Basil Cheese Terrine Food

FOUR LAYER CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, letting the plastic extend over the edges. Place one package of cream cheese in a food processor. Add the garlic and herbs de provence and process until smooth and combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Spread this mixture in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm. Wipe out the food processor bowl. Place another package of cream cheese in the food processor. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and green onions. Process until smooth and combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Remove the loaf pan from the refrigerator. Sprinkle the first layer with half of the fresh basil. Spread the sun-dried tomato mixture over the first layer. Return the pan to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up. Wipe the bowl of the food processor clean again. Place another package of cream cheese in the food processor. Add the blue cheese and nuts. Process as before, scraping down the sides as needed. Remove the pan from the refrigerator and sprinkle the tomato layer with half of the fresh parsley. Spread the blue cheese mixture over the top. Return to the refrigerator until firm. Wipe out the food processor bowl. Place the last package of cream cheese in the food processor along with the pesto. Process until smooth. Remove the pan from the refrigerator. Sprinkle the blue cheese layer with the remaining basil. Spread the pesto mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and return to the refrigerator until ready to serve (or at least 30 minutes for the top layer to firm up). When ready to serve, remove the top layer of plastic wrap and invert the pan onto a serving platter. Remove the plastic wrap from the terrine. Cut into slices and serve with crackers.

BASIL PURéE

Steps:

• Fill a medium bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the basil for 20 seconds. Dunk the basil in the ice water for a few seconds. Drain well and gently squeeze out excess moisture with towels. Put the basil in a food processor (a mini one works well) with 2 Tbs. of the olive oil. Purée well, adding more olive oil if needed to chop finely. To drain the excess oil, put the purée in a coffee cup or a custard cup lined with a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth for 15 to 20 minutes.

SALMON TERRINE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan and add salt. Add salmon fillet, reduce to a simmer, and cook until just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer salmon to a plate using a slotted spoon and let cool 10 minutes. Flake salmon into a large bowl, discarding skin, and toss with smoked salmon, green onion, parsley, and tarragon.
• Whisk together butter, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and pepper in a bowl until smooth. Add mayonnaise mixture to salmon mixture and gently stir until well combined.
• Cover and chill 3 hours. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.

GOAT CHEESE, PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO TERRINE

Steps:

• In a small dry pan, toast the pine nuts over medium heat until lightly golden brown. Remove from the heat and pour onto a plate to cool. (The nuts will continue to cook after you remove them from the heat so be sure that you don't let them brown too much - they can easily burn!)
• Line a 2 cup bowl (try to use a bowl with sharply sloped sides) with a piece of plastic wrap. (Be sure to cut a large enough piece of plastic wrap that you have several inches of plastic wrap extended over the sides of the bowl.)
• In a large mixing bowl with a fork, mash together the goat cheese, ¼ cup of cream, salt and a few grinds of black pepper and mix until well blended. If the goat cheese seems very dry, add up to another ¼ cup of cream - you want the mixture to be soft but not soggy.
• Spoon about 1/3rd of the goat cheese into the lined bowl, pressing down gently with a spoon to pack the cheese into an even layer. The spread the pesto over the cheese covering it completely (you will want some of the basil to peak out of the finished terrine, so make sure the pesto reaches the outer edges). Then top the pesto with another 1/3rd of the cheese (I found it helpful to drop the cheese with a teaspoon all over the pesto and then gently spread to cover the pesto evenly). Next, add the sun-dried tomatoes in a layer and sprinkle with all but about ½ tablespoon of the toasted pine nuts. Finally, add the remaining layer of goat cheese.
• Fold the plastic wrap edges over the top of the final layer of cheese and gently pack down. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (may be refrigerated for longer).
• About a ½ hour before serving, remove the terrine from the refrigerator. Place the bowl in a shallow bowl of very warm water for about 30 seconds (you only want the warm water to go halfway up the bowl). Then pull on the edges of the plastic wrap to loosen the terrine from the bowl.
• Place your serving dish over the glass bowl, making sure that the plastic edges are not under the terrine. Then invert the terrine onto your serving dish. If the terrine does not slide out immediately, leave it inverted for about a minute to allow the weight of the terrine to break the suction in the bottom of the bowl. If it still doesn't come out, try placing the bowl in warm water again and repeat the above steps.
• Once the terrine is out, gently peel off the plastic wrap. Drizzle with a little olive oil and let sit for half an hour to warm up. Sprinkle with the remaining pine nuts and some freshly ground black pepper. Serve with crackers or sliced bread.

