A delicious, crunchy, buttery sandwich made with ham and Gruyère cheese. This could be my favorite sandwich of all time!
Print Recipe
Croque Monsier
A delicious, crunchy, buttery sandwich made with ham and Gruyère cheese. This could be my favorite sandwich of all time!
Instructions
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
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.
Print Recipe
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.
Instructions
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
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.
Print Recipe
Shrimp Pernod with Spinach Cakes
A restaurant-quality dish with a creamy sauce and a hint of licorice flavor.
Instructions
For the Shrimp Pernod
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
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.
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