Blueberry Mascarpone Roulade

Let them eat cake! Or so they said in France long ago before the poor folk had enough (not!) and stormed the Bastille!
This would be a welcome cake for almost any occasion--even an ordinary weekend day, like today.  After a  rather hot and muggy day here in Southern New Jersey (where isn't it hot and steamy in the continental states recently?) we ate a simple fare of grilled burgers and hotdogs al fresco.  By contrast the roulade was the sophisticated dolce vita guest.  And it did not disappoint, the roulade was light and refreshingly delicious!
I've never made a sponge cake and thought it would be most difficult, but it was as easy to make as Dorie promised it would be.  I baked it in a large baking sheet with 1 inch sides.  The filling was whipped fresh creme mixed with mascarpone cheese, sugar and vanilla combined.  Mixed that with the blueberries simmered in a simple sugar then drained and cooled. It was a snap to spread on the sponge cake and roll up and refrigerate for a couple of hours.  A quick dusting of confectioner's sugar before serving, voila!

I did keep the blueberry syrup for something cool and refreshing to drink in the next day or two.  With the temperatures climbing into the high 90's, it should make for a tasty drink but I haven't figured out a recipe for that yet.


(I'm asking Santa for a higher megapixel digital camera for Christmas.....)

When Life Gives You Cucumbers....

Then Make Pickles!

It's been a month since I've been able to cook Dorie's selections!  I've had 2 funerals (sad events) and 1 graduation (happy! My son!)  One funeral had my sister and me driving to Plymouth, Massachussetts last week.  We managed to have one day of touring (for the second time in about 15 years) and we had some enjoyment there.

So it seems appropriate to deal with the sour and sweet.  I whipped these up tonight in a matter of an hour and tested them.  They are tasty.  Husband liked them, too!  Short and sweet literally and figuratively this week.  Stay cool if you are under the heatwave this week and weekend!  Find the recipe for these on page 340 of Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan.
I hope you had a great 4th of July.  We did at home, grilling and swimming in the pool.  God Bless!

Lentil, Lemon & Tuna Salad 6/1/12

This sounded good as I like all the main ingredients.  Making the lentils was easy as we eat them regularly throughout the winter.  The olive tapenade (I used kalamata olives) was easy to make though it was the first time I made it from scratch.  The preserved lemon I did not have the time to make and didn't know where to purchase one ready made.  So I just used lemon zest instead.  The tapenade was wildly flavorful with the tuna. I chose baby spinach for the bed of greens, ladled on the lentils, topped them with the tuna and tapenade. I added cherry tomatoes for color.  It looked great!  But I found the tuna and tapenade completely overwhelmed the lentils.  So why add them I thought.  I won't add them next time.  I think lemon and tuna salad works just fine without them.  I didn't have any rustic bread so I used wheat toast points to soak up the tapenade.

Lyonnaise Garlic & Herb Cheese

Lyonnaise Garlic & Herb Cheese

What I love about cooking my way through Dorie's Around My French Table is that I am building a working reference to all kinds of new ingredient combinations and  food creations.  This week's recipe is a quick wonderful cheese dip or spread.  While I didn't have fresh parsley or tarragon :-(, I did use some dried bouquet garni (Penzeys), fresh garlic, shallot, and chives, red pepper flakes, red balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and Hawaiian sea salt with ricotta. I found the part skim ricotta nice and dry so I skipped the 'waiting for the cheese to lose some of its water step' and mixed everything up right away. I let it chill in the fridge for about an hour.  Served on petit toasts, topped with a green olive, it was delicious.  Husband and I ate it as our appetizer before dinner of sea bass with roasted cherry tomato and vidalia onion, lemon and thyme.  Delish!  But I didn't take a picture of the fish, guess I should have.  I can't wait to see how everyone else served this cheese.

Double Chocolate Banana Tart

Double Chocolate Banana Tart 5_17_12

Double chocolate as in tart crust and filling!  While a bit time consuming to make on a weeknight (we ordered pizza for dinner so I could focus on this tart) I knew it would be worth the effort.  And it was!  I took the tart to work (I used a 12 inch tart pan) to share and everyone loved it.  Just decadent!  This would be a great dessert to take to the next barbeque party you’re invited to.

Provencal Olive Fougasse

Provencal Olive Fougasse  5_10_12

We enjoyed this olive flatbread although I wasn't crazy about the finished shape. I substituted kalamata olives for the cured, added the required fresh rosemary and lemon zest to the dough.  It was a perfect ‘break off a piece to eat as you pass through the kitchen’ food.  A couple of Dorie bloggers served it with goat cheese which sounds terrific.  Also learned a baker's tip of baking on a stone and have a pan of water under the bread from another blogger.  Thanks, all.

 This bread would also be a great side to a summer salad.

Almond Flounder Meuniere 5_4_12

Home Alone!  But I am not scared, there are no booby traps to set up, I am actually enjoying being all by myself!  Husband went fishing in Pa., Son is out with the Girlfriend, Nephew is out with friends.  Well, I am not totally free, the Dog is still staring at me, wondering where the rest of the family went.
I couldn't score on the fish--no a piece of flounder to be had at ShopRite at 5:45pm tonight.  Go figure!  So I settled for tilapia.  I am sure it's a good substitute.  With the ground almond and lemon zest coating it will be a fine substitute.  I am not used to this peace and quiet in the house and I am relishing it!  No one to call to the table, nothing to go over for the end of the week, the TV with the digital cable box all mine, I am in heaven!!
I am not sure what time this post will go in and I am still in the relaxing stages of Friday night.
Oh, wait, I heard a car door slam close and Dog is barking.  I will be right back.  There goes the doorbell.  Son just arrived with Girlfriend and says, 'I hope you are cooking, I smell something.'  OMG!  I am not alone after all.  Now I have work to do.  I'll be back with the pictures and comments later.

I served the flounder with red-skin potatoes with Pasta Sprinkle Seasoning by Penzeys and a baby green salad with lemon and olive oil.  Sorry that the white plate makes the potatoes look pale!  Son had steak (I had to cook that too!) and the flounder while Girlfriend said she could only eat the fish she saw fresh caught.  Some folks are like that.  At least she ate the steak, potatoes, and greens.  She's sweet.  They are excited about the Prom in 2 weeks!  Husband and I are nervous about the 'Shore Weekend Right of Passage' after the Prom.  How does  'Teenager Grow into Fiercely Independent Think They Are Adult' happen in a month?  Husband and I won't start to relax until the Fall semester starts at College.  Son will be attending the Community College that I work at, while Girlfriend goes to Florida.  I see Drama in our future!

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this wonderful fish dish.  I did, and Son did, too!