Category Archives: Regional Cooking

Rice à la Royale (French Rice Pudding)

¾ cup rice
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
Pears poached in syrup
Whipped cream

Custard
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups milk
Vanilla extract
1 tablespoon gelatine
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1-2 tablespoons Kirsch

Simmer rice in milk, sugar and salt until tender. Cool.

To make custard: combine egg yolks and sugar, and beat well. Add cornstarch and blend until smooth. Heat the milk slightly, with vanilla extract to taste, and pour on to egg mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and cook until thick and smooth, stirring constantly. Cool. Stir gelatine, dissolved in a little water, into custard, and when cool add cream and Kirsch. Leave to thicken slightly.

Stir in rice mixture and turn into a wetted mold. Refrigerate for several hours. Turn out and decorate with poached pears and whipped cream. Serve very cold. Serves 4 to 6.


Féra du Léman (Cold Lake Fish)

ingredients:
1½ pounds féra, land-locked salmon, or several small fish
2 onions
2 shallots
2 cloves garlic
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup broth
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon mustard
1 egg yolk
¾ cup vegetable oil
½ teaspoon vinegar

Instructions

  1. Clean and wash the fish.
  2. Finely chop the onions, shallots and garlic and sauté them slowly in butter until they begin to brown. Place the fish over them; add the broth, salt and pepper. Cook the fish over a high heat, 6 minutes on each side.
  3. Remove the fish to a serving platter and allow it to cool. reduce the cooking liquid over low heat.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare a mayonnaise: Mix the mustard and egg yolk in a bowl. Add the oil dry by drop, beating with a wooden spoon. Salt, pepper and add the vinegar. (You may make the mayonnaise in a mixer; place the egg and mustard in the small bowl of your mixer, set the speed to high and let it run 1 minute. Reduce the speed to medium and add the oil teaspoonful by teaspoonful, making sure that each teaspoonful is thoroughly blended. End with the vinegar and 1 tablespoon of boiling water.)
  5. When the cooking liquid has become very thick, cool and carefully fold in the mayonnaise.
  6. To serve, cover the cold fish with the sauce.

This little-known recipe from Savoie is an excellent dish that is easily adapted to any sort of fish. All the ingredients must be at room temperature and the utensils must be spotlessly clean if the mayonnaise is to succeed.


© Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., Japan, 1971 Published in the United States and Canada by BOBLEY PUBLISHING, a division of Illustrated World Encyclopedia, Inc. Printed in Japan.

Snails in Garlic Butter

1 can snails, with shells (7 ½-oz can; 1 ½ dozen shells)
½ cup soft butter or margarine
2 or 3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 shallot finely chopped
1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon dried chervil leaves
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg

  1. Several hours before serving: Wash snail shells, and drain well on paper towels. Drain snails thoroughly; set aside.
  2. In medium bowl, combine butter with remaining ingredients; mix well.
  3. Place a generous 1/4 teaspoon of butter mixture in each shell. Push a drained snail into each shell; cover with more butter mixture.
  4. Arrange shells carefully, open ends up, in flat baking dish or special escargot (snail) dishes. Cover and refrigerate.
  5. To serve: Preheat oven to 400F. Bake snails in shells, uncovered 8 to 10 minutes, or until butter mixture is very bubbly. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 first course or 6 to 8 hors d’oeuvre servings.


© Copyright 1973 by The McCall Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Sole Veronique (French sole with grapes)

sole_veronique

Cooking time: 25-30 mins.
Preparation time: 20 mins.
Main cooking utensils: ovenproof dish, saucepan
Oven temperature: 350-375°F
Oven position: center

For 4 people you need:
4 large or 8 small fillets sole
6 oz. white grapes
seasoning
1 1/2 cups white wine
little milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
2 egg yolks, optional
2-4 tablespoons cream

Garnish:
few extra grapes
parsley sprigs

1. Skin fillets; peel and deseed grapes.

2. Place some of the grapes on fillets, fold over; season lightly.

3. Put into the buttered dish, add white wine, and cook for approximately 15 minutes.

4. Life fillets of fish carefully from liquid, save this to add to sauce.

5. Heat butter, stir in the flour, cook for 2-3 minutes then blend in strained wine and add a little milk if necessary to give good 1 1/4 cups. Bring to boil, cook until thickened.

6. When smooth and thickened, add cream beaten with egg yolks and cook gently, without boiling, for 2-3 minutes.

7. Season well, and pour over the fish.

8. Garnish with a few extra grapes and parsley springs.

TO SERVE: With green salad and/or broccoli.

TO VARY: Often the grates are not put into the oven with the fish but added to the sauce to heat. Purple grames may be used – keep the skin on for garnish if wished to give color.


Printed in Canada. © Copyright Paul Hamlyn Ltd. 1967

Frozen Fruit Salad

1 can (8 1/4 oz) pineapple tidbits
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 envelope unflavored gelatine
1 pkg (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup sliced banana
1 can (11 oz) mandarin-orange sections, drained
1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries, halved
1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 large bunch watercress

1. Drain pineapple, reserving liquid.

2. Pour lemon juice into measuring cup and add enough reserved pineapple liquid to make 1/2 cup. Pour into small saucepan.

3. Sprinkle gelatine over liquid in pan. Let stand 5 minutes, to soften.

4. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatine is dissolved. Remove from heat.

