Three Cheese Pâté Recipes

THREE CHEESE PâTé

Steps:

• Place the cheeses in a bowl and mix well.
• Add, the soured cream, chives and coriander and cream together until smooth. Season to taste.
• Spoon into 4 ramekin dishes and chill. Serve with crisp rolls, melba toast or savoury biscuits.

FOUR-CHEESE PATE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat one package if cream cheese with milk and sour cream until smooth. Spread into a 9-in. pie plate lined with plastic wrap. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. , In a bowl, beat Brie, Swiss, blue cheese and remaining cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Gently spread over chopped pecans, smoothing the top to form a flat surface. Cover and chill overnight or up to 3-4 days., Before serving, invert onto a plate and remove plastic wrap. Arrange pecan halves on top. Serve with apples or crackers.

THREE-CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2-quart souffle dish up to the top edge. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan and the cornmeal. Place in the freezer while you prepare the souffle.
• Make the roux: Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and add the garlic. Stir in the flour, nutmeg and 2 teaspoons salt and cook, stirring, until the flour is cooked but not browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and simmer, whisking constantly, until the mixture is as thick as pudding, about 5 minutes. Stir in the comte, emmentaler and 3/4 cup parmesan until melted, then remove from the heat. Stir in the 4 egg yolks one at a time. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir to cool slightly.
• Beat the 6 egg whites and lemon juice in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form. Fold a quarter of the whites into the cheese base, then fold in the remaining whites.
• Place the prepared souffle dish on a baking sheet, pour in the batter and smooth the top. Run your finger around the inside lip of the dish to push the batter away from the edge and create a ridge. Scatter the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan on top. Transfer to the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 325. Bake until golden and puffed about 2 inches above the lip of the dish, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately with baguette slices and pate and/or apple butter, if desired.

A SMOOTH AND CREAMY PâTé

Steps:

• Trim livers of little sinews or dark spots. Place in a bowl and add milk to cover. Set aside 30 minutes.
• Melt one-third of the softened butter, about 2 1/2 tablespoons, in a shallow skillet over medium-high heat. Drain livers. When butter starts to foam, slip livers into pan (they will spit) and sauté quickly, turning once, until lightly crusted and golden outside and cooked but still pink in the center.
• Place contents of pan, remaining softened butter, cream and salt and pepper into a blender or food processor and purée.
• Bring brandy to a boil in the skillet, add to the blender or food processor and briefly process again. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed, remembering that the pâté will be served chilled so the seasoning will not be as strong.
• Pass pâté through a fine sieve into a bowl, fold in green peppercorns if desired, then transfer to a ceramic terrine or serving bowl. Smooth top and refrigerate for 30 minutes, uncovered. Meanwhile, melt remaining butter and skim off solids.
• Pour clarified butter over pâté to seal top, cover with plastic wrap, and return to refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnight.