Elegant Tarragon Twice Baked Potatoes Recipes

FONDANT POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Cut off ends of russet potatoes, stand potatoes on end, and peel potatoes from top to bottom with a sharp knife to make each potato into a uniform cylinder. Cut each cylinder in half crosswise to make 6 potato cylinders about 2 inches long.
• Place potatoes into a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes to remove starch from outsides; pat dry with paper towels.
• Place a heavy oven-proof skillet (such as a cast iron skillet) over high heat. Pour in vegetable oil; heat oil until it shimmers slightly.
• Place potato cylinders with best-looking ends into the hot oil, lower heat to medium-high, and pan-fry potatoes until well-browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Flip the potatoes onto the opposite ends. As they cook, use a paper towel held with tongs to carefully blot out the oil from the skillet. Add butter and thyme sprigs to skillet.
• Pick up a thyme sprig with tongs and use it to paint butter over the top of the potatoes. Cook until butter foams and foam turns from white to a pale tan color. Season with more salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock into skillet.
• Transfer skillet to preheated oven and cook until potatoes are tender and creamy inside, about 30 minutes. If potatoes aren't tender, add 1/4 cup more stock and let cook 10 more minutes.
• Place potatoes on a serving platter and spoon thyme-scented butter remaining in skillet over potatoes. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Let cool about 5 minutes before serving.

ULTIMATE TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
• Bake for another 15 minutes.

ELEGANT TARRAGON TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• NOTE: Depending on the size of your potatoes is how much of the other ingredients you will need. If the potatoes tend to be more medium-sized than large, start with the smaller amounts.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Pierce potatoes, rub the potatoes with oil, sprinkle with the coarse salt, and bake 1 hour or until tender when tested. Set the oven to broil.
• In a small pan, heat the butter and milk, but do not boil.
• Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the pulp. Mash, until creamy, with the butter/milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cheese and tarragon.
• Place the potatoes into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe back into the shells.
• Broil the potatoes until the top is just golden brown, about 1-2 minutes, depending on your broiler.

BAKED SALMON WITH TARRAGON AND FENNEL-SEED BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir butter, chopped tarragon, fennel seeds, lemon peel and lemon juice in small saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange salmon on baking sheet. Brush butter mixture over salmon. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Bake salmon until just opaque in center, about 12 minutes. Transfer salmon to plates. Garnish with lemon slices and tarragon sprigs.

PAN-SEARED STEAK WITH MUSHROOM-MERLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle steaks on both sides with salt and 2 teaspoons pepper; press to adhere. Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium. Transfer steaks to 2 plates (do not clean skillet). Add 1 tablespoon butter to pan. Add mushrooms and shallot; sauté 2 minutes. Add wine and thyme and boil until wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour over steaks.