Finally! Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce!


So we finally had the mint sauce with the lamb (the recipe is below). I did forget to serve it on Easter. Yes, I know … As our neighbor Ben said, “Any excuse to eat more lamb!” Funny, Ben! But maybe somewhat Freudian? Maybe. But the dinner last night was good.

Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
Minted Carrots

And then, too, we still had some of Robin’s

Easter Ricotta Tart
(Torta di Pasqua)

with a nice glass of the remainder of the Hungarian wine, a 2000 Tokaji! Really a fun dinner. Cheers!

Asian Salad Dressing Inspired By "Sushi Joy"


We found this salad dressing at Sushi Joy – Chinese and Japanese Cuisine in Boise, and we do really like it. It is a pretty easy dressing and gives a salad a unique Asian or Japanese – Chinese flavor. I have arbitrarily named it Asian Salad Dressing and you can get a copy of it by following the link. We made a seafood salad – salad shrimp, crab, Romaine lettuce and tomato – and then used this dressing. The restaurant also uses a very similar dressing on their House Salad, which is simply lettuce and tomatoes. When we asked for the recipe they smiled, and said “Mayonnaise and lemon juice.” We said, “And sesame oil and ginger?” The owner just smiled and nodded. I love it when they do that. Now we have to figure out the amounts. It took three tries, and the third time, “Eureka! We found it!” Give it a try and see what you think. Cheers!

Almond Macaroons [gluten and flour free]


1 Cup raw Almonds-skins on
1 Cup granulated Sugar
2 egg whites, slightly beaten til frothy
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Pre-heat oven 300F Line a cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
Grind almonds with sugar in food processor. Pour into mixing bowl. Add frothy egg whites, vanilla and stir all until it becomes a rather sticky paste. Drop Tbsp sized balls 1 inch apart on lined cookie sheet. They will flatten and spread. Bake 20-25 min til light golden brown. Remove with spatula while still warm to a rack to cool. Store in a tin if they last long enough. Made for Passover/Easter dinner April 2011.

Easter Party 2011


It does not seem like Easter without a White Lily. So here is one that Robin got. It is so fragrant and the blooms are very large.

And too, it does not seem like Spring without the Tulips. So to celebrate the seasons, we had our family, and extended family, gathering around the dinner table. Robin, Marnie, Mac, Sophie, Chris, Maddy and Margaret , who stopped in to say hello. So with that, here are some photos of the event. And here is the Wine List and the Menu. Do enjoy the wines, the menu and the photos. Cheers!

Chris, Maddy and Sophie.
Chris and Sophie: I want to see the photos you took!
Maddy: We are looking forward to your Birthday Dinner on Friday!

I guess the Rabbit was here. Look what it left. Is that a chocolate egg in there?

The Magnificent Egg Race!

Chocolate Egg being guarded! Mac and Sophie made these. Beautiful, solid, chocolate egg!

Dinner started with a Shrimp Dip.
Then the First Course was a delightful Lamb and Barley Soup.

Here is the Easter Roasted Leg of Lamb with Mint Sauce on a bed of Braised Spinach with Pine Nuts and Craisins. I did not get a photo of the Creamy Cauliflower Purée. The Green Salad was replaced with the spinach and the Minted Carrots did not appear. I don’t think anyone went away hungry. The 7 pounds of butterflied lamb is gone!!

Robin’s awesome
Easter Ricotta Tart
(Torta di Pasqua)

There is not much else to say except it is always a great and beautiful day when you are surrounded by a loving family and friends. Thanks to all who were there and participated. I think that Sophie really like the WII experience. And Chris and Maddy and Mac and Marnie were all surprised at what the Wii Fitness told them. Cheers!

Easter Dinner Wine List


I said in the post, Easter 2011 Roasted Lamb with Mint Sauce that we would be selecting the wines to accompany the dinner later. It is later! Below you will find the list. They probably will not be served in this order. These are all from our cellar.   Cheers!