ITALIAN CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• For sauce: Drain whole tomatoes, reserving 1/4 cup juice.
• Chop tomatoes and set aside.
• Cook onion and garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until tender.
• Stir in chopped tomato, 1/4 cup reserved juice, bay leaves, sugar and basil; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, 3-5 minutes or until thickened; remove from heat.
• Remove and discard bay leaves; stir in sun-dried tomatoes.
• Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
• For terrine: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with mixer until creamy.
• Add parmesan and pesto; beat until smooth.
• Set mixture aside.
• Line a 3-cup bowl or mold with plastic wrap, allowing edges to overhang 6-7 inches.
• Diagonally cut 5 slices Muenster cheese in half; arrange cheese triangles in bowl, slightly overlapping to line bowl.
• Spread half of cream cheese mixture over cheese; top with half of basil-tomato sauce.
• Cut 2 slices Muenster cheese in half crosswise; arrange cheese rectangles over tomato mixture.
• Repeat with remaining cream cheese mixture, basil-tomato sauce and 2 slices Muenster cheese cut into rectangles.
• Fold plastic wrap over layers, sealing securely; place a heavy object on top to compact layers.
• Chill at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• To serve: Invert terrine onto a serving platter, peel off plastic wrap.

EGGPLANT, ROASTED PEPPER, AND GOAT CHEESE TERRINE WITH PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Arrange the eggplant slices in one layer on baking sheets, brush both sides of the eggplant with the oil, and sprinkle them with salt to taste. Broil the eggplant in batches about 4 inches from the heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until it is golden and tender, and transfer it with a metal spatula to paper towels to drain.
• Line a loaf pan, 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, with plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang, and in it arrange the eggplant, the olive paste, the bell peppers, and the goat cheese in several layers, beginning and ending with the eggplant. Cover the eggplant with the plastic overhang, weight the terrine with a 3-to-4-pound weight (such as a loaf pan filled with canned goods), and chill it for 24 hours. (The terrine may be made 3 days in advance).
• Remove the weight, invert the terrine onto a cutting board, and discard the plastic wrap. Cut four 3/4-inch-thick slices from the terrine, pour about 2 tablespoons of the parsley sauce onto the center of each of 4 plates, tilting the plates to spread the sauce, and arrange a slice of the terrine on each plate. Garnish each serving with a parsley spring.
• To roast peppers:
• Using a long-handled fork char the peppers over an open flame, turning them, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the skins are blackened. (Or broil the peppers on the rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 2 inches from the heat, turning them every 5 minutes, for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the skins are blistered and charred.) Transfer the peppers to a bowl and let them steam, covered until they are cool enough to handle. Keeping the peppers whole, peel them starting at the blossom end, cut off the tops, and discard the seeds and ribs. (Wear rubber gloves when handling chilies.)
• Parsley sauce:
• In a blender purée the parsley and the garlic with the vinegar, the water, the oil, and salt and pepper to taste until the sauce is smooth and strain it through a fine sieve set over a small bowl, pressing hard on the solids. Makes about 1/2 cup.

PESTO-PROVOLONE TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a 7-1/2 x 3-1/2x2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, extending wrap beyond edges of pan; set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and pesto with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Lay 2 slices of the provolone cheese in bottom and slightly up sides of pan. Spread half of the pesto mixture on cheese layer. Repeat layers; top with remaining 2 slices of provolone cheese. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Weight it down with a can of soup or vegetables. Chill overnight.
• To serve, remove plastic wrap from top of terrine. Invert onto a serving plate and remove plastic wrap. Cut terrine lengthwise in half. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with baguette slices or crackers. If desired, garnish with basil leaves. Makes 24 to 28 servings.
• VARIATION: Mix cream cheese and pesto. Refridgerate to integrate flavors. Swap shredded provolone for the slices. Spread cream cheese mixture on baguette slices, sprinkle w/shredded provolone & broil till bubbly.
• VARIATION: Mix cream cheese and pesto. Omit provolone. Microwave cream cheese mixture till melted and dip consistency. Serve w/breadsticks or crackers for dipping.

BASIL-CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add cream cheese and blue cheese, and process until smooth, stopping at least once to scrape down sides.
• Spoon into a small bowl; set aside.
• Process spinach and next 4 ingredients in processor; with processor running, pour oil in a slow, steady stream through food chute.
• Stir in pine nuts and Parmesan.
• Line a 7 1/2 x 3 x 2inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing edges to extend over sides of pan.
• Spread half of cheese mixture in loaf pan; top with half of sliced tomatoes.
• Spread with pesto mixture (may use store bought. pesto); top with remaining sliced tomatoes, and top with remaining cheese mixture.
• Cover with plastic wrap; chill 24 hours.
• Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes; remove outer wrap, invert onto serving platter.
• Remove remaining plastic.
• Garnish.
• Serve with crackers.

PESTO CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Line 5 x 3 x 1 1/2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing plastic wrap to extend beyond edges of pan.
• In small bowl stir together 4 ounces of cream cheese, almonds, onion and lemon peel. In another small bowl combine 4 ounces of cream cheese and tomato pesto. In third small bowl combine remaining cream cheese, basil pesto and 1 tablespoon of parsley.
• Evenly press tomato mixture into lined pan. Evenly spread almond mixture over top. Spoon basil mixture over almond mixture. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours to 2 days.
• Invert pan onto serving platter to remove cheese from pan. Remove plastic wrap. Press remaining parsley on sides and top of terrine. Serve with crackers.