half the toasted croissants with mustard, add a slice of ham to each, and sprinkle with half the remaining Gruyere. Top with the other half of croissant. Slather the tops with the cheese sauce, sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot.
Recipe Notes

For a Croque Madame Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook one egg for each sandwich sunny side up. Turn egg over and cook 3 minutes longer for soft-cooked egg. Place 1 fried egg on top each sandwich. Season egg to taste with salt and pepper and serve. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

FOOTBALL PETIT FOURS

Rich, chocolaty and easy, a must for every superbowl party.

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Football Petit Fours
Rich, chocolately and easy, a must for every football game party.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 60 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 60 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put cookies in a food processor and chop finely then add the marscapone cheese and mix thoroughly.
  2. Shape into 1 inch football shapes. Freeze 10 minutes.
  3. Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookies in chocolate. Place in a single layer on parchment paper-line cookie sheet. Use icing to draw laces on footballs. Refrigerate until firm.
For the icing
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Put the icing into a pastry bag with a fine tip and draw laces on the footballs.
Recipe Notes

Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day. Some of the most popular game day snacks are chicken wings, pretzels, chips and dips, burgers and hot dogs, guacamole and pizza. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

Guava Petite Pasties

A pasty is a baked pastry, which is associated with Cornwall, the westernmost county in England. It is made by placing uncooked filling typically of meat and vegetables on a pastry circle and folding it to wrap the filling, crimping the edge to form a seal.  This Guava version is a sweet dessert in a petite size, making it the perfect little dessert for cocktail parties.

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Guava Petite Pasties
The buttery, flaky crust is stuffed with sweet Guava fruit that melts in your mouth with every bite.
Course Dessert
Cuisine English
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
For the icing
Course Dessert
Cuisine English
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
For the icing
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a food processor, mix flour and salt. Pulse in butter until pea-sized, add water, form into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Flour your work surface. Roll out dough. Using a 4 inch biscuit cutter, cut circles out of dough.
  3. Divide guava into 16 equal pieces and put a piece of guava on each circle with about a ½ teaspoon of cream cheese.
  4. Brush the edges of the circles with beaten egg. Fold the upper half of the circle to make a half moon. Crimp the edges with a fork. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes.
For the icing
  1. While the turnovers are baking, mix the confectioners sugar with milk and almond extract and set aside. Drizzle icing over turnovers and serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes

Chocolate lovers can substitute melted semi-sweet chocolate chips for the icing and drizzle chocolate over the top. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON


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Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon

Rich and creamy with a buttery, crunch crust. This comfort dish is irresistible!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings


Ingredients

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings


Ingredients


Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, melt a stick of butter in a large sauce pan. Add the flour and cook until golden brown - a few minutes. Slowly stir in the milk and cook until thick. Add the gouda cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne and bacon. Pour into small ramekins or a large baking dish that has been prepared with oil.

  2. Mix the bread crumbs with the parmigiano reggiano. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Melt the remaining stick of butter and drizzle over the bread crumb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.


Recipe Notes

Recipe Notes According to a wide-spread misconception, macaroni was brought to Italy by Marco Polo, returning to Venice from China in 1292. This hypothesis has long been disproved, since it seems that macaroni was already used in Italy at least a century before. Moroccan geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi, who lived in Sicily, documented macaroni in Sicily and in particular in Trabia. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

POTATOES DAUPHINOISE, A FRENCH TRADITION

The humble potato originated in  Peru  and the  extreme  western portion  of Bolivia.   It is an essential crop in Europe (especially eastern and central Europe), where per capita production is still the highest in the world, but the most rapid expansion over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia. China is now the world’s largest potato-producing country, and nearly a third of the world’s potatoes are harvested in China and India.

Floury, or mealy russet (baking) potatoes have more starch (20–22%) than waxy (boiling) potatoes (16–18%) and are better for  baking or making french fries.   The best varieties for potato salad are Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, and red potatoes. Their high moisture content will give them a more pleasant texture when cold, and their waxier flesh holds up better to chopping and to tossing with dressing than drier, potatoes, like Russets. Fingerling potatoes are low in starch and tend to be good for potato salads as well as roasting.

In conclusion, before you make your next potato dish, give some thought to which potato will work best for the texture you are trying to achieve.

