Timbale Of Grains With Wild Mushrooms Asparagus And A Sauce Of Goats Feta Recipes

VEGETABLE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Preheat oven broiler. Cut peppers in half and remove seeds and membranes. Place, skin side up, on baking sheet under hot broiler, until skin blackens and blisters. Cool and peel away skin.
• Steam the carrots until they are soft. Drain.
• Wash watercress and put in sauce pan with just the water clinging to the leaves. Cover pan and steam watercress for 2 minutes. Drain, cool and squeeze dry with your hands.
• Puree each vegetable individually in food processor, adding a third of the cream to the carrots to make a smooth puree.
• Pour the pepper puree into a small sauce pan and stir over moderate heat until thickened.
• Put each puree into its own bowl to cool. Divide remaining cream between pepper and watercress purees.
• Butter 4 timbale molds. Preheat oven to 325°F
• Stir 2 egg yolks into each puree. Divide last yolk between watercress and pepper purees. Season each with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
• Divide carrot puree equally among timbale molds. Smooth the surface. Repeat with watercress puree. Smooth surface and repeat with pepper puree.
• Put the molds in a roasting pan and pour hot water around molds, about half-way up sides of molds.
• Bake 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
• Remove molds from pan and cool slightly on wire rack.
• To serve, hold plate on top of each timbale and then turn it upside down. Give the plate and timbale a sharp shake and timbale should release itself.
• Serve warm with salad and baguette.

RICE TIMBALE (LIKE BAKED ARANCINI)

Steps:

• Oil a 5-pint casserole dish (such as a Corningware souffle dish) 8-10 inches in diameter and coat lightly with dry breadcrumbs. This will serve as your timbale mold. Put aside.
• For the meatballs, combine the beef, soft breadcrumbs, 2 1/2 tablespoons parmesan, parsley, 1 egg, salt and pepper in a bowl (add a minced clove of garlic, if desired). Mix thoroughly to achieve a medium-soft consistency. Add a second egg if the mixture is too dry.
• Form meatballs the size of a large cherry and fry in 2 tablespoons of oil until lightly brown (alternatively, bake in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes).
• Simmer 1 1/4 cups of the sauce in a pot, drop in the meatballs, and simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.
• For the pea filling, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a pan and add the bacon, the peas, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add the sausage meat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the sausage changes color.
• Stir in the chicken livers and the wine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for salt and set aside.
• For the rice mixture and assembly, preheat the oven to 375°F Bring the beef stock and 1/2 cup of the spaghetti sauce to a boil in an ovenproof casserole, stir in the rice, cover and bake for 10 minutes.
• When it comes out of the oven the rice will be underdone and very moist. Stir in 3/4 cup parmesan, 2 well-beaten eggs, and some freshly-ground pepper. Mix thoroughly.
• Spoon 3/4 of the rice mixture into the prepared timbale mold, pressing firmly against the sides and bottom, leaving a hollow in the center.
• Cover the bottom of the hollow with half the mozzarella, then half the ham. Add the pea mixture, then the meatballs with their sauce, the mushrooms (here you could use sauteed cultivated mushrooms; it is more authentically Italian to use dried porcini mushrooms), and finally the remaining mozzarella and ham.
• Cover with the remaining rice, sprinkle the top with dry breadcrumbs and dot with butter.
• Bake in the oven at 375°F for one hour or until a golden crust forms. Remove from oven and let settle for 10 minutes, then unmold on a serving platter. Serve immediately.

WILD MUSHROOM TIMBALES WITH BACON AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Stir the salt, pepper, lemon zest, parsley, thyme and Parmesan into the mushrooms. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk and eggs. Stir in the mushroom mixture. Spray 8 6-ounce ramekins with vegetable oil. Fill each with the custard and set in a large roasting pan.
• Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until set, about 55 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a heavy skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, crumble and set aside. Pour the fat from the skillet. Add the vinegar and demi-glace and simmer over medium heat for 2 minutes, scraping up any bacon bits stuck to the pan.
• Run the tip of a small knife around the edge of the ramekins to loosen the custards. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the sauce onto the center of 8 plates. Mound 1 cup of arugula in the center of each plate. Unmold the timbales onto the center of the arugula. Scatter the bacon around the timbales and serve at once.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND WILD MUSHROOM FRICASSéE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F. Arrange asparagus on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle oil over and turn to coat. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot; sauté 1 minute. Add mushrooms; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Cover; cook until mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook uncovered until wine is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Stir in parsley and tarragon. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide asparagus among 4 plates. Top each serving with mushrooms.

