Ann Rosenzweigs Herb Butter Food

LOBSTER CLUB BURGERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, make compound herb butter by combining softened butter, thyme, sage, parsley, chives, and rosemary (this can also be done in a food processor). Turn out onto parchment or plastic wrap, and roll into a log, 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Chill until firm, or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Heat grill or grill pan.
• Form four 8-ounce, 1-inch-thick burgers. Cut four 1/8-inch-thick slices of compound butter from the log. Make an indentation in the center of each burger, and place half of a compound-butter slice inside. Reshape meat to cover butter, making sure it is not visible from either side; season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Oil grill with a small amount of vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
• Grill burgers for 5 to 7 minutes per side for medium doneness. Remove from grill, and place each burger on a roll. Serve garnished with lettuce and tomato.

GRILLED SALMON WITH HERB AND MEYER LEMON COMPOUND BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the butter, zest, herbs and garlic. Mix until everything is well mixed. Season, to taste, with salt. If using right away, keep the butter at room temperature. If making ahead, reserve in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before using.
• Preheat grill to medium.
• Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Season with salt and coat with olive oil. Brush and oil the grill. Place the salmon, skin side down, on the clean, preheated grill. After 2 to 3 minutes, rotate the salmon 90 degrees to create cross-hatch grill marks on the salmon skin. Cook the salmon for another 3 to 4 minutes. As the salmon cooks it will turn from translucent orange to opaque pink.
• Turn the salmon over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. If the salmon starts to burn, or the flames flare up move the fish to a cooler part of the grill.* Remove from the grill and top with the room temperature compound butter. The butter should act as a sauce and melt over and coat the grilled salmon.
• What a delish fish!
• *Tip: It is a general rule to cook fish for 8 minutes per inch of thickness. I like salmon cooked to about medium, so I cook mine for a little less.

HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine the butter, garlic, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until mixed, but do not whip.

BIG, BRINED HERBY TURKEY

Steps:

• Brine the turkey: Combine 2 gallons water with the salt, sugar, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, sage, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaves and crushed red pepper in a container large enough to accommodate all the ingredients and the turkey. Stir to combine. Submerge the turkey in the brine and refrigerate for 3 days.
• The night before you roast the bird, remove it from the brine and pat it dry with paper towels. Make the herb butter: In a small bowl, combine the butter, rosemary, sage and some salt. Using your fingers, carefully work your way under the skin of the turkey to separate it from the breasts and legs. Massage the butter under the skin, then all over the bird. This acts like suntan lotion to create a lovely, crispy brown skin. Tie the turkey legs together with twine to keep the bird nice and compact for even cooking.
• In your roasting pan, for the gravy, combine the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme bundle and bay leaves. Season with salt. Plunk the turkey on top of the veggies and put it in the fridge overnight uncovered. Yes, that's right...uncovered. This allows the skin of the turkey to dry out, which will create a gorgeous brown crispy skin. Now a bunch of your prep work is out of the way, so all you have to do tomorrow is toss the turkey in the oven!
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pour the wine into the roasting pan and put the turkey in the screaming-hot oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it becomes beautifully browned. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Baste with the pan juices and rotate the pan every 30 minutes for the remainder of the cooking time; think 17 minutes per pound...you do the math. If the turkey starts to get too brown, tent it loosely with foil.
• Remove the turkey from the oven when an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. (Be sure the thermometer is not touching a bone.) Transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet, cover with foil and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
• Make the gravy: Using a mesh strainer, strain the veggies out of the pan juices over a large bowl and allow the fat to rise to the top. Discard the veggies. Skim the fat from the pan juices, add it to a large saucepot and bring it to medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook until it has the consistency of wet sand, 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk the pan juices and stock into the flour mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until it is thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.

CORNCAKES WITH CAVIAR

Steps:

• Cut the corn kernels from the cobs, enough to produce 2 cups. Put the kernels in a food processor and add 2 tablespoons milk. Blend until a little of the texture is left. There should be about 1 1/4 cups.
• Put the corn in a mixing bowl and add the remaining milk, the flour, 1/4 cup melted butter and the cornmeal, stirring to blend well.
• Add the eggs, egg yolk, 2 tablespoons of the chopped chives, salt and pepper and blend thoroughly.
• Heat the other 1/4 cup butter, preferably clarified, in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the batter at a time into the skillet without letting the cakes touch. Cook about 1 1/2 minutes until golden brown on the bottom. Turn and cook on the other side until golden brown and cooked through.
• Serve 4 slightly overlapping corncakes on each of 6 salad plates. Add a mound of crème fraîche in the center of the plate. Spoon 1 tablespoon golden caviar on top of the crème fraîche and 1 teaspoon black caviar on top of the golden caviar. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped chives and serve.

ANNE ROSENZWEIG'S OLD-FASHIONED MEAT-AND-RICE LOAF WITH SPICED CARROTS

Steps:

• Blanch the carrots for 3 minutes to soften; drain but do not cool. Combine the chili oil, vinegar and curry powder. Toss the warm carrots in this mixture and marinate for 2 hours. Drain and set aside.
• To make the meatloaf, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the onion, garlic and fresh ginger in a food processor and puree. Warm the butter over medium-high heat and saute the onion mixture until soft, about 5 minutes, stirring to avoid sticking. Remove from the heat and cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the sauteed vegetables with the veal, sirloin, rice, egg, pistachio nuts and salt and pepper by hand, taking care to mush the meat as little as possible.
• Place half this mixture in a nonstick loaf pan. Top with an even layer of marinated carrots and then the rest of the meat. Press to make a solid loaf and bake for 1 hour. Allow to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before slicing and serving with steamed rice or couscous.

HERBY FLAVOURED BUTTERS

Steps:

• Take100g/4oz softened butter and beat until creamy, then for...
• Herby butter: stir in 2-3 tbsp chopped fresh mixed herbs (parsley, chervil, dill, marjoram, basil) and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Tarragon and wholegrain mustard butter: stir in 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon (remember this is very strong) and 1-2 tbsp wholegrain mustard, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Mint and cider butter: gradually beat in 1 tbsp cider vinegar, then 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Chive and shallot butter: stir in 1 tbsp finely chopped shallots and 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Parsley, lemon and chilli butter: stir in 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest, salt to taste and ½ tsp crushed, dried chilli flakes.
• Dill butter: stir in 2 tbsp finely chopped pickled dill cucumber or gherkins and 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• After mixing, have the flavoured butters handy in the fridge or freezer ready for slicing. Roll them into logs in wet greaseproof paper and chill until firm. Rewrap in cling film and twist each end to seal. Will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.