Alsatian Goose With Pears Food

ALSATIAN GOOSE WITH PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat to 325°F
• Remove giblets and neck from cavity. Pull out any lumps of fat. Using a sharp fork, poke the skin of the goose all over. Dont pierce the meat, just the skin. Rinse goose inside and out; pat dry with absorbent paper. Sprinkle inside and out with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon ginger. Poke a few slits in the skin of the cavity. Place garlic slices into body cavity slits. Place the carrots, onion, and celery into the body cavity.
• Tie the bird up. Place goose on rack, breast side up, in large roasting pan. Place the orange slices on top of the bird.
• Roast goose 1 1/2 hours, basting with drippings. When the wings begin to brown, cover with aluminium foil. Turn goose over, breast side down. Cover the wings with aluminium foil. The roasting pan will have accumulated lots of fat; spoon 6 tbsp into a metal bowl and reserve.
• Roast another 1 1/2 hours until a thermometer in the thickest part of thigh registers 175°F Let rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile prepare the pears so they can be roasted with the goose for one hour. Toss pears and lemon juice in large bowl. Pour 6 tablespoons goose fat into large baking dish. Place the pears in baking dish and toss with fat. Add sugar, 1/2 cup liqueur and remaining ginger to pears; toss.
• Bake pears alongside goose until very tender and golden, about 1 hour. Spoon the pears into a serving dish with a slotted spoon to reserve as much liquid as possible.
• Pour liquid into a saucepan, add stock, remaining liqueur. Bring to a simmer and reduce by half a cup. Sprinkle in flour while whisking and continue to cook a few more minutes so it is slightly thickened.
• Serve goose with caramelized pears.

BRAISED GOOSE WITH PEARS

Steps:

• Turn heat to medium-high under a casserole or deep skillet, at least 12 inches across. A minute later, add goose pieces, skin side down. Cook, adjusting heat so the skin doesn't scorch and rotating pieces until skin side is browned and rendered of fat, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn, then sprinkle skin side with salt and pepper, and brown 2 or 3 minutes on the meat side. Remove goose, and pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat.
• Add bacon to the skillet, if desired, and cook until brown and crisp, about 10 minutes. Add onions, bay leaves and thyme, and cook, stirring occasionally, and seasoning with salt and pepper, until onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Add dried fruit, and cook a minute or 2 more, stirring occasionally. Add wine, and raise heat to high. Cook until wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Return goose to skillet, and turn heat to very low. Cover, and cook (the mixture should be barely bubbling) for at least 2 hours, turning once or twice, until goose is very tender. Add vinegar, sliced fruit and a good grinding of black pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fruit is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste, and adjust seasonings Serve with crusty bread or over lightly buttered noodles.

BRAISED GOOSE WITH PEARS OR APPLES

Steps:

• Turn the heat to medium-high under a casserole or deep skillet at least 12 inches across; a minute later, add the goose pieces, skin side down. Cook, rearranging the pieces now and then so that they brown evenly, until nicely browned and rendered of fat, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and turn; brown for 2 or 3 minutes on the meat side. Remove the goose and pour off all but a tablespoon of the fat.
• If you're using it, cook the bacon in the same skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp all over, about 10 minutes. Add the onions, bay leaves, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally and seasoning with salt and pepper, until the onions are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the dried fruit and cook for another minute or two, stirring occasionally. Add the wine and raise the heat to high; cook until the wine is reduced by about half, 5 minutes or so.
• Return the goose pieces to the skillet and turn the heat to very low. Cover and cook (the mixture should be bubbling, but barely) for at least 2 hours, turning only once or twice, until the goose is very tender. Add the vinegar, sliced fruit, and a good grinding of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

ALSATIAN CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Wash the sauerkraut in cold water, and drain. Wash and drain again, squeezing it to eliminate as much water as possible.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and heat the duck fat or oil in a large ovenproof casserole.
• Season the duck legs with salt and freshly ground pepper, and brown them on both sides. Remove the duck legs to a plate, leaving the duck fat that has accumulated in the pan. Add the onions, the garlic, and the carrots, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Scatter the sauerkraut over the vegetables, and stir to incorporate. Tuck the duck legs into the sauerkraut, then add the juniper berries or gin, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Pour in the white wine and enough chicken broth almost to cover the sauerkraut. Bring to a boil on top of the stove, cover, and remove to the oven to cook for 2 hours, or until the liquid is absorbed by the sauerkraut.
• While the sauerkraut is cooking, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water, and then peel. Sauté the sausages or hot dogs in a hot pan, or boil them for about 5 minutes.
• Take the sauerkraut out of the oven and taste, adjusting the seasoning if necessary. Add the potatoes, sausages or hot dogs, and corned beef to the casserole, and return to the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Remove the corned beef and slice against the grain. Serve on a large platter with piles of sauerkraut, duck legs, sausages, corned beef slices, and potatoes, and with a variety of mustards or mustard sauce and horseradish alongside.
• Put the mustard and the vinegar in a small bowl and stir together. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, and slowly whisk in the oil.
• Just before serving, stir in the shallots, chives, parsley, and, if you like, the pickle.