Archives for 2012

Festive and Simple Prime Rib

Festive and Simple Prime Rib

Prime Rib RareIn my small town in Quebec, there was always a place where one could be guaranteed a great meal – L’Arnold. The steakhouse closed a few years ago and what folks missed most about it was the fork-tender prime rib (rosbif as we refer to it back home).

My bother-in-law Etienne

My brother-in-law Etienne

Last year, the former cook from the restaurant began hosting cooking classes where he taught the art of his prime rib. My brother-in-law, Etienne, attended the class and prepared a stellar prime rib for us for Christmas.

The gist of the prime rib preparation:

  1. Get a bone-on prime rib with the bones removed but reattached with kitchen twine.
  2. Salt and pepper the bone side moderately.
  3. Coat the entire surface (not the ends) of the prime rib with salt (1/8”) then lightly pepper over the salt. It’ll appear to be WAY more salt than you’d ever need, but don’t fret, it’ll be removed at the end of the cooking time.
  4. Roast uncovered in the oven at 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 124 degrees for medium-rare.
  5. Remove the roast from the oven, leaving the meat thermometer in place, and wrap with foil. Cover the foil with a dry kitchen towel. Let the roast rest covered in foil and the kitchen towel for 30-60 minutes until the meat thermometer reads 134.
  6. Uncover the meat, scrape the salt crust off, slice portions and serve with jus or brown sauce.

This method works well for any size prime rib. If you want the meat rare, remove the roast when the temperature is 122 degrees and let rest until it’s at 132 degrees. For medium, remove the roast when the temperature is 127 and let rest until it’s at 137.

Happy roasting!

Quebec Welcomes Cake Boss

Quebec Welcomes Cake Boss

My Sister Marie-Josee

My Sister Marie-Josee

With a 9-year old and a 7-year old, it’s oftentimes difficult for my sister to find television shows she can enjoy with her daughters. A program her whole family can agree on is Cake Boss, featuring Buddy Valastro. As a resident of The Garden State, I get a kick out of my family in Quebec being avid fans of a show taped in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Cake Boss BoxSince I drive to Quebec for Christmas each year, I typically make my sister a special birthday cake and bring it with me as her birthday is December 21st. This year, I’d seen Cake Boss cakes at Super Shop & Shop and decided to bring (smuggle) one with me to surprise her.

Can you tell I made her day? Yes. Think I’ll be able to skip a visit to Carlo’s Bakery next time my sister and her family come visit? Not a chance and I look forward to it.

Smooth as Silk Fantasy Fudge

Smooth as Silk Fantasy Fudge

I’ve been making the Kraft Fantasy Fudge recipe for as long as I can remember. I find that I get great results every time. About 10 years ago, I began pulsing my granulated sugar in the food processor or the blender to get it to an almost powder consistency. This extra little effort has resulted in the silkiest of fudges and I highly recommend adopting this extra step.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups granulated sugar, pulsed in the food processor for 1 minute
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 1 5-ounce can evaporated milk
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow crème
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

  1. Coat either a 9” x 9” or a 9” x 13” pan with cooking spray. Use a 9” x 9” pan for thicker fudge or a 9” x 13” for thinner fudge. I find the 9” x 13” works just fine as a little of this fudge goes a long way.
  2. In a heavy-bottom pan over medium heat, bring the sugar, butter and evaporated milk to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar mixture starts to boil, cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
  3. Add the chocolate and the marshmallow crème to the hot sugar mixture and stir until fully melted. Add the vanilla and, if using, the walnuts. Stir to incorporate.
  4. Pour the mixture into the pan. Cool completely then cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator for a week or in the freezer for a month.

Makes about 40 treats.

World’s Best Hollandaise Sauce

World’s Best Hollandaise Sauce

They are decadent and indeed not a dish to be consumed every day, but Eggs Benedict rank at the top of my list of special occasion breakfast dishes.

To me, the best part is the Hollandaise Sauce with its eggy, lemony perfectness. This recipe for the rich sauce couldn’t be easier and is also great on fish or asparagus.

Hollandaise Sauce Ingredients:

  • 7 egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 cup butter
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp. sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Hollandaise Sauce Directions:

  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cool for 3 minutes.
  2. In a tall container, like a pitcher, add the egg yolks. Using an immersion blender, add the butter to the yolks in a slow, steady stream until the sauce thickens, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add the cayenne pepper, the salt and the lemon juice.  Keep sauce at room temperature until ready to use.