1970 Château Moulin du Cadet
$97.50


2007 Cinder Rosé
$25.00


1971 Petrus Pomerol Grand Vin
$2,398.00


2002 Estancia Paso Robles Meritage
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
$28.00

2000 Royal Tokayi
Hungary. “…The worlds first great sweet wine, famous in the courts of Europe as ‘the king of wines and the wine of kings.” Produced from the Aszu grapes of the varietals Furmint, Hiarleveli and Muscat de Lumel.
$68.00

Le Café de Paris – Dinner in Champagne


The Le Café de Paris’s original post said that, “April brings us to the northeast for a tour through Champagne, France for “French Region Night”. Known in particular for the sparkling white wines it produces, which also bear it’s name, it is one of the most fascinating and beautiful areas of France to visit. To celebrate this region we [hosted] a four-course dinner on Thursday, April 21 utilizing champagne in almost every course. This very decadent menu [was only] $39/person … Pop open a bottle of bubbly, and join us…” Now look at the following photos and see what constitutes a “… decadent menu”. Mathieu and his crew have done it again! No wonder we keep going back. This was a super special dinner. Salut!

Louis Pedrier Brut

cinnamon, light, not bold like the vouvray

Sparkling Vouvray (Not pictured)
Grassy, bold, vanilla, straw, slightly tart

We had both of these and they went very, very well with the meal!

Huîtres Sur La Demi-Coquilles
(Oysters on the Half Shell)
with
Champagne Gelee

These were awesome. Such a delightful “taste of the sea”. Fresh and succulent.

Flamiche
(Leek tart)
puff pastry crust, gruyere

Salad Greens
oil and vinegar vinaigrette

Coq au Champagne
(Champagne Marinated Chicken)
fava beans, pearl onions, morel mushrooms

Moroccan “style” sauce. It had those unique flavors. A Grenache wine would go great with this chicken.

Financier
(Raspberry Almond Cake)
fig compote, housemade chantilly

Easter at Le Café de Paris


Yes, it looks like spring is really here with the blooming of our Bleeding Hearts. And with Spring, comes the Easter Dinner at Le Café de Paris in Boise. Here is what Matheau is preparing and serving.

EASTER BRUNCH

Sunday, April 24th
Bonjour Mes Amis!
Easter Brunch at Le Café de Paris
features our
regular brunch menu as well as a few delicious special additions.
Make your reservations early as space fills up very quickly.
To make reservations please call (208)336-0889.
Bon Appetit!
Mathieu

Bottomless Mimosas
$5-

Peach Champagne
$5-

Les Specialities du Jour

Lobster Benedict
lobster and scallop cake, local duck eggs, citrus buerre blanc, served with fresh fruit
$18-

Rib-eye Steak and Duck Eggs
8 oz ribeye steak, local duck eggs, peppercorn hollandaise, roasted potatoes
$16-

Roasted Lamb Loin
framboise demi-glace, potato gratin,served with fresh asparagus
$16-

Don’t miss this one. Call for your reservations! Cheers!

A Good Seafood Dinner Tonight With a Twist!


This was an unusual dinner. Good, but unusual. A combination of cod and salmon with sweet potato fries, done in the oven, and a tomato and fennel salad. The sauce on both pieces of fish is caramelized onion and garlic, lemon zest, Moroccan olives – we didn’t have any Kalamata olives –  and lemon juice. Top that with a nice wine and you have a good experience. This is a recipe that Robin found. Enjoy!

Sauté of Seafood with Garlic-Lemon Glaze

Servings: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 to 1½ lbs fresh fish steaks or fillets, such as Pacific Cod or Halibut, U.S. farmed Arctic Char or Tilapia, or Alaskan Salmon
½ med Onion, thinly sliced
3 Garlic cloves, thin sliced
Zest of one Lemon
10 to 12 pitted Kalamata Olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
½ c Lemon juiced, fresh squeezed
Lemon wedges

Directions:
1) Film a 12-inch straight sided sauté pan (ideally nonstick), with the olive oil and set the pan over medium-high heat. Add the fish and sear it on one side; turn the fish, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook slowly for 10 minutes per inch of thickness of the fish, but check for doneness after 8 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove the fish to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

2) Turn the heat to medium-high and add the onion to the pan. Sauté until onion is soft and beginning to brown. Add the garlic and cook, tossing it with the onion for 30 seconds or so, until garlic turns pale blonde and is softened. Take care so garlic doesn’t burn. Add the lemon zest, olives and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, 1 minute, until ingredients are combined and heated through.