FETTUCCINE WITH MUSHROOMS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• 1. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, then add 2 tablespoons salt.
• 2. While waiting for the water to boil, heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper flakes and sauté quickly to keep the ingredients from scorching. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the mushrooms darken slightly in color and are softened but still holding their shape, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and asparagus and cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Stir in the cream, immediately reduce the heat to keep it from scorching, and cook for several minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a sauté pan over low heat, shaking the pan, just until they are warm and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• 4. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil (10 minutes if you are using pappardelle).
• 5. Add the basil, butter, pine nuts, and cheese to the pan with the mushrooms and toss well.
• 6. Reserve a cup or so of the pasta's cooking liquid, then drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the mushrooms, asparagus, and sauce. If the sauce seems too dry, stir in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Toss, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and more pepper flakes if necessary.
• 7. Present the pasta in a bowl and serve family style from the center of the table, or divide among individual plates.
• Your Nightly Specials
• Mushrooms: Instead of using the cremini, use 1 cup dried porcini mushrooms.
• Dried Mushrooms: Dried mushrooms like porcini, morel, and chanterelle offer a quick way to add flavor to cooking and are especially useful in the off season or winter months. Always rinse dried mushrooms under cold running water to remove any lingering dirt and sand, then reconstitute them in hot water for 20 minutes, drain, and strain the liquid. Save the liquid for soups and sauces. Keeping a small packet of dried mushrooms, which costs just a few dollars, in your pantry will five earthy flavor on demand.
• Use a spice grinder to grind dried porcini to a powder. This seasoning powder will very economically make a full pot of risotto taste like a much more costly version, something many restaurants do to make flavors pop. Add 1 tablespoon to the finished mushrooms for a powerful and full flavor at an economical price.
• Porcini Mushrooms: Fresh porcini are among the most delicious of mushrooms. When they are available each fall, by all means use them, although they are expensive and need to be cooked as quickly as possible because they are highly perishable.
• Add 1/2 cup of blanched and shocked fresh or frozen peas, spincach, and/or broccoli buds.
• Toss some shredded, leftover roasted turkey or duck meat into the pan along with the cooked pasta.

ASPARAGUS TIMBALE

Steps:

• Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces. In a small frying pan, melt the butter and saute the scallion and asparagus for a few minutes until both are fairly soft. Place the mixture in the bottom of a well-oiled 1 quart casserole.
• In a bowl, beat the cheese, milk, salt and tarragon into the egg. Pour this mixture over the asparagus mixture in the casserole.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

WILD MUSHROOM AND RICE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Place porcini mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with 1 cup boiling water.
• Let stand 20 minutes or until soft.
• Drain mushrooms in a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid.
• Place reserved mushroom liquid, 1-1/2 cups water, rice and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large sauce pan; bring to a boil.
• Cover reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until rice is tender.
• While rice cooks, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, saute 2 minutes.
• Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, portobello mushrooms and button mushrooms, cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and liquid mostly evaporates, stirring frequently.
• Stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, porcini mushrooms, chopped thyme, and peas.
• Remove rice from heat; stir in mushroom mixture, cheese and pepper.
• Coat 4 timbales or ramekins with cooking spray.
• Pack about 1 cup rice mixture into each timbale; invert onto plates.
• Garnish with thyme or chives or/& almonds.

LESSONS WORTH SAVORING SPINACH TIMBALES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the spinach, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring for 3 or 4 minutes. Remove spinach from skillet, drain and keep warm.
• In the same skillet, add one tablespoon of butter and the leeks, and cook over high heat, stirring, until the leeks are wilted.
• Add the mushrooms to the pan, and salt and pepper to taste. Return the spinach to the skillet, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Adjust seasonings, set aside and keep warm.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, cream and nutmeg, and beat well with a whisk.
• Grease four aluminum molds ( 1/3-cup capacity) with the remaining butter. Distribute the leak, spinach and mushroom mixture evenly in the molds. Place them in a deep skillet. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables in the molds. Add warm water around the molds to about 1/2-inch depth; then, cover them with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep warm. To serve, unmold onto the plates holding the roast duck.

WHOLE-GRAIN PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, ASPARAGUS AND FAVAS

Steps:

• Begin heating a large pot of water while you shell the favas. Fill a bowl with cold water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the asparagus. Blanch thin stalks for 3 minutes, thicker ones for 4 to 5. Transfer to the cold water, drain and cut into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Bring the water back to a boil and add the favas. Boil 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the beans. Drain and transfer immediately to the cold water. Allow the beans to cool for several minutes, then slip off their skins by pinching off the eye of the skin and squeezing gently.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the shallot. Cook, stirring, until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes, and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms have begun to soften and sweat, about 3 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender, fragrant and juicy, another 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the asparagus and favas and remove from the heat but keep warm.
• Bring the water in the pot back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente, using the timing instructions on the package as a guide but checking the pasta a minute before the time indicated is up. When the pasta is ready, use a ladle to transfer 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the pan with the vegetables and another 1/2 cup to a bowl, in case you want more to moisten the mixture. Drain the pasta and toss at once with the vegetables and basil. Add more of the cooking water if desired. Serve hot, passing the Parmesan at the table.