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Potatoes Dauphinoise, a French Tradition
A creamy, nutty potato side dish elegant enough to impress the most discerning individual, yet rustic enough to serve any time.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine French
Cook Time 1 hour
Passive Time 12 hours
Servings
Course Side Dish
Cuisine French
Cook Time 1 hour
Passive Time 12 hours
Servings
Instructions
  1. Finely slice the potatoes using a mandoline and set aside in water until ready to use. Combine the cream, milk, nutmeg, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat and set aside. Strain the water off the potatoes and layer inside a small oven dish lined with parchment paper, sprinkling gruyere cheese between each layer and being sure to overlap each layer as you go. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour enough of the cream mixture over the potatoes to cover and bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until slightly golden on top and tender through the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Weigh down with butter, cheese or any other heavy square object and set aside in the fridge to press for up to 12 hours. Reheat the potato dauphinoise in the oven set to 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Divide into portions and serve immediately as a side dish.
Recipe Notes

* Make this a day in advance and reheat for your party. For a variation, layer with cooked mushrooms and truffle cheese. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

SHRIMP PERNOD WITH SPINACH CAKES

Pernod is an anise-flavoured, or black licorice flavoured liqueur.  This beverage becomes cloudy when diluting over ice because it is  aniseed-based. It contains oils called  terpeness, which are soluble in an aqueous solution that contains 30% ethanol or more by volume. When the solution is diluted to below 30% ethanol, the terpenes become insoluble causing the beverage to become cloudy.

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Shrimp Pernod with Spinach Cakes
A restaurant-quality dish with a creamy sauce and a hint of licorice flavor.
Course Main Dish
Prep Time 45 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Prep Time 45 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Instructions
For the Shrimp Pernod
  1. Combine ½ teaspoon salt, cayenne and garlic powder and rub the shrimp with it. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the shrimp for 3 minutes. Add the onions, celery and garlic and sauté for 2 or 3 more minutes. Add the pernod and cook for 1 minute. Add the parsley and cream and bring to a boil. Season to taste.
For the Spinach Cake
  1. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ¼ cup of flour. Stir constantly for 5 to 6 minutes to make a blond roux the color of sandpaper. Add the onions and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes until slightly wilted. Add the milk and stir until the mixture thickens. Add the spinach, salt, cayenne, pepper, nutmeg and garlic and cook stirring for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add bread crumbs, parmigiano reggiano, and Pernod and mix well. Let cool for about 30 minutes.
  2. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape into patties. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Combine the remaining ¼ cup flour and the rub. Dredge the patties, coating evenly in the flour. Fry the cakes for about 2 minutes on each side until golden. Transfer to a warm platter. Spoon shrimp and sauce over the cakes and serve.
Recipe Notes

Shape the spinach cakes a day in advance, dredge in flour and refrigerate until ready to fry. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS


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Spaghetti and Meatballs

These old-world Italian meatballs in sauce are moist and tender and a great go-to Sunday dinner with the family served over angel hair pasta.

Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours

Servings
people


Ingredients
For the sauce

Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours

Servings
people


Ingredients
For the sauce


Instructions
For the sauce
  1. In a Dutch oven, cook onion, garlic and crushed red pepper over medium heat until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, water, seasoning, cheese rind and 2 T parsley. Simmer covered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

For the meatballs
  1. (makes about 3 dozen 1 ½ inch meatballs) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients. Form into balls. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Gently put the meatballs in the simmering sauce and simmer for another 30 minutes. Serve over angel hair pasta.


Recipe Notes

© Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

STRAWBERRY TART WITH PASTRY CREAM

strawberry tart with Pastry Cream is not only a beautiful presentation for any party, it has a springtime essence that everyone loves.

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Strawberry Tart with Pastry Cream
Scrumptious fresh strawberries make this a spring-time favorite.
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings
Ingredients
For the Tart
For the pastry cream
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings
Ingredients
For the Tart
For the pastry cream
Instructions
For the tart
  1. Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put the flour mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and shortening and pulse about 10 times, or until the butter is in the size of peas. Add the ice water and process until the dough comes together. Dump on a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out the dough and fit into 4 (4 1/2-inch) tart pans with removable sides. Don't stretch the dough when placing it in the pans or it will shrink during baking. Cut off the excess by rolling the pin across the top of each pan. Line the tart shells with a piece of buttered aluminum foil, butter side down, and fill them with dried beans or rice. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, prick the bottom of the shells all over with a fork, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. Before serving, fill the tart shells with the pastry cream. Arrange the berries decoratively on top of the cream. Melt the apricot jelly with 1 teaspoon of water and brush the top of the tarts. Sprinkle with pistachios, if using, and serve.
For the pastry cream
  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick. Reduce to low speed, and add the cornstarch. With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Don't be alarmed when the custard comes to a boil and appears to curdle; switch to a whisk and beat vigorously. Cook, whisking constantly, for another 2 minutes; the custard will come together and become very thick, like pudding. Stir in the vanilla, orange liquor, butter, and heavy cream. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard and refrigerate until cold. Yield: 2 cups
Recipe Notes

© Galley Chef All Rights Reserved