3) Add the lemon juice to the pan, increase the heat until the juice is bubbling briskly, and continue to cook until juice is syrupy (about 4 minutes) and flavors are concentrated. It should coat a spoon. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Place a serving of fish on each dinner plate and spoon the sauce over the fish. Finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Easter 2011 – Roasted Lamb with Mint Sauce


The Pansy in bloom. The perfect sign of Spring. And in the Springtime, we also have Easter. Our traditional Easter dinner is lamb. I do remember the lamb dinners my Mom made when I was growing up. Scrumptious! Lamb, not mutton! There is a big difference … It’s a matter of time. So, here is what our dinner will look like this year. Do enjoy and do try the recipes. Cheers!

Easter Dinner 2011

Easter Roasted Leg of Lamb
with
Mint Sauce


Green Salad


Creamy Cauliflower Purée


Minted Carrots


Easter Ricotta Tart (Torta di Pasqua)

(We’ll find a wine to go with this dinner!)
——————————

OK. So there’s the menu. Here are some of the recipes. Enjoy!

Easter Roasted Leg of Lamb with Mint Sauce

Ingredients:
1 8lbs Leg of Lamb

Marinade:
½ c Pomegranate Vinegar
⅓ c Olive Oil
¼ c Molasses
½ c Mint, fresh, stems removed and chopped
½ t Pepper
¼ t Kosher Salt

Mix all together and pour over lamb roast. Marinate 4-6 hours refrigerated. Roast lamb at 350 ºF until internal temperature is 150 ºF. Let rest 20 minutes before slicing.

Mint Sauce:
10 sprigs Mint, fresh
1 sm Shallot, chopped
2 sm clove Garlic, minced
4 T Cider Vinegar
5 T Olive Oil
2 t Sugar
½ t Kosher Salt

Puree all in a Cuisinart until smooth. Makes 2/3 cup.

——————————
Creamy Cauliflower Purée

Source: The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, 2009, Mary Dan Eades, MD and Michael R. Eades, MD ISBN 978-0-307-45071-5

Ingredients:
1 lg head Cauliflower
2 T Butter, melted
½ Boursin Cheese with Herbs and Garlic, at room temperature – about 5 oz
2 T Heavy Cream
1/4 t Salt
¼ t Pepper

Directions:
Wash and trim the cauliflower. Slice in ½ and slice in ½ again to make four pieces. Cut each piece into ½” pieces.

Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl. Cover and heat on high for 6 minutes. Stir and microwave for another 3 minutes. Allow to cool, slightly.

Place the cooked cauliflower in the bowl of a food processor. Add the melted butter, cheese, 1 T cream and salt and pepper. Prucess pulses to start then on high until smooth. Add mre cream if necessary until purée holds its shape.

Adjust seasonings and serve warm. Should stay warm covered for about 30 minutes.

Local Gardens and Farms Have Plants


Here is some information on Canyon Bounty Farm that you may enjoy. You can find spring plants here and probably produce. Here is some information directly from their web page. Do check it out and let them know you found the link here. Cheers!

April 2011 Farm News


Greenhouse opens Saturday, April 30*
Open six days a week (Wednesday-Monday)
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays.

Remember: Cash and checks only.
We’ve been planting and filling up the greenhouses with delicious vegetables, herbs and beautiful flower starts. For a complete list of all the plants we plan to offer, click on the Shopping List/Clipboard on the left.

New this year is our farm’s own little organic seed line. It features dill, garden beans, arugula, lettuce, tomatoes, flowers, cilantro, Bug Bloom Blend and more. Also new are Hot Kaps (see picture). These handy paper cones are used to protect veggies from wind and cold.

*Easter weekend made me push back our opening one week. If you want to stop by earlier (April 25-29) we will be open and available from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Looking forward to seeing you at the greenhouse, getting caught up and hearing about your garden plans for 2011. Don’t forget to bring your Think Boise First coupon (see below). 

——————————

If you go to their web site, there is a coupon there called the Think Boise First Coupon. The coupon book has many specials listed, and some for the Canyon Bounty Farm. “… Check out this fancy coupon book loaded with lots of great deals for local businesses in the Treasure Valley. There are several for Canyon Bounty Farm.” Cheers and try them out and Think Local!