Makes about ¾ cup.

Sam Mickail’s CUT Steak House

Sam Mickail’s CUT Steak House

Thanks to Jersey Bites for publishing my restaurant review of the newly-opened Sam Mickail’s CUT Steak House in West Orange, NJ.

To view my photo album of the dinner, click here.

Happy dining,

Veronique

Booskerdoo Coffee – Jersey Shore Roasted

Booskerdoo Coffee – Jersey Shore Roasted

Photo Credits – James Caverly

Booskerdoo Coffee, based in Monmouth Beach, is a micro-roaster coffee shop that’s grown a serious cult following among coffee lovers.

While I won’t claim to be a coffee connoisseur, I can easily pass as an educated amateur. The richly-roasted coffee created by Booskerdoo is some of the best I’ve had. The New Jersey business ships all the coffee it roasts on the day it’s roasted – talk about fresh!

James Caverly, the owner of Booskerdoo Coffee, proudly states “We believe great coffee should never sit in a warehouse… so we don’t use one”. Quality, handcrafted, Jersey-based product – I can passionately endorse this.

Booskerdoo offers over 10 coffee flavors from around the globe. The “Jersey Diner” coffee is one its best-sellers with good reasons. Upon sipping this brew, you’ll wish your local diner served coffee this absolutely rich and nutty. Another coffee I sampled is the “Black and Tan” Organic and Fair Trade Coffee. It’s a blend of light and dark roasted beans that produce a cup with a robust kick and silky body.

Black and Tan Beans

From now until 12/31/12, 10% of the proceeds of the Jersey Diner coffee blend sold online will be donated to the Monmouth Beach Fire Company. Orders over $20 get free shipping. Click here to order.

Not sure what to get the person who has everything for the holidays? Booskerdoo offers a “coffee of the month club” which is an easy way to have two, three or four pounds of freshly-roasted coffee shipped to a friend or colleague’s door.

Swing by the store if at the Jersey shore or order for home delivery for some of the best home-brewed coffee you’ll have.

36 Beach Road, Suite 9

Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750

Telephone: (732) 222-0729

www.booskerdoo.com

PS: I received complimentary beans for sampling and am now a fan and client.

Chocolate Turtle Cookies

Chocolate Turtle Cookies

This over-the-top cookie recipe was shared by my friends Carole and Nathan of Educated Foodie. The recipe was inspired by a cookie recipe from America’s Test Kitchen Holiday Cookies 2010 Special Issue.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, separated, plus 1 egg white
  • 2 Tbsp. milk
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ cups pecans, chopped finely
  • 14 soft caramel candies
  • 3 Tbsp. heavy cream

Directions:

  1. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a bowl.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture until just combined – do not overmix. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  3. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  4. Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy.
  5. Place pecans in a bowl.
  6. Roll dough into 1” balls, dip them in the egg whites then roll them in pecans. Place balls 2” apart on prepared baking sheets. Using ½ teaspoon measure, make an indentation in the center of each ball. Bake until set, about 12 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through the baking process.
  7. Microwave caramels and cream in a bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth – 1 to 2 minutes.
  8. Once cookies are removed from oven, gently re-press existing indentations. Fill each cookie indentation with ½ teaspoon caramel mixture. Cool 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Yields about 2 ½ dozen cookies.

The Orange Squirrel Does It Again

The Orange Squirrel Does It Again

Gnudi

Last night, I had the opportunity to dine at The Orange Squirrel in Bloomfield. As was true when I wrote about The Orange Squirrel this past August, Chef/Owner Francesco Palmieri and his talented team delivered another incredible experience.

Crab Cake

The cocktail list offers interesting selections and there are several wines by the glass. I opted for a split of Chandon Rose which paired nicely with my starter, Gnudi with wild mushrooms and Parmesan consommé. I’d not had this dish before and it was so flavorful that I was tempted to bring the bowl to my mouth to sip every last drop. Some of the other starters my guests enjoyed were the Shrimp Bisque with spiced fromage blanc, the Baby Octopus Stew with pancetta, fingerling potato and a turnip lemon grass broth and Tempura Green Beans, a nightly special. Another nightly special that was stellar was the crab cake over Sriracha aioli.