5. In large bowl, with wooden spoon, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Add drained pineapple, marshmallows, banana, orange sections, cherries, walnuts and gelatine mixture; mix well.

6. Refrigerate – about 20 minutes, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from spoon.

7. Gently fold in whipped cream until well combined.

8. Turn into 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan lined with waxed paper. Freeze at least 4 hours, until firm.

9. To serve: Turn out of pan. Cut into slices. Place on bed of watercress. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.


© Copyright 1973 by The McCally Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Crabmeat and Mushroom Bisque

6 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 tablespoons finely chopped onion
4 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
1 scallion, including top, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
Dash Tabasco
1 cup half-and-half (half milk, half cream)
1 1/2 cups cooked crabmeat*
3 tablespoons dry sherry

1. In medium skillet, heat 4 tablespoons butter. Add onion, green pepper, scallion, parsley, and mushrooms; sauté until soft but not brown. Set aside.

2. In large saucepan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter; remove from heat. Stir in flour. Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth. Stir in salt, pepper, mace, and Tabasco.

3. Add sautéed vegetables and half-and-half. Bring to boiling, stirring. Reduce heat, and add crabmeat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.

4. Just before serving, stir in sherry.

Makes 4 servings.

*Or use 2 pkg (6-oz size) frozen crabmeat, thawed.


© Copyright 1973 by The McCall Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Jambalaya

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons flour
1 lb smoked pork sausage or ham, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups cooked shrimp shelled and deveined (about 1 lb)
5 cups diced peeled tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 cups raw long-grain white rice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1. In large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat butter. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes, until tender.

2. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups water, stirring until smooth.

3. Return to heat. Add remaining ingredients; bring to boiling, stirring.

4. Reduce heat to simmer; cook, covered but stirring occasionally – about 30 minutes, or until rice is tender.

5. Serve sprinkled with additional chopped parsley, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.


©1973 by The McCall Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Batter-Fried Chicken

batter_fried_chicken

1/4 cup chopped celery
1 small onion, quartered
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (2 /12-3-lb) broiler-fryer, cut in serving pieces
Salad oil for frying

Batter
1 1/2 cups sifted* all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tablespoon salad oil

1. In large skillet, combine celery, onion, bay leaf, salt and 1 cup water. Add chicken pieces.

2. Bring to boiling; cover and simmer 15 minutes. Drain chicken pieces; pat dry with paper towels and let cool.

3. In deep-fat fryer or deep skillet, slowly heat oil (at least 2 inches deep) to 375F on deep-frying thermometer. Also, preheat oven to 300F.

4. Meanwhile make Batter: Sift flour with baking powder, salt, and pepper; set aside.

5. In medium bowl, with rotary beater, beat eggs, milk and oil until combined.

6. Add flour mixture gradually, beating until smooth.

7. Dip chicken pieces in batter, coating evently.

8. Deep fry a few pieces at a time, turning occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown and tender; drain well on paper towels. Keep browned pieces warm in shallow pan in oven while rest of chicken cooks.

Makes 4 servings.

*Sift before measuring.


© Copyright 1973 by The McCall Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Southern Chess Pie

southern_chess_pie

9-inch unbaked pie shell
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup butter or regular margarine, softened
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup dried currants
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
Whipped cream, optional

1. Prepare pie shell. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

2. Preheat oven to 375F.

3. In bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat sugar and butter until creamy.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla, currants, and nuts.

5. Turn into unbaked pie shell. Bake 40 to 50 minutes, or just until filling is set in center (shake pie gently; center should be firm).

6. Let cool on wire rack. If desired, serve garnished with whipped cream.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

TO FREEZE UNBAKED PIE SHELLS: Prepare pie shell as recipe directs. Prick pie shell if it is going to be baked without filling. Freezer-wrap, label, and freeze. TO USE SHELLS: Preheat oven to 450F. Remove freezer-wrap. Immediately bake frozen pie shell – about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely on wire rack. Fill as desired. TO BAKE SHELL ALONG WITH FILLING: Remove freezer-wrap. Let stand in refrigerator or at room temperature to thaw. Fill as desired, and bake as specific recipe directs.


© Copyright 1973 by The McCall Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Terrine aux Aromates (Herb Pâté)

terrine

Preparation time: 20-30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
To serve: 4

You will need
1 lb. spinach or 10 oz. carton frozen spinach
1 lb. lean belly pork, minced
4 oz. cooked ham, diced
1 heaped tablespoon mixed chopped fresh herbs (parsley, chevril, basil, marjoram, etc.)
2 oz. onion, finely grated
1/2 clove garlic, crushed
1 level teaspoon salt
ground black pepper
1/4 level teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 egg
4 rashers mild streaky bacon

A rough textured green flecked and herb flavored pâté. Cook prepared fresh of the frozen spinach in boiling salted water, drain and press as dry as possible. Chop finely or mince with the pork. Into a basin put the spinach, pork, ham, herbs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg and egg. Mix very thoroughly. Press into 1 1/2 pint capacity oven-proof dish. Remove the rind from the rashers of bacon and lay them on top of the mixture in the dish. Cover and stand in a baking tin with hot water to reach halfway up the dish. Cook in centre of a pre-heated moderate oven (350° F. or Gas Mark 4), for about 1 hour. When cold, cover and mature in refrigerator for 24 hours.

Serve from the terrine, garnished with olives and herbs when available.


©Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., Japan 1968 English text © The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. 1968