Haricot Verts Casserole Applewood Smoked Baconcrispy Shallots Recipes

HARICOT VERTS CASSEROLE: APPLEWOOD-SMOKED BACON/CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add bacon and sauté until halfway cooked. Stir in carrot, onion, celery and garlic. Sauté until vegetables are golden brown. Add veal stock and red wine, stirring to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Sift in flour and stir until smooth. Add haricot verts and simmer until sauce is thick and beans are crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly stir in softened butter until fully incorporated. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Place in a large casserole dish and garnish with crispy shallots.
• Crispy Shallots: Preheat deep fryer to 275 degrees. Thinly slice shallots on a bias to create small matchsticks. In a medium bowl, mix flour, Old Bay, paprika and cayenne. Dredge shallot sticks in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Shake off excess flour and place in deep fryer. Cook just until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels, adding salt and pepper while they are still hot.

BOEUF EN DAUBE - FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY IN THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Marinade the beef with the herbs, shallots & garlic over night in the bottle of red wine.
• Drain and put the wine to one side.
• In a large skillet or fryng pan, sear & brown the beef pieces over a high heat in the olive oil until nutty & brown. Do not overcrowd the pan!
• Place browned beef into the crock pot or cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish.
• Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy & golden brown. Drain & add to the beef.
• Brown the shallots & garlic in the bacon fat & add to the beef & bacon.
• Add all the other ingredients, except the cornflour, to the crock pot including the reserved wine.
• (Add the tinned tomatoes & sun dried tomatoes at this stage too if you are using them.).
• Cook on automatic or High for 4 hours and Low for up to 6 hours.
• (For conventional cooking - pre-heat oven to 175 degs C or 325 degs F or gas mark 3 and cook SLOWLY for approximately 4 to 6 hours; check towards the end, the meat should be extemely tender - you MUST not be tempted to cook it quicker, it will be tough!).
• Towards the end, blend & mix the cornflour with a couple of spoons of the stock in the crock pot & add to the beef, stirring well. It should not be TOO thick but just like a glaze or thickened jus. Add the cognac at this stage as well - sirring into the daube.
• Serve with Green Beans, Mashed, Steamed or Pureed Potatoes during the colder months OR with a selection of salads, crusty French bread & Pasta during the warmer months. The excess sauce can be used or saved as a fantastic gravy or stock later!
• THIS IS BETTER MADE 24 HOURS BEFORE EATING!
• Freezes beautifully - I always make a large batch and then freeze some.
• NOTE:If you cannot buy sun dried orange peel, make your own, it's VERY easy! Peel some oranges with a swivel head vegetable peeler or parer, be careful not to peel the pith. Spread outside on a rack in the full sun and leave to dry for about 2-4 hours. Weather permitting of course - otherwise dry in an airing cupboard or a very LOW oven overnight.Store in an airtight jar for up to 2 years.
• If you are really stuck - just grate some fresh orange peel into the daube, it will not have the same intensity as dried peel, but it will work!

HARICOTS VERTS WITH CARMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Cook the green beans in boiling salted water to cover 3 to 4 minutes, or until crisp tender. Drain. Plunge the beans into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
• Melt the butter and brown sugar with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add shallots, and saute 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add vinegar, and saute 10 minutes or until the shallots are golden brown and tender.
• Increase the heat to medium-high; add the green beans. Saute 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

HARICOTS VERTS WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Put the butter in a small saute pan set over low heat.
• Add the garlic and shallots.
• Saute for 2-3 min, until just softened.
• Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Fill a medium pot with water and bring it to a boil.
• Add a Tbs of kosher salt.
• Drop in the beans.
• Cook until they are tender but not mushy, from 60 seconds for the tiniest green beans to as long as 5 min for the larger ones.
• Taste frequently during cooking so that they are not overcooked.
• Drain and transfer to a serving dish.
• Add the shallot butter and sliced basil.
• Toss gently.
• Taste, season with salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve.

HARICOTS VERTS WITH SHALLOT DRESSING

Steps:

• Steam beans until just tender, 3 to 8 minutes. While beans are steaming, whisk together remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste. Toss beans with dressing and season with salt and pepper.

MAC AND CHEESE WITH APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON

Steps:

• Cook bacon and set aside on paper towels to drain.
• Cook noodles, al dente, drain and set aside.
• For sauce: melt 3-4 tablesppons butter and whisk in equal amount of flour to form a paste.
• Add the half cup or so of pureed, or finely chopped, onion and stir for minute or so to cook the onion.
• Add the heavy cream and milk.
• Cook until smooth.
• Add the cheese, cubed or grated is fine, cook until melted and smooth.
• Season with salt, pepper, and CAYENNE to taste.
• Combine the sauce with drained noodles and stir in frozen peas.
• Pour into baking dish and top with crushed mixture of chips and panko crumbs.
• Cook for about 20 minutes at 400 and then top with a few pats of butter and continue cooking til bubbly and brown.
• Enjoy!