Rib Eye

It’s difficult to make up one’s mind where entrées are concerned as each is more tempting than the next. We finally opted for the Dry Aged Rib Eye, the Duck over Quinoa and the Veal Osso Buco. The rib eye is served in a cast iron pan with chipotle butter, confit garlic and sprigs of rosemary. It was perfectly rare, as ordered, and impeccably seasoned. The duck might have been some of the most tender we’ve had and the accompanying earthy quinoa was a great compliment. The Osso Buco is served off the bone in a small cast iron Dutch oven and delicious.

Fontina Mac and Cheese

Side dishes come with the entrées, except the Pot Pie, and some winners are the Fontina Macaroni and Cheese, the Irish Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and the Mascarpone Polenta.

Desserts are whimsical and end dinner on a humorous note. Last night, we chose the Three Dirt Tasting, three tasting portion of seasonal mousses layered with cookie crumbs.

Dinner at The Orange Squirrel never disappoints. Chef Palmieri crafts inventive dishes using premium-quality ingredients in an unpretentious space. Make a point to visit soon.

Hours:

Lunch: Monday – Friday: 12PM – 3PM

Dinner: Monday – Saturday: 5PM – 11PM

Late night fare: Monday – Saturday: 11PM – 1AM

412 Bloomfield Avenue

Bloomfield, NJ 07003

973-337-6421

www.theorangesquirrel.com

Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast

Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast

Housed in a beautifully-restored 1830 farmhouse, Magnolia Place offers breathtaking views of Seneca Lake, in one of the most picturesque areas of New York’s Finger Lakes region.

From the moment guests walk through the front door, innkeepers Theresa Kelly-Remmers and Ted Palevsky make them feel like family. The entryway leads to a gourmet kitchen where there’s always coffee and treats to greet guests. Adjacent to the kitchen is a spacious living room with a grand fireplace where guests can read a book, watch television or enjoy board games. There’s even a pantry where complimentary beverages are available. “We try to improve our guests’ power lounging techniques,” muses Palevsky.

Seneca Room

Guest suites are located on the main and second floors. The property offers eight guest suites all with private baths. Some of the suites feature spa tubs and fireplaces and several suites, like the Seneca Room I stayed in, have private access to a second story veranda overlooking Seneca Lake.

Magnolia Place is centrally-located within the Finger Lakes region and is near some of the area’s top wineries.  Many guests visit wineries during the day and return to the inn with wine to sip while rocking on the porch or while sitting by the fireplace.

Bathroom in Seneca Room

Little touches like the selection of home-baked goods and seasonal beverages served in the evenings, the fine linens dressing the comfortable beds and the artisan soaps featured in the suites help enhance guest experience.

Magnolia Place puts the “breakfast” in bed and breakfast. Each morning, guests are greeted with inviting aromas or freshly-prepared food and brewing coffee. The array of dishes is beautifully-presented on the kitchen island and various juices and coffees are served in the inviting dining room. The full country breakfast, prepared with locally-sourced ingredients, features custom-blended coffee, house-made granola, fresh-baked pastries and a hot entrée like the popular baked blueberry French toast or the corn fritters with house-smoked salmon, crème fraîche and a poached egg.

The inn is near some of the region’s best restaurants – Suzanne’s Fine Regional Cuisine and Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca. For a more intimate dinner, Magnolia Place offers meals served at the inn and prepared by Table for Two, a local high-end catering company.

Warm and friendly hosts, attractively-restored suites, great food, a central location and gorgeous Seneca Lake views are what await you at Magnolia Place.

Magnolia Place
5240 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

http://magnoliawelcome.com

Berliner Kranser Cookies

Berliner Kranser Cookies

My friend Kim is of Norwegian decent and has kindly shared this family recipe for Norwegian Christmas Cookies called Berliner Kranser (Berlin Wreaths). “They are a melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies” says Kim.

Ingredients:

  • 2 hard-boiled egg yolks (here’s help on how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg)
  • 2 raw egg yolks
  • ½ heaping cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 raw egg whites, beaten
  • Green decorating sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Mash together hard and raw egg yolks. Add sugar and beat until a light lemon color, about 4 minutes.
  3. Alternately add the butter and the flour to the egg/sugar mixture, beating well to incorporate.
  4. Put the cookie dough in a cookie press fitted with a wreath shaped attachment. Arrange on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Cookies can be close as they will not spread while cooking.
  5. Brush the egg whites over the cookies and decorate with green sugar. If you want to get fancy, you can use candy holly berries to add some red to the wreaths.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack immediately out of the oven.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.